Overview from 2/23 and Assignment due 3/2

Today we talked about our final thoughts on "Dear Martin" where students shared their responses on what they thought the author's purpose was for writing the book. Additionally, we looked at some reviews for the book that we found online, and we shared whether we thought some of the poor reviews were fair.

FOR NEXT WEEK:

Students are to write a review of "Dear Martin" (click here for a link to suggestions for writing a review) Students must send me their review digitally. THIS IS DUE BEFORE SATURDAY MORNING. I would suggest having each review sent to me by Friday night.  I will look over reviews and see if there is anything students should edit (grammar, format, etc.) and then I will ask students to post their review in some kind of online community (Amazon, Goodreads, etc.). I want them to start contributing to conversations surrounding contemporary titles we read.

Email me with questions.

Assignment due 2/23

Students are to finish reading "Dear Martin."

IN ADDITION TO FINISHING THE BOOK, students are to come to class with a written response to the following:

"What do you think the author, Nic Stone's, main purpose was for writing 'Dear Martin'? Who do you think is the target audience for the book?"

When responding to the prompt above, all claims you make will have to be explained with evidence from the text...paraphrasing is fine if you can't find the exact moment you are mentioning. This should be a well-developed response, but it is not a full blown essay. Message me with questions.

Important information about the next few weeks...

Students are to finish the rest of "Dear Martin" this week and continue to take notes on what to discuss when we meet again. They can even add to their character notes they took for this week.

On the 2/16 I am going to add another assignment here on the blog that will be due on 2/23. I will remind them to check this on our field trip on 2/16.

Overview from 2/2 and Assignment due 2/9

This week we talked about how each of the 6 signposts of fiction were present in the reading assignment that was due this week. We identified all 6 and talked about each one while answering anchor questions and talking about the literary elements they contribute to.

For next week, students are to read pages 111-146.

I want students to continue taking notes to discuss, but I also want them to pick 3 characters other than Justyce who they think contribute most to the story. Write about their role and why they are necessary to the overall message of the text.

ALSO: you must email fameacademy.literacy@famefund.org to let me know you have seen this whole post. This is grade.

Assignment due 2/2

For next week, students are to read pages 75-110 of Dear Martin and come to class with a list of as many signposts as they could find in the story (reference your journals from last year for these)

I expect to see the moment each signpost was seen in the story, an answer to each signpost's anchor question, and mention of the literary element(s) that each signpost contributes to. 

Message me with questions. 

Overview from 1/19 and Assignment due 1/26

Today we had a great discussion around many aspects of the assigned reading from last week (characters, real world issues, authors craft, author criticism, etc.)

For next week, students are to put their focus on Martin Luther King's role in the story as they read up to and including page 74. I would like students to consider writing a journal entry that reflects on the section we read each week, in addition to making notes on what they would like to discuss.

Overview from 1/12 and Assignment due 1/19

We discussed historical/personal figures we look up to and want to model ourselves after. We also began discussing current issues in the world surrounding race and talked about how the book we are about to read will likely go hand and hand with what they are doing in their transitions class.

I reviewed the 6 signposts of fiction with the students and they are to look for them as we read "Dear Martin" over the next month. I told students they are free to not annotate, but they MUST come to class with notes/discussions/journal entries or whatever form of what they want to use to show they are reading and thinking about their reading.

For next week, they must come to class with what is outlined above for pages 1-30 of "Dear Martin".