Introduction / Overview:  Identity Exploration  by ---- ---

As prospective teachers in secondary education, it is important to understand the various physical, psychological, social, and cognitive changes that adolescents undergo.  In fact, according to Erik Erikson’s life span theory, adolescence is the most important stage in one’s life, for they are “faced with the task of developing a sense of self-continuity”—or in other words, identity formation (Dunkel & Sefcek 14).  That being said, our nine-week unit focuses on the theme of identity exploration, and is built upon a few essential questions that are intended to guide students through this rather complex process.  Such essential questions are: What is identity?  What does it mean to be true to yourself?  Is how we identify ourselves more important than how others identify us?  Through carefully crafted lessons, students are to engage in readings and activities that will prompt them to explore, reflect, define and articulate their ongoing process of identity formation.   

The two texts that we have chosen to incorporate into this unit are The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indianby Sherman Alexie.  Students will be asked to read, analyze and personally connect to these texts as the protagonists in each novel endeavor to form their own identities.  In doing so, it is our hope that our students will also be encouraged to think about their ongoing process of identity formation.  

Source: Dunkel, C.S. & Sefcek, J.A. “Eriksonian Lifespan Theory and Life History Theory: An       Integration Using the Example of Identity Formation.”  American Psychological (2009): 13-23.    Web. 10 Dec. 2010

Unit Calendar
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February 2011

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri
31	LISA L.P.A. (1) 1	2	ANNA L.P.A. (1) 3	LISA L.P.A.(2) 4
- Book Discussion Ch. 3-4 - Symbols and their meanings to Holden HW: CITR Ch. 5-6	Ackley and Stradlater as Foils Activity HW: Study for Quiz	- CITR Quiz 1 on Ch. 1-6 - Lit Circle Group Discussions HW: CITR Ch. 7-8	Book Discussion on Ch. 7-8 using SparkNotes HW: CITR Ch. 9-10; SparkNotes Editors	Reaching Holden Activity HW: Texting Activity
7	LISA L.P.A. (3) 8	9	LISA L.P.A. (4) 10	11
- Small Group Share: Reaching Holden Activity - Making Predictions HW: CITR Ch. 11-12	Index Card Group Question Review HW: Study for Quiz	- CITR Quiz 2 on Ch. 7-12 - Interrupted reading Activity for Ch. 13-14 HW: CITR Ch. 13-14	Holden and J. Alfred Prufrock HW: CITR Ch. 15-16	- Ch. 15-16 Class discussion - Group timeline Activity HW: CITR Ch. 17-19
14	ANNA L.P.A. (2) 15	16	ANNA L.P.A. (3) 17	ANNA L.P.A. (4) 18
- Book Discussion Ch. 17-19 -Read Fisher Price’s cartoon of scene in Ch. 19 -Create their own comic strips using Comic Creator HW: CITR Ch. 20	Silent Conversation Quiz Review HW: Study for Quiz	- CITR Quiz 3 on Ch. 13-20 -Discuss the lack of diversity in The Catcher in the Rye; historical context of the novel HW: CITR Ch. 21-22	Catcher Playlist HW: song & rationale	Catcher Playlist Wrap-Up and partner sharing HW: CITR 23-24
21	22	LISA L.P.A. (5) 23	24	25
PRESIDENT’S DAY: NO CLASSES	- Banned books and censorship debate - American Library Assoc. Top 100 Banned Book List for 2000-2009 HW: CITR Ch. 25-26	CITR Wrap-Up A Letter to the Principal HW: None; catch up on reading, if haven’t finished novel.	-Hand out writing prompts for Essay Test and go over each prompt -Brainstorm main ideas & supporting quotations in small groups HW: Prepare for Essay Test	-In-class Essay Test HW: None
28	ANNA L.P.A. (5) MARCH 1	2	3	4
-Return Essay Test with feedback. -Writer’s Workshop to help students develop the essay tests into final essays for CITR HW: Work on essay	Anna LPA #5 ”Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyon -Write from Holden’s perspective in small groups -Present poems in small groups. HW: Write “Where I’m From” poem & work on essay	--Students share “Where I’m From” poems -Jigsaw activity using poems related to identity: -”Theme for English B” by Langston Hughes -”Identity” by Julio Noboa Polanca -”Hanging Fire” by Audre Lorde -”Be Nobody’s Darling” by Alice Walker HW: Work on essay	-Connecting Catcher in the Rye to excerpts of Dead Poets Society - Students fill compare/contrast handout during film HW: Work on essay	- Essay due in the beginning of class. - Dead Poets Society Comparison continued - Handout due at end of class HW: None

