You've Been Drafted, Part 1: October 31, 2018

Focus: How bring together our argument and our evidence in a well-structured draft?

1. Warming up with a little Kite Runner vocabulary (5 minutes)

2. Circling the wagon with the introductory paragraph in the sample essay

3. Drafting your own sample introductory paragraphs

HW:
1. For TOMORROW:

• Finish your introductory paragraph.
• Make sure you have finished gathering evidence.
• Make revisions to your thesis based on my feedback.

2. For the END OF CLASS ON THURSDAY: Finish the first half of your rough draft.

Defending Your Argument: October 30, 2018

Focus: How do we support our big ideas?

1. Warming up with a little Kite Runner vocabulary (5 minutes)

2. Defending your thesis by finding the perfect example from The Kite Runner and from your other text

• Look through your journal entries / annotations on The Kite Runner; highlight or mark any quotations that relate to your thesis.

• Find the quotation that BEST defends your thesis and has the following: At least one word, phrase, symbol, etc. that you could read closely and spend some time discussing.

• If your other hero is from a book, repeat the above steps for that book. If your other hero is from a movie, you may need to re-watch the movie or parts of the movie to find a moment from that film that will serve as your evidence.

• Looking at your film example: Is it five minutes or shorter? Keep it brief. Does it have symbolic colors, movements, objects, etc. that you could focus on? 

3. Filling in the chart on your outline from yesterday

4. Looking at the opening sentence(s) on the sample essay

HW:
1. Finish filling in the chart (Step 4). Also, check yesterday's blog for feedback on your thesis.

2. Spend 15 minutes with your independent reading book.

Battling It Out, Hero-Style: October 29, 2018

Focus: How does synthesizing two texts create a larger, more complex meaning?

1. Warming up with three good things

2. Setting a new class character goal: Workshop Atmosphere

Recap of ongoing goals:

• Reduce time outside of classroom (bathroom pass).
• No packing up until 12:44:30.
• Making your desk look ready for class.
• Saying hello. :)

3. Engaging in  a little battle royale: Amir vs. _______?

• Click HERE if you'd prefer to type.

4. Organizing and narrowing down your big, messy thoughts as you synthesize two heroes' journeys

• Click HERE for the overview of the short synthesis essay and the step-by-step thesis process.

5. Composing your thesis statement and posting it on today's blog


HW:
1. Finish what you didn't finish in class; make sure that thesis gets posted on the blog, and check there for feedback from me. You will receive an attempt & completion grade for the thesis, but the most important part is the feedback.

2. Start looking at the next 10 words in your Quizlet Kite Runner vocabulary list (__-___); you will have a short quiz them this Friday, and there will be at least one throwback to the first 10 words as well.

3. Spend 15 minutes with your independent reading book (you have a little over a month left to finish it, but this is a rare week where you have no additional reading homework).

The Kite Runner Fishbowl #7: October 26, 2018

Focus: How are the final pages of a novel essential to understanding the novel's larger meaning?

1. Warming up with a sample redacted poem

• Reread the first two pages, then reread the last two pages. Consider what has shifted.

• Transform the last two pages into a redaction poem that boils The Kite Runner down to its essence.

2. Enjoying our final Kite Runner fishbowl discussion: Chapter 24-the end

3. Wrapping up with IXL or independent reading if time allows

HW:
If have finished your two IXL lessons this week, The Kite Runner, and your annotations, then you are HOMEWORK FREE THIS WEEKEND!

If you have any catching up to do, use this weekend. On Monday, we start the essay.

Trip the Underworld: October 25, 2018

Focus: Why must every hero make a trip to the Underworld?

1. Warming up with a trip to the Underworld (Inside Out: Start around 1:05)

• What's at stake in this scene? In other words, what does the main character risk losing?

• Ex: Riley risks losing her ability to feel joy and sadness; Joy risks losing her ability to make Riley happy.

• What physical aspects of this space make it seem like an Underworld?

• What's this character's external battle?

• What's this character's internal battle? How is reflected in the external battle?

• On the verge of losing this battle, what does the main character realize?

• What does the character have to leave behind in order to get out of the Underworld, and why?

2. Conquering your final reading assignment: finishing The Kite Runner; tomorrow's leaders may use this time to prepare their syllabus

3. Rising up out of the IXL underworld (if you're up to it today)

HW:

For FRIDAY: 

• Finish reading and annotating The Kite Runner.

• Complete the two IXL lessons on Semicolons, Colons, and Commas (Level J recommended).

