Lesson Plan

Prepare

Background

Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.

What is perspective?

Perspective is the ability to perceive things differently.

Have students watch the scene from Dead Poets Society on perspective.

Go to YouTube—search Dead Poets Society, new perspective

Point of View in literature--The perspective from which a speaker or writer recounts a narrative or presents information. Depending on the topic, purpose, and audience, writers of nonfiction may rely on the first-person point of view (I, we), the second-person (you, your), or the third-person (he, she, it, they).

In today’s reading point of view will be in both first person and third person. The novel will show three main points of view or perspectives on the same event. Notice as we read how the perspective is slightly different.

Word Wall

Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.

Prepare

Background

Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.

What is the role of the Board of Education?

The State Board of Education is the K-12 policy-making body for academic standards, curriculum, instructional materials, assessments and accountability. The SBE adopts instructional materials for use in grades kindergarten through eight. The SBE also adopts regulations (Title 5) to implement a wide variety of programs created by the Legislature, such as charter schools, and special education. In addition, the SBE has the authority to grant local education agency requests for waivers of certain provisions of the state Education Code. The SBE has 11 members, all of whom are appointed by the Governor and serve four-year, staggered terms, with the exception of the student member, who serves a one-year term. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction, who heads the CDE, serves as the SBE's executive officer and secretary.

There are county and local boards of education. Search your local board of education and search for their purpose.

In today’s reading the Superintendent writes a memo to the staff letting them know about the upcoming election and vote for funds.

Word Wall

Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.

Prepare

Background

Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.

What are the eligibility requirements for athletics at your school? Consult your school handbook.

Why do you think these requirements are enforced at school? (for discussion)

GPA requirements are typically in place so students maintain balance. Education is the top priority and extracurricular activities are encouraged if grades are appropriate and at least a C average.

In today’s reading Phillip learns he cannot try out for the track team due to his grades. The coach continues to remind him of the “rule” but does a poor job of explaining why the rule is in place.

Word Wall

Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.

Prepare

Background

Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.

How do you resolve conflict?

The background today relates to offices but is very applicable to school, office, or life settings.

Conflict Resolution Techniques

Consider the following conflict resolution techniques to help resolve issues:

Listen, Then Speak Out

Believe it or not, just listening to an employee’s issue is the first and most important step in resolving conflict. You should simply listen to all parties involved to completely understand the nature of conflict, and then start troubleshooting solutions.

Gather the Group

As a leader, you’ll need to arrange a meeting with all involved parties to discuss the issue. Give everyone a chance to speak; this is a good opportunity to hear all sides and gain a full understanding of the conflict. Having a group meeting may also expedite a resolution that will satisfy everyone.

Be Impartial

Don’t take sides! In a leadership position, you shouldn’t display any sort of opinion that favors one person over another. If you are partial towards one person, try to access the situation from all sides to come up with a fair and reasonable solution.

Do Not Postpone Conflict Resolution

Address the conflict immediately. Otherwise, the situation could escalate and could affect employee performance. Just make sure not to address the situation too quickly or without careful consideration, as your decision will directly affect the demeanor and performance of your staff. 

Promote Teamwork
Encouragement and motivations are powerful. Remind your staff of successful projects that required teamwork to complete. This is one of the most effective conflict resolution techniques and will really make the employees think about the importance of working in a team.

Broadcast Praise
As stated above, the power of encouragement and motivation can be multiplied when it is spread to recognize those who are modeling the teamwork and cooperation that is desired within any conflict. Try to give suitable models in these instances because behavior modeling can be risky if there are elements in the model that are undesirable.

http://www.notredameonline.com/resources/negotiations/6-simple-workplace-conflict-resolution-techniques/#.VT6Y_yFViko

In today’s reading it is clear that Miss Narwin and Phillip have a conflict with one another. They are each blaming one and other and basing their dislike for one another in false statements. At this point in time one of them needed to stop and address the other. Sometimes teens have to act like the adult and address the issue, sometimes parents should step in, or the teacher/coach should address the true issue.

Word Wall

Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.

