Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another.
~ G.K. Chesterton
My daughter, Natalie; my wife, Kali; and me at “Boo at the
Zoo” this Halloween!
I graduated from Ohio State in
2003 with a Psychology degree,
and a little unsure of what I was
going to do in life. After taking a
year to figure that out, I went to
work for a wonderful non-profit
organization called Young Life. I
had been heavily involved with
Young Life in high school and
college, and working full time for
Young Life was a perfect fit. I
spent six years working with high
school students through this
organization, loving every minute
of it. It was through this time that
I realized that I really liked
working with high school kids,
regardless of the avenue I took to
do it. So now, at thirty, I am back
in school to become an English
teacher. I can’t think of anything
more important than impacting
the lives of kids. I’m honored and
excited to be a part of their lives.
There are far too many kids today who have no adults in their life that actually care about them.
My role as a teacher is to value each student, encourage them in who they are, and somewhere
along that path teach them English.
~ Jeff Rogers
English 11
Mr. Rogers
Spring 2012
Overview
Rationale:
Short stories are an excellent way to get disinterested kids involved in reading. They
don’t have to read a 200+ page novel, they don’t have to talk endlessly about symbolism, and
they (typically) don’t have to write a long paper at the end of reading the story. Beyond that,
there are some wonderful short stories out there, written by some of the greatest writers in
history. This short story unit on There Will Come Soft Rains by Ray Bradbury is a masterpiece.
It’s fun, futuristic, and easy to understand. The goal is that my students will walk away with a
new outlook on reading in general, and hopefully for literature in their education as well.
Summary:
Over the course of one week, students will completely read There Will Come Soft Rains
by Ray Bradbury culminating in a fun writing to learn summative assessment where they have to
write an advertisement for one of the features of the house. Students will learn literary terms via
two column notes and participate in a timed write answering a specific prompt.
The advertisement project will also incorporate an optional “infomercial style”
presentation, which will allow students to really have fun with the project and think outside the
box.
Literacy Strategies:
Think aloud, writing to learn, writing to learn – advertisement, timed write
Objectives:
CA3 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 2.4, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8
Students will engage in reading, perhaps for the first time.
Length of Curriculum:
1 week.
Materials and Resources:
Provided by school: Literature books, laptops (optional)
Provided by teacher: student handout, rubric, lit terms packet, timed write prompt
Provided by students: pencil, creativity
Means of Assessment:
The timed write will be graded on a rubric established for all timed writes in my
classroom. The advertisement will be graded on the rubric included on the student handout. The
presentations will not be for points, but will be for fun and potentially prizes.
February
Teacher Calendar 2012
Nam id velit non risus consequat iaculis.
Sunday
Monday
5
Tuesday
6
Pass out lit books
for TWCSR
Wednesday
7
½ student work
½ timed write
have prompt
ready
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
3
4
8
9
10
11
TWCSR projects
go out, have
student handout
ready
Work day, make
sure to mingle
among them
TWCSR
Presentations!
Have candy ready!
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
February
Student Calendar 2012
Nam id velit non risus consequat iaculis.
Student Calendar
This is for your use to help you keep track of what is going on in LA 10.
Sunday
Monday
5
Tuesday
Wednesday
6
TWCSR starts
Read in class
7
TWCSR read
in class
Timed write
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
3
4
8
9
10
11
TWCSR project
intro
TWCSR work
day
TWCSR
Presentations for
bonus prizes!
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them.
~Ray Bradbury
Lesson Plan 1
Heading
Objective
Reading
Material
Instructional
Framework
Lesson Plan
Format
Grouping
Materials &
Resources
English 10
Jeff Rogers
Short Story Intro
One class period
To introduce the main literary devices used in short stories and begin reading
“There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury
“There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury
Initiating
Direct Instruction – teacher will provide definitions and background
knowledge for literary devices
Individuals
School – Literature books
Teacher – Literary Terms Packet to distribute
Student – Lit terms packet, pencil, lit book
Accommodation
for Students
with Special
Needs
Literacy
Think Aloud – I will share my thought process regarding setting as the
Strategy
short story opens, stopping the CD at several points.
