learning goal: how does one of the basic elements of fiction enrich your reading of the novel, The Samurai’s Garden?
Press paragraphs sent; link to exam quote bank
time to read
during last 15′-20′, respond to email re basic elements of fiction
11 Friday May 2018
Posted agenda, assessment, direct instruction, reading, Samurai's Garden
inlearning goal: how does one of the basic elements of fiction enrich your reading of the novel, The Samurai’s Garden?
Press paragraphs sent; link to exam quote bank
time to read
during last 15′-20′, respond to email re basic elements of fiction
09 Wednesday May 2018
Posted agenda, reading, Samurai's Garden
inlearning goal: what is one notable observation about my focal character, from my reading today? what thoughts and/or feelings do I have in response to this observation?
Honors Day schedule: B 9:35-10:35; D 11:55-12:55 Thu May 10: H 1:50-3:00
Time to read
By end of class, in one quadrant of your SG bookmark, show some notes about your focal character (each of the interior quadrants represents one of the seasons that begin with “Winter” and end with the second “Autumn” chapter).
as just one example of note-taking, here are my notes from the first “Autumn” chapter:
fear and attraction 7 unknown
disrupting calm 14 16 27 etc.
being alone, feeling alone 30
like a samurai 30
richness and mystery 31
life not just from within 43
a big storm 51 mother’s letter
Sachin comes down from mtn 54 (forty years)
courage 57
03 Thursday May 2018
Posted agenda, assessment, email, reading, Samurai's Garden
inlearning goal: Stephen, Matsu, Sachi–on which one of these characters do you find yourself focusing most? Why do you think this person draws you in more than the other two?
introduction to the day (5′)
reading time (45′)
writing time (20′): an email to bill.brown@hies.org (subject: focal character); in body of email write 5-10-sentence response to question in today’s learning goal; send email by the end of class; begin your email by identifying how far you have read–i.e., what page number
01 Tuesday May 2018
Posted agenda, direct instruction, reading, Samurai's Garden
inlearning goal: What happens to painting when the viewer sees it in various lights? What happens to a novel when the same kind of thing happens?
introduction to novel and the bookmark pamphlet
time to read towards this week’s goal–i.e., “Autumn”
30 Monday Apr 2018
Posted general information, homework, Samurai's Garden
inThis novel, since we will have class time to start reading this week’s section, “Autumn.”
15 Monday May 2017
Posted agenda, Samurai's Garden
inlearning goal: how do the various features of Matsu’s or Sachi’s garden serve as a metaphor for facets of the novel?
exercises TBA (cf. “Guiding Questions for Fiction”)
11 Thursday May 2017
Posted agenda, reading, Samurai's Garden
ingiven the AP World History testers Thursday, we will have a reading day in their honor
remember the schedule asks us to finish the novel this week
continue making notes in your SG booklet–with images or words that capture meaningful moments and/or ideas, especially regarding your focal character
03 Wednesday May 2017
Posted agenda, assessment, Samurai's Garden
inlearning goal: what subjects and themes emerge from the opening chapter in the novel? how do the basic elements of fiction contribute to these?
exercise TBA
reading time, as time allows
hmwrk reminder: read “Winter” and “Spring” chapters this week, which includes the weekend
01 Monday May 2017
Posted agenda, assessment, drawing, Samurai's Garden
inlearning goal: what do the various physical locations look like? where are which features in relation to each other?
draw one or more of the physical locations, with as much detail as you like–e.g., Stephen’s grandparents’ house in Tarumi, the village of Yamaguchi, the area around and including the grandparents’ house, or another physical location of your choice
enter some content (of your own choosing) on one of the squares inside the SG booklet with reading schedule
leave a thoughtful, original comment to one of the posts about The Samurai’s Garden, found at readingcolors
27 Thursday Apr 2017
Posted agenda, assessment, email, reading, Samurai's Garden
inlearning goal: which of the three main characters demands my strongest attention so far? why this person–what is it about him or her that resounds in me to this extent?
intro 5′
read 50′
email 15′
read for 50 minutes; afterwards, open your laptop and reply directly to my email–by answering my question(s)