Prepare

Background

Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.

What does it mean to be patriotic?

A patriot is one who loves their country and supports its authority and interests. Once can show patriotism in a variety of ways:

• Have respect for the flag, pledging allegiance to our flag, and knowing the national anthem.
• We can be engaged and involved in civic activities, being a responsible citizen, and following the laws of our country, even if we disagree, we have the responsibility to speak out.
• We can show patriotism be regarding all citizens as a family. Working together for the good of our country.
• We can support our troops and their families who are sacrificing for our country.

In today’s reading Phillip shares with his parents about the interaction in Miss Narwin’s class. His dad comes to speak with him telling him that they are on his side and they support him.

Word Wall

Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.

Prepare

Background

Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.

What is the history of the Star Spangled Banner?

Francis Scott Key was a gifted amateur poet. Inspired by the sight of the American flag flying over Fort McHenry the morning after the bombardment, he scribbled the initial verse of his song on the back of a letter. Back in Baltimore, he completed the four-verse version and copied them onto a sheet of paper, probably making more than one copy. A local printer issued the new song as a broadside. Shortly afterward, two Baltimore newspapers published it, and by mid-October it had appeared in at least seventeen other papers in cities up and down the East Coast.

http://amhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/symbols-of-a-new-nation.aspx

In today’s reading Phillip starts to sing with the national anthem again. In this case he is asked to leave class. He is claiming he has a right to sing.

Visit the website above to tour the flag and history that surrounds it and the national anthem.

Word Wall

Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.

Prepare

Background

Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.

What are the components to a proper apology?

How To Give A Meaningful Apology

By Beverly Engel

Full article can be found at:

http://www.umass.edu/fambiz/articles/resolving_conflict/meaningful_apology.html

A meaningful apology is one that communicates what I call the three R's--regret, responsibility, and remedy.

1. A statement of regret for having caused the inconvenience, hurt or damage. This includes an expression of empathy toward the other person, including an acknowledgement of the inconvenience, hurt, or damage that you caused the other person. Having empathy for the person you hurt or angered is the most important part of your apology. When you truly have empathy the other person will feel it. Your apology will wash over him or her like a healing balm. On the other hand, if you don't have empathy your apology will sound and feel empty.
2. An acceptance of responsibility for your actions. This means not blaming anyone else for what you did and not making excuses for your actions but instead accepting full responsibility for what you did and for the consequences of your actions.
3. A statement of your willingness to take some action to remedy the situation--either by promising to not repeat your action, a promise to work toward not making the same mistake again, a statement as to how you are going to remedy the situation (go to therapy) or by making restitution for the damages you caused. Apologizing to your spouse for having an affair is insulting unless you offer reassurances: It will never happen again because we will seek therapy, because I've quit my job, because I'll take you on my business trips.

Regret, Responsibility and Remedy

Unless all three of these elements are present, the other person will sense that something is missing in your apology and he or she will feel shortchanged somehow. Let's take a look at each element separately.

Regret

The desire to apologize needs to come from the realization that you have hurt someone or caused them some difficulty in their life. While your intention may not have been to hurt this person, you recognize that your action or inaction nevertheless did hurt or inconvenience them and for this, you feel bad. This regret or remorse needs to be communicated to the other person.

Examples:

• "I am so sorry. I know I hurt your feelings and I feel terrible about it."
• "I deeply regret having hurt you."
• "I am truly sorry for the pain I caused you."

Responsibility

For an apology to be effective it must be clear that you are accepting total responsibility for your actions or inaction. Therefore, your apology needs to include a statement of responsibility.

Examples:

• "I'm sorry; I realize that by being late I made us miss the first part of the movie."
• "I'm sorry. I know it is difficult for you to trust people and my lying to you hasn't made it any easier. I shouldn't have lied no matter how afraid I was of your reaction."
• "I'm sorry. You have every right to be angry with me. I shouldn't have said those words to you."
• "I'm so sorry. There's no excuse for my behavior and I know I hurt you deeply.

