Tuesday, May 31st - All Periods

Revolutionaries: Day 6

Do Now: Why are human rights (the rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled) and the right to vote so important?

(What would happen if you did not have human rights or the right to vote?)

Critical Thinking Questions: What connections can we make between Burma and the American Civil Rights movement?  What are human rights?  Why does the right to vote matter?

Content: Story of Aung San Suu Kyi from After Gandhi: One Hundred Years of Nonviolent Resistance

Objective: We will see connections between human rights movements around the world and write at least three connections between Aung San Suu Kyi and the Melba Beals.

Class Activities: Do now discussion, Reading Aung San Suu Kyi story, Writing about connections in ven diagram

Homework: The world is becoming increasingly interconnected.  Why do you think human rights is a global issue? Why do other countries have the same human rights struggles that we have in America?

Thursday, May 26th - Periods 3, 5, 6 & 7

Revolutionaries: Day 4

Do Now: Describe your most chaotic trip to school in the morning.  What happened that made it rare or uncommon?

Critical Thinking Questions: How do we deal with hate?  How can we respond to hate in a positive way? What is metaphor?  How can we use creative metaphors to express ourselves and come to better understandings of concepts and people?

Content: Warriors Don’t Cry - Chapter 7

Objective: We will be able to make abstract connections between Melba Beals and a “body biography” in order to develop a characterization of her.

Class Activities:Do Now Discussion, Reading first half of chapter 7, Body Biographies

Homework: What character traits does it take for Melba to persist as a student at Central High?  Do you have any of those character traits?

Thursday, May 26th - Period 1

Revolutionaries: Day 2

Do Now: Have you ever experienced a double-standard outside of school? (A double-standard is when you are treated by a different standard than someone else.)

Critical Thinking Questions: What is a societal double standard?  How do they impact our lived experiences?  Do double standards still exist today?

Content: World Almanac Video - Free At Last: Civil Rights Heroes

Objective: We will be able to make connections between the the video and what we have read from Warriors Don’t Cry

Class Activities: Do now discussion, video watching, writing.

Homework: Are there still double standards for different cultural and racial groups in our society today? Explain why or why not in your opinion?

Wednesday, May25th - Period 1

Revolutionaries: Day 1

Do Now:  What would you do if you knew that everyday you would be harassed and antagonized at school?  

Critical Thinking Questions: Who is a revolutionary? What does it take to be a revolutionary?  How can we become better at spotting the assumptions of a culture or society?

Content: Doubters and Believers, Warriors Don’t Cry

Objective: We will develop an understanding for what some revolutionaries of our society have been through and write a reflection of revolutionary action.

Class Activities: Do Now discussion, Doubters and Believers, Warriors Don’t Cry, Written reflection

Homework: Finish reading the last couple pages of chapter 1 from Warriors Don’t Cry. Answer questions about the chapter.

• What did the experience at Mr. Waylan’s grocery store teach Melba about the American culture in which she was growing up?
• What did she write in her diary in response to these experiences as a young girl?

Wednesday, May25th - Periods 3, 5, 6 & 7

Revolutionaries: Day 3

Do Now: When schools were segregated, was there any reason not to integrate?  (Was there any reason just to leave it alone as it was and remain segregated?)

Critical Thinking Questions: What impact has integration had on our society?  What were the positive and negative implications of integration?  What works still needs to be one in terms of civil rights in our society?

Content: Warriors Don’t Cry - Chapter 3

Objective: We will be able to make connections between social philosophies (the melting pot) with forced integration, and create a “found poem” from Chapter 3.

Class Activities: Do Now Discussion, Melting Pot Review, Reading Chapter 3, Found Poem in groups.

Homework: a) In what ways can non-violent resistance more effective than violent resistance?  
b) Is violent resistance ever necessary?

Tuesday, May 24th - Periods 3, 5, 6 & 7

Revolutionaries: Day 2

Do Now: Have you ever experienced a double-standard outside of school? (A double-standard is when you are treated by a different standard than someone else.)

Critical Thinking Questions: What is a societal double standard?  How do they impact our lived experiences?  Do double standards still exist today?

Content: World Almanac Video - Free At Last: Civil Rights Heroes

Objective: We will be able to make connections between the the video and what we have read from Warriors Don’t Cry

Class Activities: Do now discussion, video watching, writing.

Homework: Are there still double standards for different cultural and racial groups in our society today? Explain why or why not in your opinion?

