Monday, April 9

Objective: SWBAT describe how Janie is using Tea Cake to rebel against Granny and Jody.  SWBAT describe how Janie’s choices have caused her own downfall.

Do-Now: Do you believe Tea Cake is a good match for Janie?  Do you feel she will truly be happy with him?  Does Tea Cake really care about Janie or is he just after her money?

Today: 1) Class will begin to read, Chapter #12.  Why does Pheoby warn Janie about Tea Cake?

2) Students will finish reading Chapter #12.  What are Janie’s plans with Tea Cake?

Exit Slip: What are your reactions to Janie’s plan with Tea Cake?  Do you think she is making the right choice by following her heart, or will she only end up being hurt again?

Homework: Compose a letter from Phoeby to Janie explaining why Phoeby doesn't feel it's a good idea for Janie to continue her relationship with Tea Cake.  Also, explain why Phoeby feels Janie needs to be careful with Tea Cake.  Your letter should be at least TEN complete sentences and include examples from the book.

Friday, March 30

Objective: SWBAT to characterize Tea Cake based on his actions and dialogue.  SWBAT compare Tea Cake’s treatment of Janie to Logan and Jody’s treatment of her.

Do-Now: Describe Tea Cake.  How is he similar to the other two men Janie has had in her life?  How is he different?  Do you think Janie has finally met her match?  Explain.

Today: 1) Review characterization: direct vs. indirect

2) Class will begin to read Chapter #11 and characterize Tea Cake based on his actions and dialogue.

3) Students will finish reading Chapter #11, focusing on how Tea Cake’s treatment of Janie is similar/different from her past suitors.

4) Students will begin questions for Chapter #11.

Exit Slip: How is Tea Cake different from the other men Janie has had in her life?  How does he treat her differently?  How does she act differently around him?  Explain.

Homework: Finish questions for Chapter #11

Thursday, March 29

Objective: SWBAT describe how a scene from the middle of a book parallels a scene from the beginning of the book.  SWBAT list a character’s core values and explain how they have remained constant throughout the story.

Do-Now: Do you believe people are able to change or are they doomed to stay the same?  Why do some people keep making the same mistakes over and over again?  Why do they fail to learn from their mistakes, even after making the same mistake several times?  Have you ever been guilty of making the same mistake more than once?

Today: 1) Class will being reading Chapter #10, focusing on the introduction of Janie’s new love interest, Tea Cake.  How does her meeting a Tea Cake resemble her meeting of Jody in the beginning of the book?  How is Janie falling for the same attributes in Tea Cake that she fell for in Jody?

2) Students will finish reading Chapter #10.  How is Tea Cake similar to Jody?  How is he different?  Based on what has happened to Janie in her past, why do you believe she is attracted to Tea Cake?

3) Complete a VENN diagram comparing/contrasting Tea Cake and Jody.  Your diagram should include THREE similarities, THREE elements which are only true for Tea Cake, and THREE elements which are only true for Jody.

Exit Slip: Explain how Janie’s meeting of Tea Cake resembles her prior meeting of Jody.  How do the two scenes resemble one another?  How do the two men resemble one another?

Homework: Finish your VENN diagram

Wednesday, March 28

Objective: SWBAT describe how Janie’s character changes after Jody’s death and identify possible causes for these changes.

Do-Now: Now that Jody has died, Janie is finally free from him.  NOW will she finally be happy?  Why might she still have unhappiness in her life?  Can a woman like Janie ever really be happy?  Explain.

Today: 1) How has Janie changed since the beginning of the book?

2) Class will begin to read, Chapter #9, focusing on Janie’s period of mourning after Jody’s death.  How has Jody’s death changed Janie’s character?

3) Students will finish reading Chapter #9, focusing on Janie coming out of her period of mourning.  Why does Janie seem to have no interest in remarrying?

4) Begin answering questions for Chapter #9.

Exit Slip: Why do you believe Janie doesn’t wish to get re-married?  If you were Janie, would you get re-married or would you remain single?  Explain.

Homework: Finish questions for Chapter #9.

Tuesday, March 27

Objective: SWBAT identify two of a Janie’s main conflicts and explain how those conflicts are resolved by Jody’s death.

Do-Now: If you have anger towards someone, does it end with his/her death?  Is there any reason to stay angry with someone who is dead or dying?  How could your problems with that person be resolved with their death?

Today: 1) Class will begin to read Chapter #8, focusing on Jody’s deteriorating health and how it is affecting his relationship with Janie.

2) Class will finish reading Chapter #8, focusing on the final conversation between Janie and Jody as Jody is on his death bed.

3) Students will begin to complete questions for Chapter #8.

Exit Slip: How are Janie’s conflicts solved by Jody’s death?  Do you think Janie will finally be happy now that Jody is gone?  Explain.

Homework: Finish questions for Chapter #8

Monday, March 26

Objective: SWBAT explain how Jody’s treatment of Janie can be used to indirectly characterize him.

