I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
Lesson Plan Ideas
Background/Pre-Reading:
This book will follow The Great Gatsby on the syllabus because it compares and contrasts easily in terms of setting time period. Before starting this text, we would review what we learned about the '20's and look a little closer at the 30's and 40's, specifically The Great Depression. It is important for the students to know ahead of time that this book deals with a far different way of life and a different part of the country than does Gatsby. It will also be important to note the this is autobiographical and Gatsby was fiction.
Reading:
I block off about 2-3 weeks to get through the entire book with all assignments. This text is fairly easy reading for homework. Study Questions will be provided to help the students make sure they are "getting it".
Ink Sheddings:
Ink sheddings are basically journal entries, but I found that students feel restricted to writing in complete sentences and using "good mechanics" when teachers call them journals. I like to hand out individual sheets with the topic or question typed at the top and then give them the entire blank space to "shed some ink" on the topic. I encourage them to do this anyway that pops into their heads; illustrations, graphing, Venn diagrams, paragraphs, lists, etc. Then they 3-hole punch it and add it to their binder.
See InkSheddings for possible topic lists.
Writing Assignments:
There are a number of writing assignments that can be used as a "final" project in place of a test.
See Writing Assignments for possible activities.