Objective

A little justification for one day more...

SSR

Star Seminar Debrief Discussion: Common Section Groups

Star Seminar Debrief Discussion: Mixed Groups

Wrap up and Next Steps

Persepolis Star Seminar: Small Group Debrief

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Objective

SWBAT develop their own understanding of the text by participating in small group seminar discussions.

Big Idea

Being able to state and support a claim about text is a difficult thing--providing scaffolded opportunities to be successful with this is essential in the high school ELA classroom.

Lesson Author

Jessica Keigan

Thornton, CO

Grade Level

Tenth grade

Subjects

English / Language Arts

memoir (Literature)

Standards

RL.9-10.3

Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.

RL.9-10.5

Analyze how an author's choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise.

RI.9-10.1

Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

RI.9-10.2

Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.

SL.9-10.1

Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9-10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

SL.9-10.1a

Come to discussions prepared, having read and researched material under study; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence from texts and other research on the topic or issue to stimulate a thoughtful, well-reasoned exchange of ideas.

SL.9-10.1c

Propel conversations by posing and responding to questions that relate the current discussion to broader themes or larger ideas; actively incorporate others into the discussion; and clarify, verify, or challenge ideas and conclusions.

SL.9-10.1d

Respond thoughtfully to diverse perspectives, summarize points of agreement and disagreement, and, when warranted, qualify or justify their own views and understanding and make new connections in light of the evidence and reasoning presented.

A little justification for one day more...

This lesson feels like it is dragging out, but I think it is important to give my students one more day to digest their thinking/discussion. Here's my reasoning: One day more seminar reflection.

SSR

10 minutes

We will give the students their typical ten minutes of reading time. I will use this time to check to make sure students have their choice novels now that we are no longer reading Persepolis in class.

Star Seminar Debrief Discussion: Common Section Groups

15 minutes

Students will return to their common section groups from the previous day to debrief what they heard other groups share in the large group/star seminar format.

As we didn't have enough time for true dialogue, this will hopefully provide them a chance to collect their thinking around new/updated responses to the questions posted. Rather than having them return to the section of the text that they focused on, I will ask them to answer the questions using the book as a whole instead (RL.9-10.1). I will ask them to continue taking notes as a part of their discussions so I can track their thinking over the multiple days.

Star Seminar Debrief Discussion: Mixed Groups

20 minutes

Best Part of the Seminar

After the students have had time to recalibrate their thinking with their common section groups, I will move them into jigsaw groups with their peers.

At this point, it will not matter which section they are representing as they should be discussing the book as a whole. My hope for this section is that they will actually engage in the discussions, thereby meeting the speaking and listening standards that require them to respond to and build on other people's ideas (SL.9-10.1c and SL.9-10.1d).

My teaching partner has graciously offered to be an extra set of ears for me during this time. He will circulate one side of the room and listen to groups that I can't listen to while I am on the other half of the room.

Wrap up and Next Steps

10 minutes

A note on running out of time at the end of class

If there is time, I will have students share out their favorite statement from the seminar or any new/final thoughts they may have about the text. If there is not time, I will just collect all their written work and their books so that we are ready to move on to the writing portion of the unit tomorrow.

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