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri
GINTARE L.P.A.(1) 7	8	GINTARE L.P.A.(2) 9	JASON L.P.A.(1) 10	Jason L.P.A. (2) 11
Introduction: Sherman Alexie. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Sherman Alexie’s essay: “I Hated Tonto (Still Do). YouTube Video: Hollywood portrayal of Indians/ Native Americans. HW: (Read p. 1-23)	Quick-Quiz Discuss 1-23 Memoir Exploration Worksheet. Discussion of names/cultures. HW: (Read p. 24-47)	(Discuss 24-47) Read “Rowdy Sings the Blues” in class. Silent conversations (groups) Discussion of HOPE: HW: (Read p.54-66) and finish Silent Conversation	Discuss: “How to Fight Monsters.” Lesson on Mascots (Persuasive Essay??) HW:	Quick Mascot recap. Unofficial Rules Lesson (Hw: Read p.67-98)
14	GINTARE L.P.A.(3) 15	JASON L.P.A.(3) 16	JASON L.P.A.(4) 17	GINTARE L.P.A.(4) 18
Reading QUIZ Issue of Poverty, money availability for Junior’s Halloween costume. Conflict with teacher. Is it ok to be “smarter” than the teacher activity. (Hw: read p. 99-113)	Discussion of 99-113. Eating disorders/addictions Tea party activity. (HW: Read p.114-132) and finish Tea Party Activity (individual part).	Apple Lesson With discussion of 114-132. HW: “create your own apple” Read “Reindeer Games” and “And a Partridge in a Pear Tree” (p. 135-151).	Individual vs. community lesson (HW: Read 152-168)	Lesson on death, grief, and tolerance. (Discussion of p152-168). Question-Answer-Relationship Worksheet -Create your own Journal Topic (HW: Read p.169-199) and finish journal if not done in class
JASON L.P.A.(5) 21	22	GINTARE L.P.A. (5) 23	24	25
Cartoon lesson HW: Read “Because Russian Guys Are Not Always Geniuses” p.200-213	QUIZ Lesson: Alcoholism, What is it? What causes it? Article Effects on loved ones. Junior’s reaction to his sister’s death. HW: Finish reading book. P. 213-229.	Discussion of book as a whole. Wrap-up HW: Finish letter to sister or grandma.	Pass out the students’ final assessment project/essay. Take today to explain the variety of choices that the students have. Have the students complete a brainstorming activity to help guide their decisions. (DUE FRIDAY, APRIL 1st)	Show movie: Smoke Signals by Miramax Films Release date: June 1999 Screenplay published by: Miramax Books (Show 45 minutes)
28	29	30	31	APRIL 1
Show movie: Smoke Signals by Miramax Films Release date: June 1999 Screenplay published by: Miramax Books (Show last 45 minutes) HW: continue working on final paper/project/essay/ performance	Activity comparing The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian to Smoke Signals. HW: continue working on final paper/project/essay/ performance	Compare Holden and Junior. If they met, what would they do? Get into their shoes. HW: continue working on final paper/project/essay/ performance	Making personal connections to the authors! -Which book did you like better? Do you connect with Junior or Holden? Why? HW: FINAL PROJECT/PAPER/ ESSAY/ PERFORMANCE DUE TOMORROW!!!	FINAL ASSESSMENT PRESENTATION DAY. Performances made, paper ideas presented, projects presented.