Remedy

While you can't go back and undo or redo the past, you can do everything within your power to repair the harm you caused. Therefore, a meaningful apology needs to include a statement in which you offer restitution in some way, an offer to help the other person, or a promise to take action so that you will not repeat the behavior.

Examples:

• "I'm sorry. Let me make it up to you. Next time the movie is on me."
• "I'm sorry for lying to you. I promise I won't do it again."
• "I'm sorry for talking to you like that. I'll work on letting you know when I don't like something instead of holding it all in and then exploding like that."
• "I'm sorry. I'm going to go into therapy so I can understand why I act the way I do."

http://www.umass.edu/fambiz/articles/resolving_conflict/meaningful_apology.html

In today’s reading Phillip is asked to apologize to Miss Narwin. However, he does not feel like he has done anything to apologize for.

Word Wall

Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.

Prepare

Background

Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.

What is the First Amendment?

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The First Amendment Defined:

The First Amendment is a part of the Bill of Rights, which are the first 10 Amendments to the United States Constitution and the framework to elucidate upon the freedoms of the individual. The Bill of Rights were proposed and sent to the states by the first session of the First Congress. They were later ratified on December 15, 1791.

The first 10 Amendments to the United States Constitution were introduced by James Madison as a series of legislative articles and came into effect as Constitutional Amendments following the process of ratification by three-fourths of the States on December 15, 1791.

Stipulations of the 1st Amendment:

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the passing or creation of any law, which establishes a religious body and directly impedes an individual’s right to practice whichever religion they see fit.

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is a part of the Bill of Rights and the amendment which disables an entity or individual from practicing or enforcing a religious viewpoint which infringes on the freedom of speech, the right peaceable assemble, the freedom of the press, or which prohibits the petitioning for a governmental evaluation of grievances.

In its infancy, the First Amendment only applied to laws enacted by Congress; however, the following Gitlow v. New York, the Supreme Court developed that the Due Process Clause attached to the Fourteenth Amendment applies the fundamental aspects of the First Amendment to each individual state, including all local governments within those states.

The Establishment clause of the First Amendment is the primary pronouncement in the Amendment, stating that Congress cannot institute a law to establish a national religion for the preference of the U.S. government states that one religion does not favor another. As a result, the Establishment Clause effectively created a wall of separation between the church and state. 

 In today’s reading Phillip’s father comes home to hear Phillip’s side of the story. He thinks their neighbor, who is running for school board, will be interested in this information. He is speaking with a reporter and introduces the family to her. She will be able to report this story, AFTER she fact checks.

Word Wall

Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.

Prepare

Background

Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.

What does it mean to put a “slant” on something?

A slant in writing or speaking is to present information so it conforms to a particular bias or so it appeals to a certain audience.

In today’s reading Phillip and his father speak to Ted Griffin their neighbor and the reporter. They present the information about the suspension but it has a slant that does not convey the entire story.

Word Wall

Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.

Prepare

Background

Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.

What are facts?

Can humans re-tell facts without interjecting perspective? For discussion.

A fact is something that exists. Reality. Truth.

In today’s reading the reporter starts calling the school administration and teacher to “fact check” the story she was told. She wants to make sure she is reporting accurate information.

Word Wall

Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.

Prepare

Background

Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.

What do you consider valid news sources? (for discussion)

There was a time that people got their news from 2-3 TV news stations, from the radio, and from the newspaper. As we have progressed into the information age there are news cycles for everything. The internet is a vast network of information and there are many outlets to get news. Due to sources trying to beat the other sources for stories and for information fact checking is not as thorough as it once was. You can find news that is biased toward any perspective that you need or want.

In today’s reading a news station is reporting on the story. A man calls in and mentions that the story is slanted towards the boy’s point of view and does not represent the teacher. The host of the show is getting ratings based on the sensationalism not on the facts.

Word Wall

Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.

Prepare

Background

Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.

What is a witness?

An individual who personally sees or perceives a thing, an eyewitness.

In today’s reading the school staff starts to interview “witnesses” from Miss Narwin’s class. Most of them admit to the principal that they weren’t really paying attention. Another interjects her opinion. Witnesses are supposed to base their report on the facts that they see or hear.

