Embedded Files
"The things they carried were largely determined by necessity."
The Things They Carried - Opening Discussion (thru page 25) : We begin the book with a discussion - a teacher led Ringmaster Teacher discussion. There is so much to cover here - and the teacher can set the tone and pace for what is to follow: until the last discussion - they will all (with the exception of one Group Work) be led by the students using Divided Readings (each row gets a section) - though everyone reads the entire book.
Lesson Overview
Lesson Overview
Opening discussions set the pace for how things go for the entire book. The Things They Carried is no exception. This discussion is also the last discussion that I lead, until the very end of the book - we do divided row discussion for the majority of our classes on this novel. Because of that, and because setting expectations are so important - I believe that a teacher led, enthusiastic - powerful opening discussion will lead to the same from the students. Here is some of what is covered - what happens in this opening discussion. See my Lesson Notes below for more. In the Lesson Notes, page numbers are given for these and many other points.
Before I begin our discussion - I play an excerpt the audio version of the book - where it lists many of the things they carry. I've included a link to that audio book below. I play from 2:30 min to 5:00 min (so a total of 2 1/2 mins).
The epigraph - it fools us to thinking it's about Vietnam - it's not - hence the universality of the book
Everyone writes down the tangible things in their backpack - the things that students carry / and the things they carry in their lives - the big heavy things - these are for their eyes only
What are some of these things that the men in the book carry - both tangible and abstract?
Why M & M's? (one year a student told me their grandfather told them the same thing - he was in the war)
the picture of Martha - her relationship with Cross
The beauty of the prose - forget the meaning - just how it appears
"They carried all that they could bear"
Ghosts
Norman Bowker - what does he carry (here the teacher plants the seed for later in the book).
What does "the weight of memory" mean?
Someone dies - what do they do to lesson "the weight"?
The men are scared - why is this so "weighty"?
What is freedom to them?
What does Lt. Cross do after Lavender dies?
The connection of what happens to Cross after Lavender's death - and Soldier's Home
Carelessness - and how it leads to death
"He will be tougher" and the last page of The Great Gatsby
What is the weight that Cross carries? The very word "cross" in this context
What do we assume the book is about
As I said, the lesson notes have these (along with page numbers) and many, many more (if you can read my writing)...
My Lesson Notes & a sample reading page
My Lesson Notes & a sample reading page
See above for instructions - the text with my notes served as a guide for the questions, comments and ideas that I ask - though I was always ready for and often elicited the students ideas, questions, etc. Over the years - as I wrote notes in this text - the previous years' notes and questions become incorporated into the lesson. Again - you will find that these instructions are flexible - and I had to be - they kept changing the amount of time that we had in the classroom.
Handouts & Quizzes
Handouts & Quizzes
Most Recent Handouts & Quizzes
Most Recent Handouts & Quizzes
Row Reading Schedule for the rest of the book Docx PDF - This schedule will instruct the students what they will need to have prepared (on a sheet of paper - with the text and the page number) for that day in class. They are to read everything that is assigned and take notes on anything in the reading - but when we have a class discussion, they need to havefour things prepared (see the handout for what 4 things) from this specific section based on where they sit in the classroom. This is in addition to the bookmark that they have which tells them what they will be quizzed on. What they are to bring in (the 4 things) are especially designed to help them make connections in the novel)
Audio Visual Content
Audio Visual Content
The Things They Carried - Audio Book. Here is a link to the Audible version of the novel. This is magnificent recording of the book - narrated by the actor Bryan Cranston.
Remote Enhancements
Remote Enhancements
This is the Power Point Presentation that I gave for remote learning. Probably the most useful thing is the picture of the Grid that I used with the students to give them their row assignments for the Row Reading Schedule (see above). Note the picture is blurred to protect the privacy of the students.
Links
Links
Class Recordings (for registered members)
Class Recordings (for registered members)
Audio
Audio
Video
Video
The Things They Carried Day 4 - Row Reading thru page 58 - We will discuss that day's reading - starting with the students. Every student (who read) will have a chance to contribute. One thing that I found, is the fact that they will have to directly contribute to the discussion, makes it even more likely that the students will do the reading (they still get a quiz though). This section includes the incredible "On the Rainy River".
WHAT CAME BEFORE:
WHAT CAME BEFORE:
Thoughts on the Lesson
Thoughts on the Lesson
This opening discussion is designed to plant "seeds". The seeds of how the students will look for material in their Row Readings. The seeds of the connections that occur throughout the book. Like, The History of Love - there are twists and turns and oh so many connections from page to page from character to character that we are not even aware of until we read the book a second time (or you have a teacher that helps you [without spoilers] see them on your first reading.
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