Friday, December 14, 2018


Friday, December 14, 2018
76 minutes
     1.   SSR 
     2.   Finish scoring literary devices worksheet 
     3.   In small groups, share your homework for Friday, December 14 
    ( "The Thing Around Your Neck" and the assignment that goes with it, linked here: Reading Instructions for “The Thing Around Your Neck”
     4.   Discuss the literary devices used in “The Thing Around Your Neck” 
     5.   HAVE A GREAT BREAK!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, December 12, 2018


Wednesday, December 12, 2018
76 minutes
     1.   SSR 

     2.   Quick Write (in composition notebook): "Adichie Quick-Write": Write about a time when you felt that someone was only seeing/understanding one side of you or a group you associate with.  How did you feel?  What do you wish that person had known about you? 

3.   Share in small groups or pairs 

4.   Watch the TedTalk called "The Danger of a Single Story" by Chimimanda Adichie  http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.html  

5.   In small groups, take notes in the appropriate column on this handout: “WorldAuthors Idea Comparison Notes”  
6.   Discuss the talk and your notes as a whole class 

     Homework due Friday, December 14: to read the story "The Thing Around Your Neck" and to complete the assignment that goes with it, linked here: Reading Instructions for The Thing Around Your Neck


Monday, December 10, 2018


Monday, December 10, 2018
92 minutes
1.   SSR 
2.   Share your Circles of Influence poster (small groups) 
3.   Quick-write: What are some things you noticed about how people represented the way culture influences them? 
4.   Whip-around: share what you wrote in your quick-write
5.   Literary Features Pre-Assessment: Read the flash fiction story “The Wig” and complete the pre-assessment handout.

6.   Begin reviewing the pre-assessment and tabulating results on the pre-assessment score sheet



Thursday, December 6, 2018
76 minutes
1.   SSR 
2.   Create a poster that reflects how you relate to and are shaped by your culture(s).  See these directions: Circles of Influence Poster Project. NOTE: here is a sample poster for the homework assignment: Sample Poster  
Homework due Monday, December 10: create a poster that reflects how you relate to and are shaped by your culture(s).  See these directions: Circles of Influence Poster Project. 
NOTE: here is a sample poster for the homework assignment: Sample Poster

Wednesday, December 5, 2018


Tuesday, December 4, 2018
92 minutes

1. SSR
2. Share out definitions of culture with the class 
3. Look up the definition of culture and report your findings 
4. Discuss the commonalities among the definitions that we looked up. As a class, decide on a working definition of culture that we find meaningful and understandable 
5. Use the Contemplating Culture handout to begin to explore the categories of behavior frequently related to a study of culture in small groups:
Using the list on the handout, group the words into appropriate categories. Next, attempt to identify the various categories most closely associated with each word.     
6. Share out Contemplating Culture handout with the class 

7. Individually, complete this second worksheet on "Contemplating Culture" 












Friday, November 30, 2018


Friday, November 30, 2018
Learning Targets:
Define some shared meanings of “culture”
Identify different aspects of culture
Identify how you relate to your culture

Essential Question(s):
  • What is culture?

1. SSR 
2.        Pair-share and then have whole class discussion about the Moana reading. Hand in your Moana packet and the Moana viewing chart 
3. Brainstorm the definition of culture: in your notebooks, respond to this question and label this entry “Defining Culture, November 30, 2018” : write a quick definition of what you think culture means 
4. Pair-share with a partner and discuss your definitions 
5. Share out definitions with the class 
6. Look up the definition of culture and report your findings 
7. Discuss the commonalities among the definitions that we looked up. As a class, decide on a working definition of culture that we find meaningful and understandable
8. Use the Contemplating Culture handout to begin to explore the categories of behavior frequently related to a study of culture in small groups:
Using the list on the handout, group the words into appropriate categories. Next, attempt to identify the various categories most closely associated with each word. *      
2nd period only did steps 1-5 today


Wednesday, November 28, 2018


Wednesday, November 28, 2018
76 minutes


     1.   SSR (sustained silent reading) 
     2.   Finish  watching Moana 
     3.   Finish your observations on the chart
     4.   Homework DUE on FRIDAY, NOV. 30: Read and take notes/respond to the article “How the Story of Moana and Maui Holds Up Against Cultural Truths”

     Homework DUE on FRIDAY, NOV. 30: Read and take notes/respond to the article “How the Story of Moana and Maui Holds Up Against Cultural Truths”



Monday, November 26, 2018
92 Minutes

     1.   SSR (sustained silent reading) 
     2.   Distribute note-taking chart and review the categories for taking notes. 
     3.   Begin watching the film 
     4.   Jot down your observations on the chart. Keep your charts in your notebooks.



