Embedded Files
"They will not know that I have gone away to come back. For the ones I left behind."
Coming Back - 94 (79) to the end Discussion : When I say discussion - this lesson is again rare Ringmaster Teacher kind of discussion. Though because it is our last discussion of the novel - every student will have brought in at least one thing to say about the book as well. I have included a Group Work as well - but I can't imagine ending a book on a Group Work - it really needs a discussion for the type of summing up, and closure that this incredible masterpiece of an extended prose poem deserves. Though the last lesson may have covered up to page 93 ("What Sally Said"); I do selfishly, as their teacher, want to talk about much of that content together. That means we have an awful lot to cover - three pages of Lesson Notes (probably a record). It's more than worth it - but will take the teacher being on top of the pacing - and focusing as much as possible. I love this fina In fact, the final discussion of this book led to one of the greatest epiphanies that I ever experienced in my 33 years of teaching. And the really great part was that the epiphany came from a student - and not from me - though it has stayed with me over these many years.
Lesson Overview
Lesson Overview
The Quiz
The Quiz
Back to the normal, 100 point Quiz (the reading is tiny). If you decide to do the Group Work - and they didn't read - they can't get into a group. See my page on Group Work for more.
The Class Discussion
The Class Discussion
See my page on Class Discussions for more on Ring-Master teacher kinds of discussions. Much of what is covered in the Group Work (directly below) can also be found in the discussion. If you can read my handwriting, the complete instructions for having a teacher-led discussion can be found below as well.
The Group Work
The Group Work
Please see the actual Group Work below for precisely what's in it and my page on Group Work for more of the "why" do it. Here are some of the points that the Group Work goes over. After they are done with the quiz, they begin the Group Work. Those who did not read should not get into a group. (I always scanned or graded the quizzes immediately while they get started on the GW).
Some main points of the Group Work (see the handout for much more)
The link between Rafaela's choice of drinks - and an "exotic" longing.
Sally and her father
Linking Esperanza to The Things They Carried
The expansive sky and Ingrid Michaelson's song, "You and I" (lyrics are on the Group Work)
Esperanza wanting to be both "beautiful and cruel".
Esperanza's mother and missed opportunities
Relating "What Sally Said" to the film we watched: "The Return of Martin Guerre"
Next Class
Next Class
As always with our pentultimate lessons - remind the students to bring one specific thing about the novel (a comment, question, or quote) for our final discussion - the next lesson.
Class Discussion Instructions
Class Discussion Instructions
I hope you can read my writing - these are the notes that I used for when I did a discussion on these pages - oddly enough, this was just a few years when we actually were given the time to do this in class - and were given the authority to hold students accountable at the end of the year. NOTE: No recording exists (that I can find) for this discussion.
Group Work - You're Not my Daughter (81 to 93)
Group Work - You're Not my Daughter (81 to 93)
Most Recent Handouts
Most Recent Handouts
For some specifics on the Group Work, see above in my Lesson Overview - but of course the best place to get details is the Group Work itself - and there is always my page on Group Work for the why and how of it. Note: This two-sided Group Work also has an upcoming homework schedule, the lyrics to Ingrid Michaelson's "You and I" (see question 3) and the poem "The Truth" (see 4a) and the lesson that we did on that poem.
Quiz
Quiz
Most Recent Quiz
Most Recent Quiz
The reading quiz - like most my quizzes - is designed simply to see if the students did the reading - not, if they understood it. As always, I ask the students to first answer if they did the reading or not - if they didn't - they are expected to not guess. If we are doing the Group Work - students who did not read (I check quizzes immediately) should not get into a group.
"You and I" Ingrid Michaelson
"You and I" Ingrid Michaelson
This song can be played during the discussion - but if you do the Group Work it is required and helps answer Question #3. The linked idea has to do with Esperanza's generosity for how she would help others (eventually she will discover that will be through writing). The lyrics can be found on the Group Work.
A Sample Reading Page with my notes
A Sample Reading Page with my notes
These are some page with my 30 years of notes. My class discussion & the group work are respectively both generated from the text and my notes - and I'm always looking for connections to what has come before (and what will follow). So much gets added over the years - and of course, as I've stated many times on this site - I believe the teacher should reread every work that they assign to their students and they should stop teaching a text when they see nothing new in it.
Remote Enhancements
Remote Enhancements
Group Works can be done wonderfully using remote "rooms", while the traditional RingMaster teacher discussion is a natural for remote learning.
Thoughts on the Lesson
Thoughts on the Lesson
There is a lot in this book that requires the teacher to be sensitive and very much aware of their students. Rape, assault, parental abuse of children, intolerance are just some of the topics that are touched on - often in very subtle ways. This book requires that the teacher "be there" for their students and to guage their reactions to what is discussed - and of course, to give them the opportunity for that discussion.
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