Do-Now: “We often criticize others for the faults we have ourselves.”  Do you agree with this quote?  Do you believe when people criticize others they are pointing out faults in the other people that they also have themselves.  Have you often done this or has someone done this to you?  Explain.

Today: 1) Review Direct vs. Indirect Characterization

2) Class will begin to read Chapter #7.  How do Jody’s criticisms toward Janie represent faults he finds in himself?  Why does he bring Janie down to try to make himself feel better?

3) Class will finish reading Chapter #7.  Why does Janie finally stand up to Jody?  How has Jody now begun to lose all his power?

Exit Slip: Describe the falling out between Jody and Janie.  What made Janie finally snap?  Why do you believe she put up with Jody’s abuse for so long?

Homework: Complete questions for Chapter #7

Friday, March 23

Objective: SWBAT to explain how an animal can be used as a symbol in a novel and describe what that animal is symbolizing.

Do-Now: Describe the problems that Janie and Jody are beginning to have in their marriage.  How are these problems similar/different to the problems she had with Logan?  Explain.

Today: 1) Review symbolism

2) Class will begin to read Chapter #6, focusing on how the mule is being used as a symbol.

3) Class will finish reading Chapter #6.  How has Janie and Jody’s marriage begun to take a turn for the worst?  How does Jody treat Janie?  Why does she accept this treatment?

4) Students will begin to complete questions on Chapter #6.

Exit Slip: Who/what does the mule symbolize?  Explain.

Homework: Finish reading Chapter #6 and complete Chapter #6 questions

Thursday, March 22

Objective: SWBAT describe how Chapter #5 of "Their Eyes Were Watching God" contains situational irony.

Do-Now: Give TWO examples of situational irony from the beginning of Chapter #5.

Today: 1) Review the first half of Chapter #5

2) Continue reading Chapter #5 and completing Chapter #5 review questions.

Exit Slip: Does Janie appear to be happy with her new life with Jody?  Explain why or why not, giving examples from the chapter.


Homework: Complete Chapter #5 Review Questions

Wednesday, March 21

Objective: SWBAT describe how a chapter in a novel represents situational irony.

Do-Now: Janie is now on her second marriage.  The first time she was married, she did not get to choose her own husband.  This second time, she did.  Do you think she will be happier now that she is with a man she chose?  Explain.

Today: 1) Review situational irony

2) Class will begin to read Chapter #5.  What is Janie’s new life like?  Is it better than the life she had before?  Is her marriage any happier?

Tuesday, March 20

Objective: SWBAT describe a character using both direction and indirect characterization.

Do-Now: When two people are having trouble in their marriage, should they always try to work things out or are their circumstances where they should just give up on the marriage?  Explain.

Today: 1) Review direct vs. indirect characterization

2) Class will begin reading Chapter #4, characterizing Jody.  What does the author tell us about Jody?  What can we infer about him?

3) Finish reading Chapter #4.  Why did Janie finally leave Logan?

4) Use a VENN diagram to compare/contrast Logan and Jody based on their characteristics.

Exit Slip: Why do you believe Jody is so appealing to Janie?  Do you think Janie was right to leave Logan and marry Jody?  Explain.

Homework: Finish VENN diagram.

Monday, March 19

Objective: SWBAT identify and describe a character’s internal and external conflict.

Do-Now: Why might someone marry a person he/she did not love?  Could he/she ever be happy in a marriage without love?  Would you ever marry someone you did not love?  Explain.

Today: 1) Class will read Chapter #3, identifying Janie’s internal and external conflicts as she marries Logan.

2) Writing Assignment: Compose a letter from Nanny to Janie giving her advice on her marriage with Logan.  Explain to her why you wanted her to marry Logan and what you feel she needs to do in order to be happy in her marriage.  This letter should be at least TEN complete sentences long and should be written from Nanny's first person perspective using "I."

Exit Slip: If you were Janie, would you stay in a loveless marriage with Logan?  Explain why or why not.

Friday, March 16

Objective: SWBAT describe a character’s motivation and how it effects the decisions made by that character.  SWBAT compare/contrast two characters based on the events each character experienced in her childhood.

Do-Now: What do you believe is motivating Nanny to want Janie to get married so young?  If you were Janie, how would you react to being forced to marry someone who is much older than you?

Today: 1) Class will finish reading Chapter #2.  How does Janie react to being forced to marry Logan?

2) Students will create a VENN diagram comparing Janie’s childhood to Nanny’s. 

Exit Slip: Based on what you know about your parents/grandparents, what do you believe motivates them to treat you the way that they do and set the expectations that they have for you?

Homework: Finish your VENN diagram

Thursday, March 15

Objective: SWBAT describe a character’s motivation and how it effects the decisions made by that character.  SWBAT compare/contrast two characters based on the events each character experienced in her childhood.

Do-Now: What motivated you to come to school today?  How might your decision to come to school have been different without this motivation?  Explain.

Today: 1) Review character motivation

2) Class will begin reading Chapter #2, focusing on Janie’s description of her childhood.

