Classnotes 4/4-4/26

4/26/11	INTRO: Wrote in journals: “Explain one thing you learned, or a positive experience you had, over vacation.” (minimum 6 sentences) NOTES:  Reviewed meaning of Bildungsroman: a coming of age novel through travel-  Reviewed the 6 major elements in a story: characterization, tone, setting, point of view, plot, and theme- Focused today on the plot(s) or sequences of events in Rule of the Bone.  We decided to break it down by where Bone was living in each of the intervals of the plot: First, Bone was living at home with his mom and step-dad.  Because he needed cash to buy weed, he stole from them.  This created conflict between them. Next, Bone lives with Russ and the bikers in an apartment above the Video Den.  While here, Bone has only bad mentors.  They are all into criminal activities, including Russ who steals VCR’s.  The conflict is somewhat resolved when Russ and Bone are forced to leave when the apartment building burns. Next, Russ and Bone go to Windridge, Russ’s rich uncle’s summer house.  There is no one there, but Russ and Bone.  Bone gets sick of Russ.  Russ decides to go back home.  Bone participates in more criminal activity by shooting the sliding glass door before he, too, leaves.  Conflict is somewhat resolved. Next, Bone finds himself on an old school bus with I-man, and then in Jamaica with I-man. Conflicts that pervade throughout the whole book: no home step dad molestation no plan Why does I-man say “I and I?”  One “I” stands for the “I” of his body, the other for his spiritual “I”.  Discussed Freud: superego- (moral compass) ego - (your persona) id - (impulse/drives) HOMEWORK: Read pages 356-376, Rule of the Bone.  Finish the book by Friday.
4/25/11	NOTES: To review, today each person chose an important chapter from the book.  Then they drew 3-frame comics representing a key event from that chapter.  These were shared with the rest of the class. HOMEWORK: Read pages 329-355, Rule of the Bone.  Rule of the Bone Assessment, Assignment #4, is due next Monday, May 2nd.
4/15/11	NOTES: Did loop writing today. (progression of 3 prompts - you go from one to the next): What are the social taboos we see at Hanover High? not participating in team spirit cross-dressing sitting in the cafeteria with freshmen during activity period bullying       2. What are some of the worst social taboos you can think of?       3. How many social taboos are exhibited in Rule of the Bone? drug use homelessness robbery rape incest homeless kids stealing from parents living in a bus free living Finished the class with a game of Pictionary, using terms from Rule of the Bone.
4/14/11	INTRO: Reading quiz today....if your score is 60% or better, and your work is caught up, you get to leave. HOMEWORK: Read pages 307-328, Rule of the Bone.
4/13/11	INTRO: Discussed whether we thought the movie, Pink Floyd the Wall, was worth our time to watch.  Most considered it to be “fertile for discussions”, even if they didn’t like it. NOTES: Chalk Talk Questions and Responses: 1.  Is I-man a good parental figure for Bone? Yes, better than previous “parents” Yes, better than step dad Yes, he tries to help Bone I think so, he isn’t a murdering criminal or anything Yes, I-man gives him good advice.  On page 178, He tell Bone to come to know “I-self” and be comfortable with who he is.  I-man also tells Bone to make a break from his past and his problems.  (But we wonder, is that just ignoring his problems, or just running away from them?) Yes, he gives Bone something to believe in Yes, he is not a molester Yes, he is a bro; more like a colleague than a parent.  Is laid back and generally a good influence Yes, he doesn’t waste his life; he makes the most of every opportunity 2. Is I-man a real rebel?  Why or why not? Yes, he’s living outside social expectations Yes, but afraid of getting caught- doesn’t want to be deported, but risks being caught-which supports his being a rebel He is a Bohemian, which is a rebellious lifestyle Yes, he grows weed He is an illegal immigrant-does it make him a rebel?  He was migrant worker who bailed on the program when he learned that he couldn’t practice his religion HOMEWORK: Read pages 285-306, Rule of the Bone.  Reading quiz tomorrow. Must get 6 out of 10 correct, to be able to leave for “x”.
