tcssBriannaDePierro

back to personal pages I learn best by doing and seeing straight forward examples of concepts I am learning. It is hard for me to grasp a concept by just reading the words on a page. I like using technology in the classroom such as you tube videos or movies that can help students relate on a more personal level to what I am or will be teaching. I also think that the best teachers are those who can make their students laugh. Honestly I hate lecturing and hate being lectured at, I would much rather have a discussion based classroom. Outside of school and the classroom I enjoy spending time with my friends but more importantly my family. Cooking is also something that I am very passionate about and would someday like to pursue as a second career. In my classroom I would like to learn many things about my students but most importantly their backgrounds and life experiences that may have shaped them into the person they are today.

 Before Bloomsburg, I lived in…Kingston,Pa.

 At Bloomsburg, I want to major in… Secondary Ed/English

 Right now, I’m most interested in…Cooking.

 My favorite musical artist is….Mariah Carey/Lil’ Wayne

 My favorite movie is….It’s Complicated.

 One thing I like to do in my spare time is…work out.

 When it comes to technology, I’m most comfortable with…(put X next to all that apply)

 Microsoft Word x  Microsoft Powerpoint  Email x  Cellphone x  Text messaging x  Taking cellphone picturesx  Taking cellphone video  Taking cellphone audio <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> Video editing <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> Blogging or Social Networking (e.g., Facebook) x <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> Making websites

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> My favorite teachers were the ones who…challenged me to be a better person.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> But I didn’t like classes in which…I never got the opportunity to speak my mind.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> In this class, I’m most nervous about…teaching in front of the class.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> In this class, I’m most excited about…learning/accepting my teaching flaws and improving them.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> If there’s one thing you should know about me as a student, it’s… I tend to get overwhelmed.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> If there’s one thing you should know about me in general, it’s…I'm 100% Italian so I'm extremely loud and talk with my hands.

**Individual Unit Plan Rationale** **Sold by Patricia McCormick** **10th/11th grade.**

When choosing a young adult novel to teach within your classroom you must make sure it is a text which will cause students to step back and reflect on their own lives by making connections within the novel. With that in mind I have chosen to construct a unit based on the novel “Sold” by Patricia McCormick. This novel is a coming of age story set in India, where a 13 year old girl is sold into sexual slavery by her own stepfather. Although this novel embraces some harsh realities and sexual inferences, McCormick has constructed it in such a way in which it is still appropriate for a high school classroom.

Although this novel is based in India, somewhere that seems out of touch to us in our everyday lives, it is still able to force us to make connections, and empathize with the young girl. This novel will cause students to look back on their own lives and experience a new found appreciation for the “little things” in life such as a T.V, cell phones, being able to afford three meals a day, or even the roofs over our heads. This novel is empowering and has the ability to look at life in America in a way we never would have before.

Due to this novel’s harsh reality it will be a great opportunity for class discussion and independent journal work. Also, the novel is written in the young girl Lakshmi’s point of view, and is done so by day to day journal entries. The way the novel is written will make the activity of journal entries and reflection more relevant to the class. One activity students will encounter will be the paralleling between a day in Lakshmi’s life and that of a day in their own. This will help students understand the cultural differences between India and the United States, along possible similarities. Also, this novel is a great opportunity to bring awareness to the reality of the trafficking of woman in countries all over the world. For a group activity my students will find an article from the past 10 years relevant to the trafficking of women and children and write a one to two page reflection as an assignment, along with presenting the article summary to the class.

In Conclusion, this novel touches on many important themes young adult students can relate to such as the coming of age, sacrifice, family, change, and friendship. Through the story of young Lakshmi students will step inside the shoes of another human being and find ways to relate in which they never thought possible. Not only does this novel teach the reader about the devastating reality of sex trafficking in India, but it gives you a new found appreciation for life.

