September 4 - 8

Welcome back!  I really enjoyed meeting everyone last week and am grateful to have such enthusiastic students that already have interesting insights and opinions ready to share.  I'm looking forward to continuing Warriors Don't Cry discussions and activities in class during this short week.   Here's what's on the agenda:

MONDAY: No School - Labor Day Holiday.

TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up.  Continue Warriors Don't Cry spiderweb-style discussion from last week.  Read and react to printed excerpts of Warriors Don't Cry.  Discuss definition of racism, textual evidence.  Small group activities involving reactions: reactions in the book vs. reactions to real-life incidents. What is an appropriate reaction to racist comments and actions?  How can a "good" response differ from case to case?  Discuss Bruni's article "I'm White. Hear Me Out." What is his thesis/argument?  What kinds of evidence does he use to support his argument?  Do you agree or disagree with his conclusions?    

Due:

• Signature page of syllabus due. 
• Turnitin.com permission form due back signed.
• Sign up for TheWeek.com weekly e-mail blast (optional, see sidebar for instructions).
• Get supplies for class (notebook with tabs per syllabus).
• Please review Warriors Don't Cry; the second week quiz on Thursday/Friday will cover this reading.
• Please read and annotate the article "I'm a White Man. Hear Me Out."  by Frank Bruni and come with opinions about the article for Tuesday/Wednesday.

 Homework: Please review Warriors Don't Cry and jot down the names of two people that could be categorized as leaders in the book, along with their reaction to the difficulties that the Little Rock Nine encountered.

THURSDAY/FRIDAY:  Journal warm-up.  Warriors Don't Cry reading quiz.  Discussions and activities about the role of leaders in the book, and in the present.  A look at how the media influenced and shaped opinions about the Central High integration, as well as how it affects current conflict.  Discussions and small group activities covering the bystander effect at a high school.  Intro to Warriors project. Receive vocabulary list #1 for the quiz next week.  Last 10 minutes - portfolio distribution.

Due: Please review Warriors Don't Cry and jot down 2 people that could be categorized as leaders in the book, along with their reaction to the difficulties that the Little Rock Nine encountered.

Homework: "What makes you a Warrior" Project - due next class.