Today before class started, one of Mrs. Peterson’s sophomore classes changed the mapping of the classroom’s desks. This mapping was designed to help students engage in discussions easier, since both sides are facing each other. Students can easily call on other students across the room since they are facing each other. Here is an approximate diagram I drew from a top view of what the mapping looks like:
Aim: How can the use of annotations aid in analyzing the figurative language, tone and conflict in “My Name,” by Sandra Ciseneros?
FIRST CLASS DISCUSSION:
Do now: Consider your name. Do you like it? Why/Why not? If you do not, what would you prefer as a name? Why?
During the discussion, I said that I liked my name, however there was an issue with my name that was present with many other names that are short. The problem is coming up with a good nickname for my name; many people don’t call me “Andy” or “Drew” and I hope it stays that way since I don't like being called that.
ANNOTATING--PURPOSE & TECHNIQUES
How to annotate text while reading
Referring back to the aim, today we learned techniques to annotate a text and to understand why we do it.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE VIDEO/NOTES:
Annotating is a useful skill when you’re reading a text, and it helps you have a deeper understanding of the text and can help you comprehend the text better.
Your notes should represent YOUR thoughts and interactions with the book.
Do not over annotate/highlight paragraphs because then nothing will stand out.
You will develop better annotation skills over time, you may not make many annotations when you start.
REASONS TO ANNOTATE A TEXT:
It keeps you awake and engaged.
It helps you process what you’re reading.
It slows down your reading.
It acts as a bookmark when you need to go back to the text to find something.
11 TIPS TO ANNOTATE A TEXT:
Circle any unfamiliar words.
Use question marks next to areas of uncertainty of parts that are unclear to you.
Put stars to parts of the text that you think are important.
Put an exclamation mark to key turning points or something you want to come back to.
Circle or mark any character names the first time they are introduced.
Keep a list of characters and their traits. Add to this list as you learn more about these characters.
Write notes about the text somewhere accessible, these places could be in the margins of the book, on sticky notes or in a separate notebook.
Paraphrase each chapter right after you read it. Write only a few sentences per summary.
Write questions as you think of them, no question is too small.
Color code your notes, use different colors for definitions, questions, thoughts, etc.
Give each chapter a title, even if it already has one. Title = main idea.
Further Techniques:
Chunking--summarizing
Common themes or repetition of ideas
POV
TEAM DISCUSSIONS:
What does your name mean? If you don’t know, look it up. Do you know why your parents chose your name? Who chose it? Were you named after a particular person? Why were you named after him or her?
After discussing our names with our teams, we then read a text about someone discussing their name. We read “My Name” by Sandra Cisneros excerpted from The House on Mango Street. We were to annotate the text using the skills we learned from the video and pay close attention to figurative language, diction, syntax, tone and anything else that stood out. The day ended there so there was no discussion on the questions posted on the lesson.
REFLECTION:
After watching and listening to video from today’s lesson and taking notes about the main takeaways of the video, I have learned new ways to annotate a text or book. Before when I annotated, I would usually only annotate hard texts to understand it better since I forced myself to slow down to try and understand the text instead of just skipping over it and continuing reading, like what the video said as “fake reading.” The new mapping of the classroom desk is also very helpful for discussions since someone who called on me from across the room could see me and didn’t have to turn their back around. I learned about what my name means and what others thought about their name. The excerpt that was given to annotate also was interesting since it used different figuratives of speech to give us what the narrator thought of her name.
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