4/12/11	INTR0: There will be a reading quiz later this week, up to page 250.  We all promised to read a minimum of 15 pages a night until caught up with our reading. NOTES: We finished the movie, Pink Floyd the Wall, and discussed the symbolism it contains.  The wall symbolizes: isolation/separation/segregation societal norms conformity (we’re another brick in the wall) (cause he can’t conform, he is isolated) German east/wall? other symbolism: kids cleaning up the mess from the riot- youthful innocence-rebirth child dumping bottle-ending of violence-rebirth We took quiz on the movie. HANDOUT: Rule of the Bone, RWR, Journal #2. HOMEWORK: Read pages 273-284, Rule of the Bone.  RWR is optional.  The RWR will not excuse a bad quiz grade this time.
4/11/11	INTRO: The 3rd quarter ended Friday.  Grades will be turned in on Thursday. NOTES: Had brief discussion of Pink’s issues: (Pink Floyd the Wall, movie) shaving substance abuse severe depression (antisocial, reclusive, bipolar?) attachment issues (weird thoughts on love/sexuality; his Dad’s death, pet rat’s death) narcissistic- his girl friend comes over and he blows her off, he seems incapable of having relationship with anyone post traumatic stress syndrome We watched more of the movie. HANDOUT: “Rule of the Bone, Assignment #4” HOMEWORK: Read pages 251-272, Rule of the Bone.  Be thinking of what you want to do for Assignment #4.  It will be due on May 2nd.
4/7/11	INTRO: 10 minutes oral reading, then watched some of Pink Floyd the Wall, movie. HOMEWORK: Read pages 210-225, Rule of the Bone.
4/6/11	INTRO:  Today we did a lot of silent reading, mainly because the sub couldn’t figure out how to show the movie we were supposed to watch! HOMEWORK: Read pages 198-209, Rule of the Bone.
4/5/11	NOTES: Some shared their drawings of characters from the book.  Most chose Chappie to draw.  He was commonly portrayed with a mohawk, a nose ring, an earring, a tattoo, and holding a bag of weed.  Someone drew Froggy, portraying her with eyes that looked “drugged”.  This exercise helped us to really think about the characters. We did some oral reading from page 105. One paragraph gives an analogy to Peter Pan.  Like characters in Peter Pan, Chappie begins to miss his parents  and miss having rules and boundaries.  On page 178, we see some foreshadowing, perhaps, of gunfire and people shooting. Chappie is going through changes: more independent (separated from bikers, parents, and Russ) independent from society more mature (takes care of Froggy) takes care of self not stealing, more honest contributes to microsociety (helps IMan with gardening) changes his name, attitude, hair, tattoo HOMEWORK: Read pages 184-197, Rule of the Bone.
4/4/11	INTRO: RWR can be handed in for up to 5 points extra credit. NOTES: We wrote our responses to the following questions in our journals: IS the profanity in the book gratuitous? (unnecessary) Is Chappie just a criminal, or is his situation defensible? With which character do you sympathize more, Chappie or Russ? We then shared our responses with the rest of the class.  Some of the responses follow: Some felt that profanity was used too much. One student questioned whether drug users really act and talk like they do in the book.  Some felt that the profanity makes the story believable, and in reality, teens do use a lot of profanity for no apparent reason.  One felt that the profanity helps support Chappie’s situation, and that the story wouldn’t work without it. Someone pointed out that Chappie is a criminal, by definition, because he does criminal activities.  Several felt that because Chappie has not had a lot of guidance in his life so far, and because his step father has apparently been sexually molesting him, that his situation is defensible.   One felt more sympathy for Russ, since he had less of a way out of the situation.  Some felt that they had no sympathy for either, since they were both criminals.  Some, on the other hand, felt sympathy for both boys, who were treated like the “underbelly of society”. HOMEWORK: Bring your drawing of the character from the book to class tomorrow to share.  Read pages 152-183, Rule of the Bone.

Class Notes 3/16-3/30

3/30/11	NOTES: Today we took a reading quiz.  We also drew a picture, in our journals, of a character from Rule of the Bone. HOMEWORK: Read pages 109-133, Rule of the Bone.  Do RWR for Friday, if you failed the quiz.
