7/24/13
In Class:
Journal-- On the first day of this class, you made the following agreement: "I will be the best person--intellectually, socially, and otherwise--that I can be." Did you fulfill this agreement?
Students used class time to finish final projects, catch up on missing work, or make up missing journal entries.
Exit ticket: What grade do deserve in this class and why?
Homework:
Enjoy your vacation! Keep reading.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Monday, July 22, 2013
July 22nd, 2013
7/22/13
In Class:
Journal-- List ten things in your life (past, present, and future) for which you are grateful; list ten things in your life (past, present, and future) which you consider struggles.
Discussed Alexie's use of storytelling as an institution and practice:
* Since storytelling is a tradition that exists in every culture, it helps create cross-cultural sympathy—it helps erase the boundaries that we draw ourselves.
Read and discussed "The Game Between the Jews and the Indians is Tied Going Into the Bottom of the Ninth Inning" by Alexie.
Independently, students worked on final projects for the remainder of the period.
Exit ticket: How many hours are left until you must have all of your final submitted?
Homework:
Work on finals.
Catch up on any missing work.
In Class:
Journal-- List ten things in your life (past, present, and future) for which you are grateful; list ten things in your life (past, present, and future) which you consider struggles.
Discussed Alexie's use of storytelling as an institution and practice:
* Since storytelling is a tradition that exists in every culture, it helps create cross-cultural sympathy—it helps erase the boundaries that we draw ourselves.
Read and discussed "The Game Between the Jews and the Indians is Tied Going Into the Bottom of the Ninth Inning" by Alexie.
Independently, students worked on final projects for the remainder of the period.
Exit ticket: How many hours are left until you must have all of your final submitted?
Homework:
Work on finals.
Catch up on any missing work.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
July 17th, 2013
7/17/13
In Class:
Journal-- Describe a time in your life when someone made an unjustified assumptions about you.
In Class:
Journal-- Describe a time in your life when someone made an unjustified assumptions about you.
Discussed and defined stereotype: a socially-constructed, oversimplified image or belief about
a particular group of people; usually leads to prejudiced or discriminatory behavior
because it depends on unreliable assumptions.
Reviewed common stereotypical portrayals of Natives in the media:
The Noble Savage
"Brave" (Male); "Princess" (Female)
- uncivilized -- 'pure'
- stoic, strong, and moral
- peaceful
- magical/spiritual -- "mystic"
- complex & beautiful regalia
vs.
The Ignoble Savage
"Demon"
- uncivilized -- brutal, barbaric, impure
- lacking in trustworthiness, empathy, and morality
- violent
- heathenistic
- complex & violent regalia
(adapted from the Authentic History Center website)
Independently, students worked on their final projects, identifying which specific projects they would complete by next Wednesday.
Exit Ticket: List the six levels of Bloom's Taxonomy. Which of these levels of cognition will you apply to your final?
Homework:
Work on final projects.
Catch up on missing work.
Monday, July 15, 2013
July 15th, 2013
7/15/13
In Class:
Journal-- Reflect on the following quote: "Survival = Anger x Imagination. Imagination is the only weapon on the reservation." -Sherman Alexie
Reminder--Extra Credit Opportunity:
On Wednesday, July 17th, the school will take a group of students to The Lone Ranger in order to critique the portrayal of Tonto. This class has priority, but the field trip will be open to the entire school.
Defined tribalism: a strict (often extreme or irrational) adherence to one's people. Consider "loyalty" v. "betrayal." Read and discussed "Tuxedo with Eagle Feathers" by Alexie, specifically considering the collision of cultures in contrast with sovereign separation.
Independently, students worked on final projects for the remainder of the period.
Exit ticket: a) What percentage of your final project have you completed? b) What is the next concrete step you need to take in order to finish your final?
Homework:
Catch up on your missing work.
Work on your final projects.
In Class:
Journal-- Reflect on the following quote: "Survival = Anger x Imagination. Imagination is the only weapon on the reservation." -Sherman Alexie
Reminder--Extra Credit Opportunity:
On Wednesday, July 17th, the school will take a group of students to The Lone Ranger in order to critique the portrayal of Tonto. This class has priority, but the field trip will be open to the entire school.
Defined tribalism: a strict (often extreme or irrational) adherence to one's people. Consider "loyalty" v. "betrayal." Read and discussed "Tuxedo with Eagle Feathers" by Alexie, specifically considering the collision of cultures in contrast with sovereign separation.
Independently, students worked on final projects for the remainder of the period.
Exit ticket: a) What percentage of your final project have you completed? b) What is the next concrete step you need to take in order to finish your final?
Homework:
Catch up on your missing work.
Work on your final projects.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
[Missing Post] -- June 26th, 2013
6/26/13
In Class:
Journal-- Describe the first home you remember.
Defined and discussed the concept of gentrification within the last 30 years, using an excerpt of David Brooks' "People Like Us."
Read and discussed "Gentrification" by Sherman Alexie.
Independently, after our discussion, each student wrote a one-paragraph response to the question: "Was the narrator of 'Gentrification' right or wrong to move the mattress?"
Exit Ticket: Name one thing you're looking forward to.
Homework:
Finish "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven" and write three discussion questions by Monday.
In Class:
Journal-- Describe the first home you remember.
Defined and discussed the concept of gentrification within the last 30 years, using an excerpt of David Brooks' "People Like Us."
Read and discussed "Gentrification" by Sherman Alexie.
Independently, after our discussion, each student wrote a one-paragraph response to the question: "Was the narrator of 'Gentrification' right or wrong to move the mattress?"
Exit Ticket: Name one thing you're looking forward to.
