In LA students are writing rough drafts for there first free write of the term. They were given the Term 3 Essay Requirements in class but they can also be accessed here. In terms of spelling and grammar, direct grammar instruction is done for the year. From this point on it will be remedial and as needed. Spelling will continue as normal, with list one coming next week. With the elimination of grammar we will be introducing weekly writing lessons. This week's focus is on dialogue- how to punctuate it, how to use it and how to make it realistic. This will be the focus of the class mini lessons.
In Reading we are starting To Kill a Mockingbird. Students will need to keep up with a 20 page per night reading regiment to stay with the class so, we will work through the novel by splitting class time between silent reading and open discussion. Each week we will focus on a different aspect of the book.
Week 1 Pages 1-100: What is the exposition and conflict? We will dive into the sense of place that author Harper Lee creates through both discussion as well as some supplemental reading in class.
Week 2 Pages 100-200: What problem(s) is Haper Lee trying to solve? Here we will discuss some of the big issues. What real courage looks like. Is there an ideal of southern womanhood? Can there be a way out of racism for the South of Lee’s childhood?
Week 3 Pages 200-300: What are Lee’s key quotes where she develops her answers to the above questions. The whole week will be devoted to finding quotes that are central to Lee’s case. We will pick them out and discuss them.
Week 4 Pages 300- to the end: What are Lee’s final solutions to the problems she has posed? Do we agree with them? For instance, Lee suggests that racism cannot be overcome through a big heroic action, but must be dealt with slowly, over time. Do we agree with this? Today we try to fix cultural issues with big grand gestures all the time. So who is right?
No comments:
Post a Comment