Monday, November 30th

• How might literary criticism aid us in our reading of The Kite Runner?

• Finish presentations on literary criticism: How can we apply these approaches to our interpretation of the poems in our Middle Eastern literature packet?
  
• Building our literary criticism grid for Chapters 1-4 of The Kite Runner. Work with group to add your examples and analysis to our wiki page.

• The Kite Runner: Read chapters 5-7 for FRIDAY, Dec. 4th. Respond and post questions to our Ning. 
  
• Kite Runner Groups: Students will be working in small groups to teach selected chapters, themes, and interpretations to the class. Work will be assigned by the group. You will use our Kite Runner Resource Page to help you gather and post resources related to your reading and presentation.
  

Tuesday, December 1st

• World AIDS Day - wear red today to show your support. If you do, you'll get a point of extra credit! Or participate in any of Philly's AIDS Day events and write a one-page reflection for extra credit. 
• On this day in 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus.
• On this day in 1997, the Kyoto Agreement was signed, but not by the United States.

• Literary criticism as an interpretive framework.

• Literary terms related to our study
• New vocabulary for Chapters 1-7
• Understanding how literary criticism might help us as we read The Kite Runner. Applying literary criticism to the first 4 chapters of the text using our wiki pages.
• Explanation and assigning of small groups to teach chapters of The Kite Runner.
  

• The Kite Runner: Read chapters 5-7, post to Ning for FRIDAY.
• Read and gloss "The Outsiders" for WEDNESDAY.
• All sorts of extra credit opportunities!
  • Use new vocabulary words,
  • Watch Obama's speech on Afghanistan tonight at 6pm and write a one-page reflection,
  • Complete one of these extra credit assignments related to our study of the Middle East, or
  • Look at all the events happening in our area! Attend and write a one-page reflection for five points of extra credit.
    

Wednesday, December 2nd

• International Day for the Abolition of Slavery 

• Making connections: discussing our interpretations and approaches to our reading

• Understanding how literary criticism might help us as we read The Kite Runner. Applying literary criticism to the first 4 chapters of the text using our wiki pages.
• Example presentation for chapters 1-4
• Discussion of plot and characters.  Discussion posted to our wiki.

• The Kite Runner: Read chapters 5-7 for FRIDAY, Dec. 4th. Respond and post questions to our Ning. 
  
• Kite Runner Groups: Students will be working with their assigned groups to prepare presentations. You will use our Kite Runner Resource Page to help you gather and post related materials.

Thursday, December 3rd

• Time to work with your group

• Reading Quiz!
• News from your pen pals!
• Example presentation for chapters 1-4
• Time to work in groups, dividing presentation responsibilities.

• The Kite Runner: Read chapters 5-7 for FRIDAY, Dec. 4th. Respond and post questions to our Ning. 
  
• Kite Runner Groups: Students will be working with their assigned groups to prepare presentations. You will use our Kite Runner Resource Page to help you gather and post related materials. 

Friday, December 4th

• Learning from one another - presentation day!

• DISCUSSION DAY: To prepare for today's discussion, you will need to have read chapters 1-7, reviewed literary criticism approaches, read through Ning posts, and read and glossed the National Geographic article "The Outsiders." Your participation in today's discussion will be graded using this rubric.
  
• "Evil exists when..."
  
• Create better presentations!

• The Kite Runner: Read chapters 8-11 for TUESDAY, Dec. 8th. Respond and post questions to our Ning. 
  
• Kite Runner Groups: Students will be working with their assigned groups to prepared presentations. You will use our Kite Runner Resource Page to help you gather and post related materials.

Monday, December 7th

• Pearl Harbor Day (United States)
  

• Presentation Day!
  

• KITE RUNNER: Presentation on chapters 5-7: As the group presents, keep track of literary devices, motifs, and themes.
• Discussion stemming from presentation: MOTIFS
• Cultures Project: Introduction to the project and formal proposal.

• Extra Credit: Grammer in the Wurld
• The Kite Runner: Read chapters 8-11 and post to Ning for TUESDAY.
• Kite Runner Groups: Students will be working with their assigned groups to prepare presentations. You will use our Kite Runner Resource Page and the Better Presentations Page to help you gather, prepare, and post related materials.

Tuesday, December 8th

• Bodhi Day - Buddha's Enlightenment (Buddhist)

• Coping with guilt

• Shhhhh! Pop quiz over chapters 5-11
• Cultures Project: Putting together a proposal.
• KITE RUNNER: Discussion of chapters 8-11
• Read "Coping with Guilt" and respond and reflect on handout.
  

• The Kite Runner: Read chapters 12-14 and post to Ning for FRIDAY.
• All sorts of extra credit opportunities!
  • Complete one of these extra credit assignments related to our study of the Middle East, or
  • Look at all the events happening in our area! Attend and write a one-page reflection for five points of extra credit.
    

Wednesday, December 9th

• Ms. Ward heads to Google Teacher Academy!
  

• Writing a project proposal

• TODAY'S AGENDA
• KITE RUNNER: Vocabulary for chapters 8-20. New extra credit words!
• Cultures Project: Putting together the proposal. Proposals with article DUE THURSDAY.
  

• CULTURES PROJECT: Proposal with article DUE THURSDAY.
• Kite Runner Groups: Students will be working with their assigned groups to prepare presentations. You will use our Kite Runner Resource Page and the Better Presentations Page to help you gather, prepare, and post related materials.
• The Kite Runner: Read chapters 12-14 and post to Ning for FRIDAY.

Thursday, December 10th

• Nobel Prize Day
• Human Rights Day
• Poet Emily Dickenson was born on this day in 1830
• On this day in 1996, South Africa's President Mandela signed into law a new democratic constitution, completing the country's transition from white-minority rule to a non-racial democracy

• Presentation Day!

• KITE RUNNER: Presentation on chapters 8-11: As the group presents, keep track of literary devices, motifs, and themes.
• Discussion stemming from presentation.  
• Movie critique: Comparing the movie to the text. Do the changes make the story better or not?

• The Kite Runner: Read chapters 12-14 and post to Ning for FRIDAY.
• Kite Runner Groups: Students will be working with their assigned groups to prepare presentations. You will use our Kite Runner Resource Page and the Better Presentations Page to help you gather, prepare, and post related materials.

Friday, December 11th

• Presentation Day!

• KITE RUNNER: Presentation on chapters 12-14: As the group presents, keep track of literary devices, motifs, and themes.
• Discussion stemming from presentation.
• Movie critique: Comparing the movie to the text. Do the changes make the story better or not?

• The Kite Runner: Read chapters 15-20 and post to Ning for TUESDAY.
• Kite Runner Groups: Students will be working with their assigned groups to prepare presentations. You will use our Kite Runner Resource Page and the Better Presentations Page to help you gather, prepare, and post related materials.