Class Notes: Sept. 22, 2009

C-block (Honors)

AGENDA :
1. Collect POV assignments.
2. Journal (Think): Write about the experience of making your identity box. How does the inside differ from the outside?
3. (Pair): Discuss your identity box with a partner focusing on the following questions: 1) What is identity? 2) How much of who you are is determined at your birth? 3) How much of it is something you decide? 4) How much of it is something that is determined by your experiences with others?
4. (Share): Class discussion about identity (in anticipation of issues of identity and race that will be an integral part of Black Boy.)

HOMEWORK: 1. Read "Little Things Are Big" and "How It Feels to Be Colored Me."
2. Answer Focus Questions.

D-block

AGENDA :
1. Return summer reading tests. Reminder: each summer reading test will be scaled up 6 points.
2. Discuss process of making identity boxes and final product with a partner. As you discuss, try to come up with categories we could use for various aspects of identity (e.g. likes/dislikes, race, gender, occupation, personality, etc.)
3. Class discussion about identity boxes. Class makes list of identity categories on board.
4. Introduction of artist Glenn Ligon. (Today, we looked at one etching in a series entitled Two White / Two Black. Click here for the rest of the series.)
5. Describe Two White / Two Black, Image 1.

HOMEWORK: 1. Read "Little Things Are Big" by Jesús Colón.
2. Answer Focus Questions in your journal in order to be prepared for class discussion.