Monday, May 23rd - Periods 3, 5, 6 & 7

Revolutionaries: Day 1

Do Now:  What would you do if you knew that everyday you would be harassed and antagonized at school?

Critical Thinking Questions: Who is a revolutionary? What does it take to be a revolutionary?  How can we become better at spotting the assumptions of a culture or society?

Content: Doubters and Believers, Warriors Don’t Cry

Objective: We will develop an understanding for what some revolutionaries of our society have been through and write a reflection of revolutionary action.

Class Activities: Do Now discussion, Doubters and Believers, Warriors Don’t Cry, Written reflection

Homework: Finish reading the last couple pages of chapter 1 from Warriors Don’t Cry. Answer questions about the chapter.

• What did the experience at Mr. Waylan’s grocery store teach Melba about the American culture in which she was growing up?
• What did she write in her diary in response to these experiences as a young girl?

How to Create a Job

Some incredible information shared in this podcast:

Very soon in the American economy, if not already, you will need a high school diploma and some additional training or education after high school, aka "High School Plus," in order to enter the middle class.

"High School Plus," used to be a very reliable way into the middle class, but in the near future, it may become the only way.

80 million Americans over the age of 25, 40% of the adult population, do not have "High School Plus." 80 million Americans locked out of the middle class.

Thursday, May 19th - Period 7

Links for Class:

A) NPR Article: College Student Debt Grows

B) Period 7 GoogleDoc

Thursday, May 19th - Period 6

Links for Class:

A) NPR Article: College Student Debt Grows

B) Period 6 GoogleDoc

Thursday, May 19th - Period 5

Links for Class:

A) NPR Article: College Student Debt Grows

B) Period 5 GoogleDoc

Thursday, May 19th - Period 3

Links for Class:

A) NPR Article: College Student Debt Grows

B) Period 3 GoogleDoc

Thursday, May 19th - Period 1

Links for Class:

A) NPR Article: College Student Debt Grows

B) Period 1 GoogleDoc

Wednesday, May 18th - Periods 5, 6 & 7

Professional Literacy: Day 7

Do Now: Are you “comfortable in your own skin”?  Are you confident as an individual all the time?  Or, are you some times self-conscious of what others are thinking?

Critical Thinking Questions: Where do we feel comfortable being ourselves?  Do you try new experiences and opportunities or are you hesitant about what others think?

Content: “Getups” by Maya Angelou (Page 93 - Multicultural Voices)

Objective: We will recognize ways in which we are limited by our images of ourselves and how that may impact experiences that we participate in. Then, we will write a resume draft that represents extra-curriculars that we have been involved with.

Class Activities: Do-Now Discussion, Reading Getups, Reflection, Resume Writing

Homework: In class, we prepared your resume.  Upon reflection, what are extra-curriculars, activities, or other work experience you will want to add to your resume before you are a senior?

Monday, May 16th - All Periods

Professional Literacy: Day 6

Do Now: If you were to write a book about your life, what stories would you tell?

Critical Thinking Questions: How important is the stories of your life to the history of the world?  What is an anecdote? How can an anecdote reveal personal characteristics?

Content: Sample student college application essays

Objective: We will be able to recognize the characteristics of a good anecdote and  begin writing their

Class Activities: Preparing personal anecdotes, Reading Sample Anecdotes, Writing

Homework: Complete Personal Anecdote Assignment.  Due Wednesday!

Thursday, May 12th - Periods 5, 6 & 7

Professional Literacy: Day 4

Do Now: a) Where do you want to be after graduating high school?
b) Where do you NOT want to be be after graduating high school?

Critical Thinking Questions: What kind of education will suit you the best after high school?  How does this education relate to your future plans?

Content: College Selection Worksheet, Presentation on different colleges, Trade schools, College, and University websites.

Objective: Students will begin to recognize the types of post-secondary environments that they want to be in and will navigate websites to request information from a campus.

Class Activities: Do now discussion, College Selection Worksheet, Presentation on colleges, Accessing information.

Homework: Which type of post-secondary environment do you want to be in?  How many students? Rural or urban? Why would this type of environment be best for you?

Wednesday, May 11th - Periods 5, 6 & 7

Professional Literacy: Day 3

Do Now: For those individuals who are struggling in life, what does it take for them to overcome their hardships?  What personality traits does it take to succeed?  

Critical Thinking Questions: What personality traits does it take to overcome life’s hardships?  