• BRING YOUR INDEPENDENT READING BOOK TO CLASS.

The Dragon Battle / Brother Battle: October 24, 2018

Focus: Why must the hero battle his greatest dragon?

1. Warming up with a cinematic depiction of the dragon battle and close reading of Amir's battle with Assef; click HERE for the note catcher

2. Tackling a monstrous reading assignment: finishing The Kite Runner

3. Battling the IXL dragon (if you're up to it today)

HW:

For FRIDAY: 

• Finish reading and annotating The Kite Runner.

• Complete the two IXL lessons on Semicolons, Colons, and Commas (Level J recommended).

• BRING YOUR INDEPENDENT READING BOOK TO CLASS.

The Kite Runner Fishbowl #6: October 23, 2018

Focus: Why is the call to adventure important to the Amir's journey?

1. Warming up by interviewing each other on how Amir's refusal and acceptance of the call to adventure change him

Use the right-hand column of yesterday's note-catcher to record your notes.
When the first person is done interviewing, switch roles.

2. Offering you an overview of the hero's journey essay that we will draft next week

3. Enjoying The Kite Runner Fishbowl #6: Chapters 21, 22, and 23

HW:

1. For THURSDAY: Finish reading and annotating The Kite Runner. Do you want to switch this to Friday to give you more time to read?

2. For FRIDAY: 

• Complete the two IXL lessons on Semicolons, Colons, and Commas (Level J recommended).

• BRING YOUR INDEPENDENT READING BOOK TO CLASS.

Answering the Call as a Child vs. an Adult: October 22, 2018

Focus: What is the call to adventure, and why is it important to the hero's journey?

1. Warming up three good things

2. Thinking through the call to adventure with two clips from Up; click HERE for the note-catcher

The call to adventure (3:10, 18:00)

• Please type your thoughts in the note-catcher as you watch the clip from Up.

3. Applying the call to action to Amir's journey in The Kite Runner:

• This time, you will interview your table partner and record his/her responses.

4. Reading Chapters 21, 22, and 23; tomorrow's leaders may use this time to prepare their syllabus

HW:

1. For TOMORROW: Please read and annotate Chapters 21, 22, and 23 for tomorrow's fishbowl discussion.

2. For THURSDAY: Finish reading and annotating The Kite Runner.

3. For FRIDAY: Complete the two IXL lessons on Semicolons, Colons, and Commas (Level J recommended).

Augmenting Your Vocabulary and Visualization of KR: October 17, 2018

Focus: How do we augment our reading skills with vocabulary and visualization?

1. Warming up with a short quiz on Kite Runner vocabulary, Words 1-10

2. Making a quick independent reading schedule to make sure you're done with your independent reading book by December 3

1. How many pages do you have left in your book?
2. Divide that number by 6.
3. That gives you how many pages per week you need read to finish on time.
4. Write this down in your student calendar.

3. Viewing the film adaptation of The Kite Runner

HW for next week:

1. For TUESDAY: Read Chapters 21, 22, and 23. THIS IS A 50-PAGE ASSIGNMENT, SO BE SURE TO START IT OVER THE LONG WEEKEND. If you have fallen behind in your reading and/or annotations, use the long weekend to catch up. If you're a leader in one of the last two fishbowls, consider using the long weekend to finish the book entirely.

2. For THURSDAY: Finish reading and annotating The Kite Runner.

3. For FRIDAY: Complete the two IXL lessons on Semicolons, Colons, and Commas (Level J recommended).

4. By OCT 31: If you wish to revise your summary-response essay, you need to conference with me before the end of October. I'm available 1st, 3rd, and after school.

Kite Runner Fishbowl #5, Chapters 19 and 20: October 16, 2018

Focus: How is Amir growing through his road of trials?

1. Warming up with a vocabulary review: The Kite Runner, Words 1-10

2. Celebrating yesterday's thesis statements on the road of trials

Jaden: Along Amir's road of trials he has learned to stay strong and never give up.

Amanda: Amir has learned that in order to overcome his battles he needs act and not think.

Annie: So far, Amir has learned about loss, compassion, and bravery through his road of trials.

Grace: Amir has gone through a winding road of trials so far in the book; the most important thing he's learned about himself is that he needs to face his fears to have a successful and fulfilling life.

3. Enjoying our Kite Runner Fishbowl #5: Chapters 19 and 20

HW for next week:

1. For TUESDAY: Read Chapters 21, 22, and 23. If you have fallen behind in your reading and/or annotations, use the long weekend to catch up. If you're a leader in one of the last two fishbowls, consider using the long weekend to finish the book entirely.