Homework:
Finish "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven" and write three discussion questions by Monday.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
July 10th, 2013
7/10/13
In Class:
Journal-- Reflect on one incident in your life in which you wish you had made a different choice.
Discussed the concept of historical revision: the practice of re-writing or re-interpreting history in a non-traditional, atypical, or "untrue" way. Read "Rediscovering America" by Alexie, following up with "A Drug Called Tradition" optionally.
With the remainder of the period, students worked on their final projects by reading or planning activities. Note: since the remainder of class periods will be primarily devoted to in-class independent work on final projects, participation will count double.
Exit ticket: What is polyvocality?
Homework:
Work on your final project.
In Class:
Journal-- Reflect on one incident in your life in which you wish you had made a different choice.
Discussed the concept of historical revision: the practice of re-writing or re-interpreting history in a non-traditional, atypical, or "untrue" way. Read "Rediscovering America" by Alexie, following up with "A Drug Called Tradition" optionally.
With the remainder of the period, students worked on their final projects by reading or planning activities. Note: since the remainder of class periods will be primarily devoted to in-class independent work on final projects, participation will count double.
Exit ticket: What is polyvocality?
Homework:
Work on your final project.
Monday, July 8, 2013
July 8th, 2013
7/8/13
In Class:
Journal-- Reflect on Sherman Alexie's comments on the lack of community on the Internet (video starting at 11:59). Do you agree? How does this relate to "The Search Engine"?
Mini-quiz on "The Search Engine," followed by discussion of the story.
Introduction to and distribution of final project book choices: Flight, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Reservation Blues, First Indian on the Moon, and Ten Little Indians. Each student should create deadlines for him or herself using the following calendar:
With remaining time, students began planning and reading for final projects.
Exit ticket: What is intersectionality?
Homework:
Read for your final.
Finish your calendar of deadlines.
In Class:
Journal-- Reflect on Sherman Alexie's comments on the lack of community on the Internet (video starting at 11:59). Do you agree? How does this relate to "The Search Engine"?
Mini-quiz on "The Search Engine," followed by discussion of the story.
Introduction to and distribution of final project book choices: Flight, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Reservation Blues, First Indian on the Moon, and Ten Little Indians. Each student should create deadlines for him or herself using the following calendar:
Exit ticket: What is intersectionality?
Homework:
Read for your final.
Finish your calendar of deadlines.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
July 3rd, 2013
7/3/13
In Class:
Journal-- What are the first things you want new people to know about you?
Instruction and discussion on the notion of polyvocality.
Polyvocality [the presence of many voices]: the deliberate creation of multiple independent and unique voices to demonstrate differences in perspective AND to remind us that all literature and art communicates amongst itself.
Alexie’s work often integrates multiple voices, often in conflict, to demonstrate the extreme differences he feels within his own identity characteristics.
Read and discussed "War Stories" by Alexie to demonstrate the integration of polyvocality.
Introduced final project (see separate post).
Students independently read and composed discussion questions for "The Search Engine."
Exit ticket:
- How much did you read in class today?
- Who is your favorite musical artist?
Homework:
Finish "The Search Engine" and write three discussion questions by Monday.
In Class:
Journal-- What are the first things you want new people to know about you?
Instruction and discussion on the notion of polyvocality.
Polyvocality [the presence of many voices]: the deliberate creation of multiple independent and unique voices to demonstrate differences in perspective AND to remind us that all literature and art communicates amongst itself.
Alexie’s work often integrates multiple voices, often in conflict, to demonstrate the extreme differences he feels within his own identity characteristics.
Read and discussed "War Stories" by Alexie to demonstrate the integration of polyvocality.
Introduced final project (see separate post).
Students independently read and composed discussion questions for "The Search Engine."
Exit ticket:
- How much did you read in class today?
- Who is your favorite musical artist?
Homework:
Finish "The Search Engine" and write three discussion questions by Monday.
Monday, July 1, 2013
July 1st, 2013
7/1/13
In Class:
Journal-- Recount your favorite mistake.
Direct instruction in ascribed vs. achieved character traits, particularly in regards to the wielding of power in society.
ascribed: a character trait assigned to a person by society or a social group. (Cannot be controlled.) Ex.-- black, age 17, Canadian, son/daughter.
achieved: a character trait which a person chooses or earns. Ex.-- doctor, model train enthusiast, father.
Discussed the notion of intersectionality: the concept that a person’s identity is composed of an infinite number of intersecting identity traits. (Often focuses on minority groups.)
Reviewed and discussed "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven," focusing on the dynamic of power and racial discrimination.
Exit ticket: List five of the character traits (ascribed or achieved) that make up your unique intersection.
Homework:
By Monday, read "The Search Engine" and write three discussion questions. -- "If you make heroes out of humans, you'll invariably be disappointed." -Alexie
In Class:
Journal-- Recount your favorite mistake.
Direct instruction in ascribed vs. achieved character traits, particularly in regards to the wielding of power in society.
ascribed: a character trait assigned to a person by society or a social group. (Cannot be controlled.) Ex.-- black, age 17, Canadian, son/daughter.
achieved: a character trait which a person chooses or earns. Ex.-- doctor, model train enthusiast, father.
Discussed the notion of intersectionality: the concept that a person’s identity is composed of an infinite number of intersecting identity traits. (Often focuses on minority groups.)
Reviewed and discussed "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven," focusing on the dynamic of power and racial discrimination.
Exit ticket: List five of the character traits (ascribed or achieved) that make up your unique intersection.
Homework:
By Monday, read "The Search Engine" and write three discussion questions. -- "If you make heroes out of humans, you'll invariably be disappointed." -Alexie
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