3/29/11	NOTES: In small groups, discussed and answered the following questions: What are the central tasks in coming of age?  (What does it take to become an adult?) Which of these central tasks has Chappie accomplished? As a class, we made the following chart: ________________________________________________________________ coming of age tasks                              Has Chappie achieved task? - moving out of parents’ house                   - yes - having a job                                              - not really, unless selling dope - having own house                                    - not his own, but with friends - having money                                           - only from selling dope - growing physically                                    - no, was runty 14-year old - know right from wrong                              - has a moral compass, won’t                                                                     sell crank, won’t steal high-                                                                     ticket items - self-reliant                                                 - yes, but is addicted to pot - stands up for self and others                    - sometimes, like when Joker                                                                     wants to shave Chappie’s                                                                     mohawk - not dependent on parents                         - yes - emotionally independent from                   - for the most part parents and others                                                                                         - sexual maturity                                         - unknown ________________________________________________________________ Students made KWL chart to organize thoughts on prompt: “about Chappie’s problems”.  K is for what you know. W is for what you’d like to learn or know.  L is for what you’ve learned (by the end of the book). The book starts to shift around page 84.  Why?  Because the apartment building where Russ and Chappie are living, burns down. HOMEWORK: Read pages 84-108, Rule of the Bone.  Reading quiz Wednesday.
3/28/11	INTRO: Students wrote down 3 things that they learned in March intensive, then shared them with the rest of the class. NOTES: Continued our discussion of Rule of the Bone.  Notes from the board: _______________________________________________________________ definition                                                       characteristics: a coming-of-age novel where                        - character moves or travels travels features prominently                             a lot                                                                      - person gains independence and                                                                        moves away from parents, doesn’t                                                                        rely on parents                                         Bildungsroman examples:                                                       non-examples: - Chappie, Rule of the Bone                          - Disreputable History - Catcher in the Rye, Holden                         - One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s   - Siddhartha                                                      Nest - Star Wars, Luke - Forrest Gump                                                                                                     ________________________________________________________________ Bildungsroman is of German origin.   coming of age= growing up becoming an adult (You don’t have to be totally independent.) What are some markers in our society of becoming an adult? age 16- license and car age 18- vote, tobacco, gamble, tattoo your own place age 21- alcohol                   HOMEWORK: Read pages 58-83, Rule of the Bone.
3/18/11	NOTES: Loop writing- used 2-3 minutes on each of the following prompts: How important is family in shaping who a person is?  We were generally in agreement that a person’s family has a heavy impact on shaping that person’s values and morals.  While a family’s nurturing affects a person’s personality, nature also heavily affects it. Write about an aspect of your person or personality that you feel your parents helped shape.  Some of the traits mentioned were athleticism, being artistic, and being religious. How has family shaped Chappie?  Chappie’s family is quite dysfunctional.  His real dad abandoned him.  His stepfather and mother are neglectful of him, and don’t set boundaries.  His step father is emotionally and physically abusive to him.  He puts Chappie down and dehumanizes him.  Chappie turns to outsiders, but no one tells him to stop smoking, stop doing drugs, or to stop drinking.  His mom seems to care about him, but it doesn’t seem to be enough.   HOMEWORK: SEE YESTERDAY
3/17/11	INTRO: Each student got a progress report today, and checked in with Mr. Bourne.  If all work was caught up, student could leave. NOTES: Another rebel presentation: Augustina and Kyle: Jimi Hendrix rebel because of music style, burning guitar on stage, and changing The Star Spangled Banner born 1942 in Washington state epitomized the 1960’s, image of flamboyant rock and roll, sexuality, and drug use African American who learned to play guitar at age 12 heavy drug use, arrested in 1969 The Hendrix Experience toured USA, not accepted by young adults, was taken off the tour turned to groupies and drugs controversial rendition of Star Spangled Banner died by suffocating in his vomit HOMEWORK: Read up to page 57, Rule of the Bone, by the time we return to class,  after March intensive.
3/16/11	NOTES: Today we all worked on in-class essay (The Disreputable History...)  Can finish it tomorrow during “x”. HOMEWORK: Read pages 24-41, Rule of the Bone.