August 22, 2014 4AP Tortilla Curtain and Tech in School

• Bellringer (5 minutes)...In your opinion, what does a good, vibrant small group (5 or less students) literature conversation look like?  In other words, what are the characteristics of a good discussion? What do the participants do as both speakers and listeners a in good discussion (about a paragraph/half a page)?

Whole class sharing of thoughts (5 mins)...

Remember, you don't have to be an extrovert to be a good participant in small group discussion. Even if you are not overly fond of talking, at least try to convey verbally or non-verbally that you are actively listening and care about what other people in the group are saying.

Oh, by the way, no homework this weekend, but please bring the following for Monday, August 25: 

• the Tortilla Curtain and your non-fiction book 
• and the handouts which comprise Chapter 1, Introduction to Rhetoric, from The Language of Composition
• Also, even though I don't want you to create an account for my blog, you can view it by simply going to my LTHS website and clicking on the link to this blog.  It's a convenient way to check in-class activities or homework assignments.

• Whole-class discussion about technology (Mr. Wesley).... What do you think about the use of smart phones and tablets in the classroom?  

 Small group Tortilla Curtain discussions and written reflection....(about 30 mins)

(5 mins for intro and review of guideline; 2 mins for numbering off students and getting into small groups; 15 mins for getting into groups and talking, 10 mins for post-discussion reflection journal entry)

• Although I have your papers from yesterday, you're smart kids and I think you can each discuss your passage and reflection without having them in hand

• Simply locate the passage again in your book and direct other students to it prior to taking your turn in sharing your insights about the passage and how it supports one or more of Boyle's arguments in the book.   

Guidelines for your discussion...

• Shake hands and introduce yourself

• Make sure that everyone in the group shares. 

• When it is your turn, first direct everyone to your chosen passage so that they are literally on the same page as you.

• Briefly provide a little context  by describing what was going on in the plot at this point, and then read your passage as your groupmates follow along in their books.

• While you are speaking, groupmates should be listening actively to you, considering their own thoughts and questions about the passage and your comments.

• Once you are done sharing your passage and your thoughts on it, ask your group if anyone has any follow-up ideas or questions about the passage or their insights. Hopefully each of them was listening actively and will share either a comment or question they have about your passage and your thoughts.

Please label this journal entry as follows: August 22, 2014 Tortilla Curtain Post-discussion Reflection...
Please answer each of the following, but don't use people's names unless you are describing something positive a person does. I want us to learn from this experience, not judge or call each other out. 

• How do feel your small group discussion went overall?  

• Did it seem like people were actively listening to one another? What signs - both spoken and non-verbal - did you see which suggested that people were either actively listening or perhaps not? 

• How about the speaking part of the discussion? Did participants remember to provide some plot context and direct people to where their passage was prior to reading it?  Could you hear them?

• Did listeners in the group respond with thoughtful or affirming comments and questions which conveyed that they were listening carefully to the presenter?

• Finally, what was the most interesting comment or question that you heard, who said it, and why did you find it interesting?

 

Yesterday's activities...

Activity 1. (15 minutes) Bellringer...(10 points) On a clean sheet of paper, copy/rewrite word-for word a paragraph from The Tortilla Curtain  which you felt was especially significant (don't forget to include the page number following the quote.) 

Reflecting on the paragraph you just copied, write a well-developed (10-15 sentences) reflection paragraph explaining why you felt it was important and how it supports - ether directly or indirectly - some argument which you believe TC Boyle is making in the book.

When you finish the above prompt, please put it aside and begin activity 2 in your notebook/journal section of your binder:

Activity 2) August 21, 2014 Technology in the Classroom Journal (about a half page. )The letter from Ruth Marcus to The House of Representatives (p. 16 of The Introduction to Rhetoric chapter) discusses the issue of technology on the floor of the House of Representatives.  She gently and humorously argues it is a distraction.

LT is currently considering allowing student to BYOD (Bring Your Own Devices) and may start issuing LT-purchases tablets to students beginning next year.  What do you think about the use of smart phones and tablets in the classroom?  Should they be allowed or not? What are the pros and cons of their use in the classroom? Should they be allowed but only under certain conditions?  If so, what conditions?  Write for approximately 5 minutes.

NY Times Conversation with TC Boyle