Due to the
scheduling of various standardized tests, i.e. A.P testing and individual state
assessments, May can be a difficult month to keep students inspired and the
learning momentum smooth.
The anxiety
that might crop up as teachers plan around the Testing Calendar will abate when
they use this middle and high school English lesson plan. With this unit, students’
not only choose the novel that they will study, but they also create a daily reading and
writing calendar that works with their scheduled exams and the teacher’s due
date. These factors maintain a flexible and flowing learning environment that engages
students and promotes responsibility.
Students
select a book of their choice to read and complete the detailed activities
included in the packet.
These requirements
involve a
1. General Novel Packet with four aspects: Book Notes, Plot Diagram, Quotes and Theme worksheets
2. Full-length Essay (500-750 words)
3. Group Project: "Threads-Making
Connections"
- read for half of the period, or
- work on their packets for half of the period.
The second
half of the period, they will
- participate in a whole class writing session, concentrating on a facet of writing, or
- discuss various aspects of their chosen novels with peers. NOTE: Each student in the group should be reading a different novel. Members take notes. These will enable them to complete the Threads-Making Connections activity.
By managing their
class time wisely, students will only have to complete the typing and compilation
of the required activities at home right before the final packets are due. They
should bind all of the components of their packet together in some way - a
folder with pockets is best.
Teaching
time won’t be interrupted and chaotic because of testing when you let this unit
plan become your May learning keystone. Its effectiveness stems from dual factors - students
hold the ownership for what they are
learning and when they are learning.
Teachers do
need to
- specify minimum length, genre and anything else you deem necessary for your charges.
- Mentor students’ progress with mini-conferences
And you, my teacher
friends, will appreciate the fact that your students are challenging themselves
mentally as they increase their reading comprehension, their higher level
thinking and their writing skills with substantive activities and no loss of
learning continuity.
Happy
Teaching,
Teach it Write
Building Powerful Academic Homes
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