So much has happened in this short week, with so much appearing different from middle school. Aside from the obvious developmental differences, there have been surprises and similarities. While they don't appear to be eager to learn or enamored with their teacher (which I saw right away in MS) it only requires sitting with them several times before it becomes clear they like to surprise us adults with their thoughtful responses and their loving banter with Mrs. Parillo, whom I suspect they like/worry about disappointing in equal parts. Here are the highlights/activities of week one:
Seniors/English IV:Catcher in The Rye with the following activities:
1. Socratic Seminar-finished this the day we arrived
2. -in groups of three students worked on supporting a given thesis statement with evidence from the text and presenting their argument for their statement with inferences they derived from reading
3. Anonymous evaluations of the unit/activities/supplementary readings for feedback since this is only her 2nd time teaching it
Juniors/English III: Poetry Unit with the following activities:
1. Read one and study it, looking for the following devices: rhyme, alliteration, assonance, onomatepei, present your findings orally for the class
2, Poetry writing assignment to be included in their portfolio piece for the quarter, they were allowed to choose from five poetry categories: "I am" poem, "When I" poem, imagery poem, kitchen sink poem and Lullaby weave poem, give at least one example of a sound device and one of figurative language
Sophomores/Writer's Workshop: Reading The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian with the following activities:
1. Respond to prompt: Write about a time when you had to give up something in order to make room for something new you wanted OR write about CHANGE, after completing several students shared out
2. 3-2-1 prompt: Write 3 things you learned from the days' reading, 2 things that surprised you and 1 question you had about the story (this relates to one of the focusing questions of the book which was: Can a person really change their life?
3. Reading Sherman Alexie poem "On The Train from Boston to New York City" and underlining three lines which stuck with you, then share-outs on one of the three with explanation of inferences
Nice summary of assignments, Cindy! What can you tell me about the discourses of the classroom? What, specifically, is different and the same from MS? I'm especially curious about the "teacher pleaser" kind of thing you mention. You get to see three different grade levels. Any similarities/differences there?
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