Content: Holla Back: “Failure is Not an Option” - Chapter 13, page 61, “What Would You Do?”

Objective: We will be able to make personal connections to a text, discuss hardships, and the skills needed to overcome them.  

Class Activities: Do Now Discussion, Reading “Failure is Not an Option,” Reflection and Writing, Listening to City High, Reflection

Homework: Have you been through hardships?  What are you going to do to overcome those hardships?  If you have not been through hardships, then what does that mean for you?

Wednesday, May 11th - Periods 1 & 3

Professional Literacy: Day 4

Do Now: a) Where do you want to be after graduating high school?
b) Where do you NOT want to be be after graduating high school?

Critical Thinking Questions: What kind of education will suit you the best after high school?  How does this education relate to your future plans?

Content: College Selection Worksheet, Presentation on different colleges, Trade schools, College, and University websites.

Objective: Students will begin to recognize the types of post-secondary environments that they want to be in and will navigate websites to request information from a campus.

Class Activities: Do now discussion, College Selection Worksheet, Presentation on colleges, Accessing information.

Homework: Which type of post-secondary environment do you want to be in?  How many students? Rural or urban? Why would this type of environment be best for you?

Tuesday, May 10th - Periods 5, 6 & 7

Professional Literacy: Day 2

Do Now: Do certain personality types match certain kinds of jobs?  For example, do good teachers share a certain personality type?  Write at least 2 examples.

Critical Thinking Questions: How does your personality match the profession that you may be interested in pursuing?

Content: Pennsylvania Career Guide

Objective: We will be able to match personalities with certain career types and write about the matches that the students make for themselves.

Class Activities: Do Now Discussion, Personality Test and Professional Matching, Student writing

Homework:  Reflect on one of the professions that you matched with through the personality test.  Could you see yourself pursuing that profession?  Why or why not? What will it take to get there?

Tuesday, May 10th - Periods 1 & 3

Professional Literacy: Day 3

Do Now: For those individuals who are struggling in life, what does it take for them to overcome their hardships?  What personality traits does it take to succeed?  Have you worked to overcome hardships in your life? Explain.

Critical Thinking Questions: What personality traits does it take to overcome life’s hardships?  

Content: Holla Back: “Failure is Not an Option” - Chapter 13, page 61, “What Would You Do?”

Objective: We will be able to make personal connections to a text, discuss hardships, and the skills needed to overcome them.  

Class Activities: Do Now Discussion, Reading “Failure is Not an Option,” Reflection and Writing, Listening to City High, Reflection

Homework: Have you been through hardships?  What are you going to do to overcome those hardships?  If you have not been through hardships, then what does that mean for you?

Monday, May 9th - Periods 5, 6 & 7

Professional Literacy: Day 1

Do Now: For your life, what is your definition of success?

Critical Thinking Questions: How can you determine and be in control of your own success?  Why does this matter?  How can you set goals for yourself?

Content: “Your Own Definition of Success” from Holla Back

Objective: We will be able to write our own definition of success and reflect on how literacy will play a role in that success.

Class Activities: Reflection, Reading Story, Writing

Homework: Fully proofread one on your essays, stories, or poems. Type it or write it very neatly for class publication.

Monday, May 9th - Periods 1 & 3

Professional Literacy: Day 2

Do Now: Do certain personality types match certain kinds of jobs?  For example, do good teachers share a certain personality type?  Write at least 2 examples.

Critical Thinking Questions: How does your personality match the profession that you may be interested in pursuing?

Content: Pennsylvania Career Guide

Objective: We will be able to match personalities with certain career types and write about the matches that the students make for themselves.

Class Activities: Do Now Discussion, Personality Test and Professional Matching, Student writing

Homework:  Reflect on one of the professions that you matched with through the personality test.  Could you see yourself pursuing that profession?  Why or why not? What will it take to get there?

Earth Song Tribute

Song Writing Process: Lyrical Surgery

Friday, May 6th - Periods 5, 6 & 7

Professional Literacy: Day 1a

Do Now: What does your best friend or family member know about your ambitions?  What have you told  others about your future goals and dreams? What would they say about you?

Critical Thinking Questions: How do you “brand” yourself?  How do you shape your identity in the world?  Do you have control over your identity (how other people see you)?

Content: Holla Back: “Brand Yourself” page 103.

Objective: We will read an essay, pick out the themes, and be able to write about the same themes in our own lives.  

Class Activities:  Do now discussion, reading passage, written response and share out.

Homework: No Homework!