Bell Ringer- Trade Dialogue Journals (Quiz for Chapter 3)
Regular Journal- Cursive Prompt (minimum five sentences)
What literature represents YOUR generation?
(The Great Gatsby represents the '20's)
Discussion- Answers to journal prompt
I have to comment on the discussion that took place about the literature that represents the students' generation. The discussions were very insightful and students made connections that show the depth of their comprehension of literature (or lack of) and of their generation. The book Generation Me kept coming up. I will have to read that. Basically it's about how their generation is one of "entitlement" as they see it. I found that interesting. I also found it a little sad that they view themselves that way. What teenager isn't egocentric at some point? Another they mentioned included Fahrenheit 451 because they feel like their generation doesn't really care about or read books anymore and that the results of that lack of caring could have some detrimental effects in the future. We also had a discussion about futuristic books and how books that were futuristic when I was in school, actually depicted things or events that materialized years later. That was an interesting and lively conversation as they imagined their future and also talked about a reality show on Mars.
They talked about many books, but the other one they talked about quite a bit was Hunger Games. Some students in every class chose this one. Now it may be that they chose it because of the movie, but their explanations of why they chose it were very compelling. They said that they feel they are micromanaged more by the government than other generations. They even mentioned that some of that micromanaging is in the form of making them government dependent. However, the main thing they pointed out about this book was desensitization. They feel that nothing is held back from their generation.
They can see, hear, and read whatever they want and it's instant access. They said that Hunger Games takes to the ultimate reality TV level because real death is portrayed to a live audience. I found that disturbing, but true at the same time.
We talked about their future and potential and how choices are still choices. They choose to become desensitized, for example, but tuning in or turning on their electronics. They also choose to become anti-social or dependent upon others including government. They lead those conversations as well.
Ultimately this lead us into the "age of access" of the Roaring 20's and how this connects to the American Dream then and now.
Video- Chapter 1 Great Gatsby (The American Dream)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehjTS6AhMJ8&app=desktop
Read To- I read half of Chapter 4 (emphasis on American Dream)
Silent Reading- Finish Chapter 4
Dialogue Journal- 3 Questions/3 Vocab. for Chapter 4