2. For THURSDAY: Finish reading and annotating The Kite Runner.

3. For FRIDAY: Complete the two IXL lessons on Semicolons, Colons, and Commas (Level J recommended).

Road of Trials: October 15, 2018

Focus: How do heroes grow through the road of trials?

1. Warming up with three good things and establishing this week's class character goal: Respect

• Step 1: How Class Begins

2. Walking down the road of trials with your favorite hero and with Amir

3. Reading and annotating Chapters 19 and 20 with quick conferences; tomorrow's fishbowl leaders may use this time to prepare the syllabus

4. Waking up your writing skills with an exit ticket

HW:
1. For TUESDAY: Finish reading and annotating Chapters 19 and 20.

2. For WEDNESDAY: Review the first ten Kite Runner vocabulary words for a short quiz.

Building our Vocabulary and Reading Muscles: October 12, 2018

Focus: How can we strengthen our vocabulary and reading skills?

1. Warming up with your class character goals from the past two weeks and giving you a heads up on next week

Last week: Not packing up until 12:44

This week: Staying in class / new restroom policy

Next week: Showing maturity / being an upperclassman

2. Taking 5 minutes for an independent or partner review of the first ten Kite Runner words (affluent - indignation; they should be starred); playing Quizlet Live

3. Reading your independent reading book and holding quick annotation conferences

4. Wrapping up with this week's fishbowl awards

HW:
1. For TUESDAY: Read Chapters 19 and 20 in The Kite Runner; leaders should prepare their syllabus.

2. For WEDNESDAY: Study for a brief, multiple-choice quiz on the first ten words of The Kite Runner.

3. ONGOING: Spend time with your independent reading book so that you're on track to finish it by December.

Kite Runner Fishbowl, Chapters 17 and 18: October 11, 2018

Focus: Why is crossing the threshold an important step in the hero's journey?

1. Warming up with crossing the threshold 

• What might the blue pill symbolize?

• What might the red pill symbolize?

• Close reading a screenshot

• What is Amir's red pill? Blue pill? 

• Which path does Amir choose, and why is this important to his development as a hero? In other words, in choosing to answer Rahim Kahn's call to adventure, what does Amir have to lose? What does he have to gain? What do we hope he learns about himself?

2. Enjoying The Kite Runner Fishbowl #4: Chapters 17 and 18

3. Wrapping up

HW:
1. Bring your independent reading book to class tomorrow as well as your Kite Runner book and annotations.

2. Our vocabulary quiz over the first ten Kite Runner words in Quizlet has been postponed until next Wednesday.

(No IXL this week.)

Kite Runner Fishbowl on Chapters 14-16: October 9, 2018

Focus: What is the hero's journey? How does it start? How does it deepen our understanding of The Kite Runner?

1. Warming up with two examples of the first step of the hero's journey:

Finding Nemo
The Lion King (start around 32:00)

As you watch, please respond to the following questions in your notes:

What do these clips have in common? Try to go beyond the obvious here.

What heroic patterns do they reveal?

How do these moments affect the main characters?

Which characters appear to be following this heroic pattern in The Kite Runner? How so?

How has the separation (physical or emotional) affected these characters’ self-perception, behavior, and motivation?  Please include at least one specific passage from the novel to support your response.

2. Offering you 90 seconds of feedback on yesterday's fishbowl

3. Entering Fishbowl #3: Chapters 14, 15, and 16 of The Kite Runner

HW:
1. For THURSDAY: Read and annotate Chapters 17 and 18. Aim to read at least the first chapter tonight since we won't have in-class reading time tomorrow (we don't have any in-class time tomorrow).

2. For FRIDAY: Study the first ten Kite Runner words for a short assessment.

Kite Runner Fishbowl on Chapters 11-13: October 8, 2018

Focus: Can Amir move forward?

1. Warming up with three good things

2. Offering you feedback on your first fishbowl: Successes and things to work on

3. Reading The Kite Runner with a focus on the Chapter 1 quotations below in blue...

Find five lines/passages that connect to one or both of the following statements, 
and create a journal entry/annotation for each:

"...the past claws its way out" (1)

"There is a way to be good again." (2)

Alternative #1: Instead of creating annotations, you could draw a sketch that portrays how those two quotations infiltrate Chapter 13.

Alternative #2: You could also perform some creative writing, such as a poem, that conveys how those two quotations infiltrate Chapter 13.