**Guiding Questions** **Comparing your life in America to Lakshmi's in India what are the cultural differences, and why are these important to the overall understanding of the novel?**

**In India what does the role of a woman stand for? How are the women of Nepal represented different than that of women in the United States?**


 * This novel is written as a series of day by day journal or diary entries by Lakshmi, why do you think the author constructed her novel in this form? If it was written differently such as chapter by chapter would the impact of the novel be the same?**

** SOLD ** ** Summative Assessment **


 * For the summative assessment at the conclusion of my unit on SOLD, students will be assigned a 3-5 page paper reflecting and analyzing on one of four major themes and ideas from the novel. Not only will writing a reflective piece allow me to assess the students on their comprehension of the novel, but it will allow me to evaluate their writing skills as well. With this writing assignment 3 days before the final paper is due I will set aside a period for peer review and editing. **
 * The Topics for the Paper are as follows. **
 * Social class issues: ** Think about the role that social class plays in the novel SOLD, by Patricia McCormick. In reflecting on the topic of social class and issues, think about the following questions for your paper. What social classes are represented in the novel? To what extent is each class depicted? Are all the classes given equal representation? As you are reading the novel SOLD, consider two important questions: how does the author feel about the different social classes, and how can you tell the author's opinion? Write a paper that explores the way that social class and class issues affect the characters and plot of your novel.
 * Realism and the Setting : ** Do a close examination of the setting in your novel. What are the primary locations? How these places are made realistic — how does the author use extended description, background information, and specific detail to make the setting come alive for readers? How do the main characters fit in the settings — do they seem at home? out of place? How do their reactions and interactions with the setting affect the realism of the locations? In your paper, discuss the way that the techniques that the writer uses to make the setting vivid and real to readers, and the extent to which these techniques are effective.
 * Gender Issues: ** Consider the gender of the characters in your novel. How are male and female characters portrayed? How does the work portray their roles in society? How does gender influence the choices that are available to the characters and the decisions that they make? Write a paper that explores how gender affects the plot and character development in the novel.
 * Reality of the Text: ** The novel SOLD, is based on the sex trafficking of young women and children in Nepal and India. Although this is a harsh reality of the lives of many in the Asia Pacific area, to someone like us, a U.S citizen, it seems far out of reach. Find a piece of literature or movie that is based on this same idea of slavery around the world. Compare and Contrast Sold with the text or media that you have found, find the similarities or differences, and write about how this piece is effective and empowering to you as a viewer or a reader. Think about how realistic the novelist is in depicting the harshness and reality of the text along with its main issue of women sex slaves. Can you find anywhere else in the world where this is relevant? Does this go on in the United States? Reflect on all of these questions for your novel and comparative piece, and formulate those ideas into your paper.

** 1.2.10.A: ** ** Evaluate ** text organization and content to determine the author’s purpose and effectiveness according to the author’s **theses**, accuracy, thoroughness, logic, and reasoning.

**1.2.10.D:** Analyze inferences and draw conclusions, citing textual support, based on an author’s explicit assumptions and beliefs about a subject.

**1.2.10.D:** Analyze inferences and draw conclusions, citing textual support, based on an author’s explicit assumptions and beliefs about a subject.

** 1.4.10.B: ** Write complex informational pieces (e.g. research papers, analytical essays, summaries, descriptive pieces or literary analyses) that:
 * Gather evidence in support of a thesis.
 * Incorporate and document information and ideas from primary and secondary sources accurately and coherently.
 * Anticipate and address readers’ potential misunderstandings, biases, and expectations.

** 1.5.10.A: ** · Write with a clear **focus**, identifying topic, task, and audience. ** 1.5.10.B: ** Develop content appropriate for the topic.
 * Gather, organize, and determine validity and reliability of information.
 * Employ the most effective format for purpose and audience.
 * Incorporate specialized vocabulary for topic and audience
 * Write fully developed paragraphs that have details and information specific to the topic and relevant to the **focus.**

· ** 1.5.10.E: ** · Review, evaluate, revise, edit, and proofread writing to improve **style**, word choice, sentence variety, and subtlety of meaning. ** 1.5.10.F: ** Use grade appropriate **conventions of language** when writing and editing.
 * Spell common, frequently used words correctly.
 * Use capital letters correctly.
 * Punctuate correctly.
 * Use correct grammar and sentence formation

Jeopardy Game (Lesson 9) Special Needs Modifications
 * Unit Plan FINAL**
 * (including rationale, guiding questions, overview)**
 * Materials/Resources Page**


 * GATSBY FINAL PAPER ASSIGNMENT**

Lesson 1. Gatsby. REVISED (CUPLS) CUPLS Reflection

Graded Paper Reflection