Characterization and Imagery

As we make our way through The Giver, sixth grade students have been exploring concepts of equality and power through their literary analysis.  We have been focusing mostly on characterization and imagery, analyzing how the author employs these devices to enhance her message.  For the former, we are getting into technical discussions about direct vs. indirect characterization and the purpose of each.  As for imagery, we have been exploring not only visual images, but imagery that engages our other senses as well.  Lowry's book, full of vivid description, is the perfect text on which to practice this skill.

In other, perhaps less scintillating news, the NYS ELA test is fast approaching.  The dates are April 17-19.  This means we have only one day after spring break to get back into the swing of things.  All of our work to this point has prepared students for the test, but we will also be doing more targeted test prep in the month of March.  Below you will find the breakdown of the test as well as a link for more information:

For more information visit: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/apda/english/ela-ei.html

Projects and The Giver

While we have wrapped up our Nonfiction unit, I'd like to take a moment to note how impressed I was with the level of work I saw in students' projects.  They were thoughtful, artfully constructed, and meticulously researched.  Reading through them, I learned about topics from the Hubble telescope, to architecture, to NYC history and beyond.  Perhaps you'll experience some of this too by listening to this recording of students sharing their favorite project factoids.

We have now shifted our focus back to literature with our study of The Giver, by Lois Lowry.  We will be continuing to hone concrete skills and knowledge relating to literary elements and devices, but will also be discussing some rather philosophical issues like: is a utopian society possible?  How do we find a balance between the rights of an individual and the good of the community?  How do we perceive the difference between breaking the law and resisting an unjust authority?  This should be a great way to give students the opportunity to consider issues they may not have ever pondered in great depth.