4. Enjoying KR Fishbowl #2: Chapters 11-13

HW:
1. For TOMORROW: Read and annotate Chapters 14, 15, and 16 for tomorrow's fishbowl; tomorrow's leaders should prepare their syllabus.

2. For THURSDAY: Read and annotate Chapters 17 and 18.

3. For FRIDAY: Study the first ten Kite Runner words for a short assessment.

Building Our Reading Muscles: October 5, 2018

Focus: What is the nature of Amir's journey?

1. Warming up with a student-friendly recap of the hero's journey and a closer look at the early chapters of The Kite Runner

2. Taking time to read your independent reading book or The Kite Runner

3. Preparing for next week's fishbowls:

• Monday: Payton, Annie, Liam, Jaden, and Ali
• Tuesday: Eli, Carsen, and Travis
• Thursday: Shia, Lyndsey, Jenna and Leah

HW:
1. For MONDAY: Please prepare for a fishbowl discussion of Chapters 11, 12, and 13.

2. For TUESDAY: We're back on schedule for Kite Runner Fishbowl #3: Chapter 14, 15, and 16

3. No IXL or vocabulary this week.

Regrouping: October 4, 2018

Focus: What do we need to do to regroup?

1. Warming up with a 5-minute check-in

2. Offering you art, a revised fishbowl schedule, and time to read/prepare a syllabus

3. Viewing the first 30 minutes of The Kite Runner (the happy part)

HW:
1. For MONDAY: Please prepare for a fishbowl discussion of Chapters 11 and 12 tomorrow; we will spend the first 20 minutes of class reading Chapter 13, so you don't need to worry about that tonight.

2. For TUESDAY: We're back on schedule for Kite Runner Fishbowl #3: Chapter 14, 15, and 16

3. No IXL or vocabulary this week.

Kite Runner Fishbowl on Chapters 9 and 10: October 2, 2018

Focus: How can student-led discussion lead us to a better understanding of The Kite Runner, Chapters 9 and 10?

1. Warming up the Joseph Campbell hero's journey: Click HERE for the heroic note catcher!

2. Recapping Fishbowl expectations:

• Everyone should have his or her Kite Runner book and annotations out.  This applies to both the outer and inner circles.

• Reference the text frequently, reading passages aloud and giving people time to find the right page numbers.  

• Leaders can and should jump into the discussion as well.

• All participants in the outer circle should include at least one quotation in their blogs to receive full credit.

• Outer circle participants must participate on the blog throughout the entire discussion; you should not disappear for large periods of time.

• If you haven't read, you should not participate in fishbowl.  Instead, use this time to read and post on the blog tonight for homework.

3. Entering Fishbowl #1: Chapters 9 and 10

4. Wrapping up the discussion with a "whip-around" (go around the circle and state what went well and/or what we need to improve upon and/or one take away from today's discussion you have regarding The Kite Runner)


HW:
1. Prepare for Thursday's fishbowl by reading and annotating Chapters 11, 12, and 13. START THE READING TONIGHT! Fishbowl leaders should finish this reading tonight so that they have time to prepare a syllabus.

2. Spend a few minutes with the first 10 Kite Runner words. We will play a game with them on Friday instead of having a traditional quiz.

3. Keep bringing your annotations/journals to class so that they can be checked off.

Setting Up for Kite Runner Discussions: October 1, 2018

Focus: How do we set ourselves up for successful fishbowl discussions of The Kite Runner?

Please check your leadership and discusser dates; make sure you plan to be here those days.

1. Warming up with three good things and a sample syllabus from my American Lit class

2. Meeting our Kite Runner vocabulary words (and playing a little Scattegories)

Join our Quizlet class with this link: https://quizlet.com/join/pCsTHDU83

Round 1

1. Something you might find in an affluent household.
2. A food you abhor
3. An example of classroom behavior hat would make you feel contrite
4. Something you would say to feign happiness
5. An animal that makes you feel trepidation
6. An object a valiant person might carry

3. Conferencing on your journals/annotations and reading The Kite Runner; Tuesday's leaders may use this time to prepare

HW:
1. For TOMORROW:

• Read and annotate/journal on Chapters 9 and 10 in The Kite Runner.
• Spend five minutes looking at your Kite Runner vocabulary.

2. For FRIDAY: Use Quizlet to study THE FIRST TEN WORDS of your Kite Runner vocabulary ("Affluent" through "Indignation"); we will have a short, fill-in-the blank quiz on Friday. No grammar this week.