Visualizing Characterization!

Students created a visual interpretation (Character Map) of a character from one of the texts they read in their reading groups to demonstrate their understanding of characterization.

Here is an example of Mary Maloney from "Lamb to the Slaughter" by Roald Dahl

Here are some examples of students and their incredible work!

Character Development

Remember: Round/Dynamic characters are the ones that change throughout a text. 

First, we need to think about what kinds of events might change a person

Here are some examples of what students came up with: 

Then we can track exactly how a character changes from beginning to end.

Here's an example of showing the character development of Mary Maloney from "Lamb to the Slaughter" by Roald Dahl

Character Traits and Character Types

Character Traits:

Character Types: 

F.A.S.T. Characterization:

Literary Analysis Tips and Tricks: Double Entry Journals

Create a Double Entry Journal when reading a text to help with literary analysis!

Characterization -- Dialogue

Characterization is another important literary device that helps us understand the overall message or theme of a text.

Dialogue is an aspect of Characterization that is often overlooked, but is in fact a very useful tool that can reinforce what we learn about a character. 

To view the notes on Characterization and Dialogue, click here.

Identifying Perspective

Perspective is another literary device we can use to help us understand the overall message of a text.

These two versions of Aloe Blacc's "The Man" demonstrate how easily perspective can change and affect our understanding of a text.

We can use tone, mood, and perspective to shape the theme and help us understand the meaning of a text.

Practice with Tone and Mood

Here are two helpful resources to practice understanding and identifying Tone and Mood in a text.

Tone and Mood Handout

Practice Identifying Tone and Mood Worksheet

Spirit week reminder!!!

Understanding Voice, Tone, and Mood in Taylor Swift's "Safe and Sound" (Ft. The Civil Wars)

It's always a good idea to refresh ourselves on the lesson from the previous day:

Lyrics are some of the best examples of texts to use to analyze voice, tone, and mood.

Here we looked at Taylor Swift's "Safe and Sound" and came up with two different interpretations of the meaning of the song as we compared and contrasted reading the lyrics to watching the music video/listening to the song out loud.

Voice, Tone, and Mood

To see the PowerPoint presentation on Voice, Tone, and Mood click here



Sometimes all it takes is changing a few details to completely alter the stories you know and love.

Come meet us!

During the speech presentations, you will be expected to provide constructive, positive feedback to your classmates. The forum for this feedback will be "Today's Meet."

Click here to join our "Today's Meet" chatroom!

Your name should be YOUR OWN NAME. Otherwise, we will be unable to give you a grade for participation in the discussion.

Meet Ms. Brody!

Hello families and friends of the Indigo team,

     My name is Stephanie Brody and I am a student teacher from the University of 

New Haven working alongside Mrs. DeGray and her classes this Spring! For the 

past three weeks I have had the pleasure of working with and getting to know 

your children and hopefully they've mentioned something about me joining the 

classroom, but I wanted to personally introduce myself and allow you to get to 

know me a bit.

     Before attending UNH, I earned my undergraduate degree from Central 

Connecticut State University in 2014, studying English with a concentration in 

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Most recently I graduated 

from the University of New Haven with my Master's degree in Secondary 

Education for English/Language Arts. Now I am in the final phase of my graduate 

program as a student teacher, and I cannot even begin to express how lucky I 

feel to be working with the incredible students and staff at SDMS. Everyone has 

been so welcoming and made me feel right at home. 

     Working with children has always been a huge part of my life and I've been very 

fortunate to have had many opportunities to work with children of all different 

ages and ability levels. In the past I have worked as a nanny, camp 

counselor/unit head, after school care teacher, art and swimming instructor, and 

intern at a high school. It wasn't hard for me to decide to pursue a career in 

teaching, because for as long as I can remember I've wanted to help kids realize 

just how valuable their education is and help them use it to become anything they 

want to be. 

     I am very much looking forward to continuing to work with your children for the 

next few months and learn as much as I can from them as they will learn from 

me. I also hope that during my time here I will have the opportunity to meet as 

many of you as possible, so please do not hesitate to contact me at any time. My 

email is sbrody@wethersfield.me.  

     Thank you for taking the time to read up about me, and I look forward to hearing 

from and meeting you all in the future. 

All the best, 

Stephanie Brody

Alas, poor Yorick!

Note-taking reminders!!!

Social Issue Speech

Antithesis: a rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect.

See how many examples of antithesis you can spot as you watch the video and listen to the lyrics!

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.”

- Dickens

Grammar/Punctuation Review

https://www.ixl.com

Critical Issue Speeches

Child Soldier Debate!!

Today's debate format is set up in a way that will help you write your argument essay over the weekend. Rounds 2 and 3 are specifically designed to lay the groundwork for the counterargument section of your essay. Remember, there are two objectives in a counterclaim. #1 poke holes in your opponent's theory. #2 play defense for your own theory. 

Avoid words that don't further your argument. For example, people who believe child soldiers are criminals should avoid using the words victim or brainwashing whenever possible. 

Take words or phrases that your opponent used in their initial argument, and turn them around to use their own words against them. Redefine the circumstances to better align with your theory. For example, someone who believes that child soldiers are perpetrators could question the use of the word "victim," and remind their opponent of all the innocent "victims" the child soldiers killed in incredibly brutal ways. 

As you write your argument essay supporting whichever side you support on this issue... be sure to use the notes you have from the debate activity. What are the most relevant pieces of evidence to support your thesis.

     Choose a thesis:

1. Child soldiers should be prosecuted for their crimes, because they are perpetrators.
2. Child "soldiers" should not be prosecuted for their "crimes," because they are victims of horrific circumstances.

Debate preparations...

Child Soldiers in the Ranks

Critical Issue Research

Use the links below to gather information and take notes to answer the following questions:

Should child soldiers be prosecuted for their crimes? 

Are they victims? 

Are they perpetrators?

CNN video- Youngest Guantanamo detainee transferred

CBS News Video- Eye To Eye: Ishmael Beah (CBS News)

Click on the article links below for more information:

A child soldier interrogated and tried

Analysis: Should child soldiers be prosecuted for their crimes?

Victims, perpetrators, or heroes?

Armed & Underage

Koinange: Friend gunned down by child soldiers

Working through our nonfiction reading

Anyone up for a little Nonfiction Tic-Tac-Toe??

A printable copy of the Tic-Tac-Toe board is available on my homework page.

Tic-Tac-Toe Board

Frayer Model Format

Non-fiction Do's

Winter SRI Test!

Take your time and do your very best work!!

SRI Test Link