Lesson 4 - Finding Connections

🕐 Lesson Overview

Bellringer - Fix the Fragment
Thinking Ahead: Paragraph Prompt
Read: Chapter 2

⭐ Objectives

I can write in complete sentences.
I can analyze the importance of specific scenes and dialogue in a book.
I can analyze the development of a conflict in a text.
I can analyze how a character's perspective is changed or challenged.
I can provide evidence to support my ideas.

📏 Standards

🗽 NYSNGSS

8L3:
Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
8R1:
Cite textual evidence to strongly support an analysis of what the text says explicitly/implicitly and make logical inferences.
8R3 - RL:
In literary texts, analyze how particular lines of dialogue or events propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.
8W5:
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. Apply the grade 8 Reading Standards to both literary and informational text, where applicable.

💖 SEL

2A.3a:
Practice perspective-taking to infer understanding of others’ thoughts, feelings, and intentions.
2B.3b:
Demonstrate understanding of how culture or life experience shapes communication within and between identity groups.

🗒️ Lesson Plan

Anticipatory Set

As a bellringer, students will take the following fragments, related to The Outsiders, and turn them into complete sentences in their journals. They will need to utilize their knowledge of the text as well as basic mechanics (proper capitalization and punctuation).

ponyboy, sodapop, and darry

because ponyboy is a greaser

does not understand

The teacher will take attendance as students write then circulate to monitor progress. once sufficient writing time has elapsed, the teacher will invite students to share their responses. The teacher should write corrected sentences on the board to visually model the capitalization and punctuation used. The class will then review the agenda and objectives.

Developmental Activity

The teacher will preview the prompt for Outsiders Paragraph #1, which students will write in the forthcoming lessons. Previewing the prompt allows the class to focus today's reading. The teacher will provide the following steps as scaffolds to the writing process:

Anticipate: What is the central conflict in The Outsiders?
Focus Your Reading: Pay careful attention to how Cherry challenges and shifts Ponyboy's perspective.
Look for Evidence: Take note of quotes that seem really important!

The class will then read aloud from Chapter 2, aiming to read through as much as possible before end of the period. The teacher will use the Equity Sticks strategy to select readers on a paragraph-by-paragraph basis. The teacher will pause the reading to check for understanding, introduce new vocabulary, or explain unfamiliar concepts.

Closure

With a few minutes left in the period, the teacher will pause the reading and revisit the paragraph prompt to review what the class has learned so far from the reading and check for understanding.

🧠 Rationale

As this unit is delivered early in the school year, heavy scaffolds are provided for the writing process. If done later in the year or in a class of advanced students, fewer scaffolds may be provided.

⚙️ Modifications

If in a co-taught class, a co-teacher may pull a small group of students and read with them in a smaller group setting where more individualized reading interventions may be used.