Thursday, November 15, 2018


Thursday, November 15, 2018
92 minutes
Learning Targets:
I can understand grading criteria for the Secret Education Essay
I can correctly use MLA format
I can proofread, edit, and correct my own essay

     1.   SSR 
     2.   Review criteria for Secret Education Essay Assignment 
     3.   Mini lesson on MLA format :
a.   Include a HEADING
b.   Include a HEADER with page number
c.    Double-space your essay
d.   Include an original title (NOT “Secret Education Essay”). Title is centered and gets no special font or bolding or size and is part of the double-spacing

     4.   Make formatting and other corrections and PROOFREAD and fine-tune your essay 
     5.   Make sure to submit your essay to Google classroom before you leave class or it will be considered LATE and you will not earn on-time credit.

HOMEWORK: Enjoy your break!!!

Tuesday, November 13, 2018


Tuesday, November 13, 2018
92 minutes
Learning Targets:
I can understand grading criteria for the Secret Education Essay
I can identify thesis statements and refine my own
I can provide helpful feedback to classmates about their essays

     1.   SSR 
     2.   Review criteria for Secret Education Essay Assignment 
     3.   Mini lesson on when/how to use commas 
     4.   Focus on conclusion: Read sample conclusion paragraphs from Student #1 and Student #2 and identify and discuss the conclusions.
     5.   Peer feedback: exchange essays and use the grading rubric to give feedback 
     6.   Make sure to submit your essay to Google classroom before you leave class
  
HOMEWORK: continue working on your essay.  The final draft is due on Thursday, November 15


Friday, November 9, 2018


Thursday, November 8, 2018
69 minutes
Learning Targets:
I can understand grading criteria for the Secret Education Essay
I can identify thesis statements and refine my own
I can provide helpful feedback to classmates about their essays

     1.   SSR 
     2.   Review criteria for Secret Education Essay Assignment 
     3.   Focus on thesis: Read sample opening paragraphs from Student #1 and Student #2 and identify and discuss the thesis statements. 
     4.   Look at your own thesis and revise it / refine it. Highlight it on your essay, so that your peer-editor can give you feedback and advice on making sure it is effective and clear. 
     5.   Focus on body paragraphs: 
Body: Develop your idea with details and examples—What does the problem look like?
o   Paragraphs have a clear point
o   Each paragraph develops one main idea
o   Paragraphs contain examples from cartoons or other media and your life
o   Paragraphs contain commentary that shows how the evidence supports your thesis



Peer feedback: exchange essays and focus on the body paragraphs, helping each other to make sure the body paragraphs:
·       include a clear TOPIC sentence (clear main point)
·       develop one main idea,
·       contain examples from cartoons or other media and/or your life
·       contain commentary that shows how the evidence supports your thesis 

HOMEWORK: continue working on your essay.  The final draft is due on Thursday, November 15


Tuesday, November 6, 2018


Tuesday, November 6, 2018
92 minutes
Learning Targets:
I can read and understand an academic argument
I can analyze cartoons for their underlying messages
I can discuss my ideas and listen to my classmates’ ideas

     1.   SSR 
     2.   Review Secret Education Essay Assignment 
     3.   Begin drafting your essay (Google drive or hand-written) 

HOMEWORK due in class on Thursday, November 8: Rough draft of your essay on a secret education in media.


Friday, November 2, 2018


Friday, November 2, 2018
92 minutes

     1.   SSR
     2.   Complete the post-Socratic Seminar questions and self-evaluation at the end of the Socratic Seminar Instructions packet 

     3.   Whip- Around: Share out something new that you learned or have thought about because of the Socratic Seminar 

     4.   Hand in your partner observation sheet 

     5.   Post-it notes: write a specific piece of evidence that supports a theme / topic strip and post it on the appropriate strip. Discuss: what have you noticed? 

     6.   Next steps: Secret Education Essay Assignment handed out and reviewed. 

     7.   In your notebook, brainstorm a topic for your essay.
HOMEWORK due in class on Thursday, November 8: Write a draft of your essay on a secret education in media.


Wednesday, October 31, 2018


Wednesday, October 31, 2018
92 minutes
Learning Targets:
I can read and understand an academic argument
I can analyze cartoons for their underlying messages
I can discuss my ideas and listen to my classmates’ ideas

     1.   SSR 
     2.   Review for Socratic Seminar: share your questions with a partner and then create one more question. REMINDER: your questions/belief statement should be about the “secret education” in cartoons. Make sure you have created a belief statement using this packet: Socratic Seminar Instructions  
 3.   Review guidelines for Socratic Seminar 
 4.   Conduct Socratic Seminar (2 rounds) 
 5.   HOMEWORK:Complete the post-Socratic Seminar questions and self-evaluation at the end of the Socratic Seminar Instructions packet.