Word Wall

Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.

Prepare

Background

Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.

What does the motto of New Hampshire, “Live Free or Die” mean?

State Emblem. The state emblem shall be of the following design: Within an elliptical panel, the longest dimension of which shall be vertical, there shall appear an appropriate replica of the Old Man of the Mountain; surrounding the inner panel, and enclosed within another ellipse, there shall be at the bottom of the design the words of any state motto which may be adopted by the general court; and at the top of the design, between the inner and outer elliptical panels, the words, New Hampshire, appropriately separated from the motto, if adopted, by one star on each side. Said emblem may be placed on all printed or related material issued by the state and its subdivisions relative to the development of recreational, industrial, and agricultural resources of the state.

New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated (RSA) 3:1
Anderson, Leon. History. Manual for the General Court 1981.

State Motto. The words "Live Free or Die," written by General John Stark, July 31, 1809, shall be the official motto of the state.

It was the 1945 Legislature that gave New Hampshire its official motto and emblem, as World War II approached a successful end.

The motto became "Live Free Or Die," as once voiced by General John Stark, the state’s most distinguished hero of the Revolutionary War, and the world famous Old Man of the Mountain was voted the official state emblem.

The motto was part of a volunteer toast which General Stark sent to his wartime comrades, in which he declined an invitation to head up a 32nd anniversary reunion of the 1777 Battle of Bennington in Vermont, because of poor health. The toast said in full: "Live Free Or Die; Death Is Not The Worst of Evils." The following year, a similar invitation (also declined) said: "The toast, sir, which you sent us in 1809 will continue to vibrate with unceasing pleasure in our ears, "Live Free Or Die; Death Is Not The Worst Of Evils."

http://www.nh.gov/nhinfo/emblem.html

The novel takes place in New Hampshire. This phrase has been referenced throughout the reading. The state motto supports what Ted and Phillip’s father “believe” that Phillip should be free to express the national anthem. However, in all situations every action has a reaction and although he has the freedom to sing the song he also has to deal with the consequences of breaking the rule.

Word Wall

Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.

Prepare

Background

Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.

What is truth?

Truth can be the conformity of fact or reality.

In today’s reading more people are forming their opinions. As they form their thoughts on the subject they seem to be tainted by their outside opinions and perspectives and experiences.

Word Wall

Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.

Prepare

Background

Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.

What is the difference between suspension and expulsion?

If a student is suspended from school they are removed from campus for a determined number of days (short term). When that time is done you can return to campus or to class. If a student is expelled they are removed from the school or district for a set amount of time (longer term) and cannot return until all conditions have been met.

In today’s reading Phillip is able to return to school after he has been suspended. He was sent home for 2 days for causing a disturbance in Miss Narwin’s class.

Word Wall

Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.

Prepare

Background

Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.

What is a scapegoat?

A scapegoat is a person or group makes to bear the blame for others to suffer in their place.  

In today’s reading Miss Narwin is getting the blame for Phillip’s suspension. The district is referring to her as out of touch and asking she take a leave of absence.

Word Wall

Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.

Prepare

Background

Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.

What is a snowball effect?

A snowball effect is a semi-scientific term in which you describe something that gradually gains momentum as time passes.

In the reading the situation with Phillip and Miss Narwin is an example of something significantly small taking on a life of its own as time passes.

Word Wall

Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.

Prepare

Background

Gather background knowledge about a place, time, event, person, or thing.

Using the Slant Poster/T Chart you completed as a class.

Choose a perspective you feel is the best representation of the events in the novel—the side the represents the truth the best.

Miss Narwin

Phillip

School Administration

Write a 5-paragraph argument to support your claim. Introduce your claim, acknowledge alternate or opposing claims. Organize your reasons and evidence logically. Support your claim with logical reasoning and relevant evidence. Use accurate and credible sources. Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify relationships. Establish and maintain formal style. Provide a concluding paragraph and statement, which follows form and supports the argument presented.

Word Wall

Here are five vocabulary words to teach and add to the Word Wall.