After everything, I'm still here.

Just when I thought I could clean...

I look at my syllabus for children's lit, and realize I have exactly 1 month to pull a lesson plan out of my ass!!! Not only that, but I need to figure out what I'm going to do and what assignments I'll give and time everything out and prepare what I would want as a final assessment. Ugh...why don't I look at my stuff more often? Plus, I have OTHER things to do for the class in the meantime. And for other classes!! I brought this on myself. I know. I know.
But, I have some cool ideas for the plan. I am going to cover "Gathering Blue" by Lois Lowry. I'm also going to work in some journalism stuff because I like it. =) Who wouldn't want to pretend they're a reporter and "interview" the main character??? That way they can be creative and learn something about writing and journalism along the way!!! =) Sure, it would be made-up, so it wouldn't be exactly like journalism (although for some reporters it would be), but at least I can introduce them to the concept of interviewing. I'm also going to throw in a few days about editing because I want their final assignment to be a 4-5 page paper, and I want them to learn the editing symbols I'll be using on their papers. Cool idea?? It's geared for 6th-8th graders. So, some of them "Should" know the symbols, but there will always be some who don't. I'm excited about the ideas I have, but I hate the part about actually mapping it out on paper and plotting what I'm going to do for each minute of the class time. I have to account for 50-60 minutes of class time and show what they will be doing and for how long to make sure it covers the class time. I think I have at least 2 weeks covered. Any thoughts or ideas from anyone? Anything you did in middle school, or even high school that I can make work with a chapter book for middle schoolers? Any activities? Assignments? Give me any ideas!!! It'll be much appreciated.

posted by Julie @ 9:39 PM