Wednesday, March 14

Objective: SWBAT list at least three examples of figurative language  from the first chapter of “Their Eyes Were Watching God” that are being used to set the tone of the novel and explain how these lines create tone/mood.

Do-Now: Why do people gossip about one another?  How can gossip be destructive to a person's reputation?  Can any gossip be believed or should it all be dismissed until proven true?  Explain.

Today: Class will continue to read Chapter #1 of "Their Eyes Were Watching God" and continue to complete review questions for Chapter #1.

Exit Slip: Describe the tone/mood of the first chapter.  What do we learn about Janie based on what others have said about her in this chapter?

Homework: Finish reading Chapter #1 and complete Chapter #1 Questions

Tuesday, March 13

Objective: SWBAT list at least three examples of figurative language  from the first chapter of “Their Eyes Were Watching God” that are being used to set the tone of the novel and explain how these lines create tone/mood.

Do-Now: Read the first two, small paragraphs on pg. 1 at the beginning of Chapter#1.  What do you believe the author is saying about the dreams on men and women?  Explain.


Today: 1) Class will discuss the beginning of Chapter #1.  How is the author setting the tone/mood for the novel?  Teacher will review figurative language: simile, metaphor, personification.

2) Class will begin reading Chapter #1, finding lines that the author uses to set the tone/mood for the book and further instances of figurative language.

3) Students will begin answering questions for Chapter #1.

Friday, March 9

Objective: SWBAT complete an Anticipation Guide for "Their Eyes Were Watching God" and discuss/debate their answers with the class.

Do-Now: Complete Anticipation Guide for "Their Eyes Were Watching God"

Today:  Discuss/Debate Anticipation Guide for "Their Eyes Were Watching God."

Exit Slip: Which statement from the Anticipation Guide did you feel most strongly about?  Why?

Thursday, March 8

Objective: SWBAT evaluate the effectiveness of the conclusion of "The Giver."

Do-Now: How do you predict "The Giver" will end?  Be specific.

Today: 1) Introduce ambiguity

2) Class will read Chapter #23.  How is the ending of the chapter ambiguous?  What may have happened to Jonas at the end of the book?

3) The End: Write a Chapter #24 for the book which explains what happens to Jonas and Gabriel after the end of Chapter #23.  You may include characters who are already in the book as well as characters you create on your own.  Your chapter should be at least 20 complete sentences.

Exit Slip: Describe how the ending of "The Giver" was ambiguous.

Homework: Finish writing Chapter #24.

Wednesday, March 7 (Half-Day)

Objective: SWBAT evaluate how suspense is built in the final chapters of "The Giver."

Do-Now: Jonas fled his community to escape to an Elsewhere he wasn't sure existed.  Do you believe Elsewhere exists?  What does it look like?  Do you predict Jonas will make it to Elsewhere?  Explain.

Today: 1) Class will read and discuss Chapter 22. 

Exit Slip: How is Jonas' escape from his community becoming bittersweet?  What experiences has he been able to have now that he is outside his community?  How are these experiences similar/different from those given to him by the Giver?

Tuesday, March 6

Objective: SWBAT evaluate how suspense is built in the final chapters of “The Giver.”

Do-Now: Do you predict Jonas will go through with his plan to leave the community or will he decide to stay?  Explain and give examples from the story to support your explanation.

Today: 1) Class will review suspense techniques

2) Class will begin to read Chapter #21 of “The Giver.”  Why does the author choose to interrupt the scene with a flashback?  How does this create suspense? 

3) Students will begin to complete review questions for Chapter #21

Exit Slip: If you were Jonas, would you have brought Gabriel along with you?  Explain why or why not.

Homework: Finish review questions for Chapter #21

Monday, March 5

Objective: SWBAT describe how Jonas has changed throughout the novel based on the new knowledge he has acquired.

Do-Now: Now that Jonas has learned about “release,” what do you predict he might do?  If you were Jonas, what would you do now?  Explain.

Today: 1) Class will begin reading Chapter #20.  How does Jonas react after viewing the release?  What are his views on his community now that he knows the truth?

2) Class will finish reading Chapter #20 and begin completing the review questions.

Exit Slip: Do you predict Jonas will be successful in his attempt to escape from his community?  Explain why/why not.

Homework: Finish review questions for Chapter #20

Friday, March 2

Objective: SWBAT evaluate the effectiveness of a story’s climax.

Do-Now: One of the twins is going to be “released” from the community.  What do you think “release” is?  What happens during “release?”  Do you believe it is fair to “release” a newborn from the community?

Today: 1) Review Situational Irony and Climax

2) Class will read Chapter # 19.  What does Jonas discover about the process of “release?”  How does this discovery represent situational irony?  How can this event be viewed as the story’s climax?

3) Written Reflection: Now that you know what “release” is, how does your view on the events in the book change?  Look back at all the instances where “release” was mentioned in the book.  How did you view the events before, how do you view them now?

Exit Slip: How does “release” represent dystopia in the community?  Explain.

Homework: Finish Written Reflection