Phase One
Teacher will introduce short stories by engaging students with a personal
short story.
Phase Two
Lit packet is distributed and students take notes on each term.
Students will read along in their lit books while a CD of “There Will Come
Soft Rains” begins our story.
Phase Three
With 5 minutes in class remaining, teacher will stop the CD and facilitate
discussion of the story; ensuring students have comprehended the beginning
of the story.
Formative
Assessment
Homework
Assignment
Orally, student will be asked for definitions of literary terms. This is not for
points, but candy will be given as correct answers.
Reminder
Lesson Plan 2
Heading
Objective
Reading
Material
Instructional
Framework
Lesson Plan
Format
Grouping
Materials &
Resources
English 10
Jeff Rogers
There Will Come Soft Rains 2
One class period
Students will finish reading “TWCSR” and apply knowledge of the literary
device of “setting” in a one paragraph timed write.
“There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury
Constructing
Cooperative Learning
Pods (Groups of 5 that they sit in)
School – Lit books
Teacher – Timed write prompt
Student – Lit terms packet, pencil, lit book, prompt
Accommodation
for Students
with Special
Needs
Literacy
Writing to Learn – timed write prompt
Strategy
Phase One
Teacher will recap briefly what happened in the short story, then students will
be given 20 minutes to finish the story.
Phase Two
In their groups, students will have 10 minutes to discuss different literary
devices that are at work in the story.
Phase Three
The last 20 minutes of class will be spent on a timed write, answering the
prompt: Apply the statement “With the benefits of technology come risks
and costs” to “There Will Come Soft Rains”.
Formative
Assessment
Homework
Assignment
The assessment is the timed write in this lesson.
Reminder
Lesson Plan 3
Heading
Objective
Reading
Material
Instructional
Framework
Lesson Plan
Format
Grouping
Materials &
Resources
English 10
Jeff Rogers
There Will Come Soft Rains 3
One class period
Students will demonstrate comprehension of the story through a fun writing
assignment.
“There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury
Utilizing
Problem Solving
Individuals
School – Lit books
Teacher – Writing an Advertisement Assignment
Student – Pencil
Accommodation
for Students
with Special
Needs
Literacy
Writing to learn – advertisement
Strategy
Phase One
Teacher will explain the assignment. Students are to choose one of the
automated devices of the house and write an advertisement that they want to
promote.
Phase Two
Students may choose to work in groups, to brainstorm with other students, or
to work alone. Teacher will float from group to group, helping as needed.
Phase Three
Time permitting - students can share their advertisements in “cheesyinfomercial style” with the class for fun, possibly candy, and my favor.
Formative
Assessment
Homework
Assignment
The advertisements will be scored for points based on the scoring guide on the
handout.
Reminder
Writing an Advertisement
Mr. Rogers
10 Language Arts
Name_______________________________
The house in “There Will Come Soft Rains” is filled with automated devices. Choose
one that you want to promote. Write an advertisement that describes the device and persuade
your audience that they need it. There must be a graphic to go along with a written
advertisement. This graphic could be a picture, drawing, or anything else you come up with.
Technology:
Mice that clean
Automated Oven
Automated Sink
Automated Dishwasher
Automatic Chef
Living Walls (nursery)
Weather Box
Voice Recognition Door
Scrap Rats
Automated Incinerator
Automated Pantry Room
Smell Producer
Personal Poetry Reader
Automatic Safety Doors/Windows
Firefighting Robots
Talking House
Prewriting: Brainstorm (by yourself or with your pod) to identify the characteristics of your
target audience. Provide information about their age range, education level, specialized training,
technology awareness, and buying habits. List the highlights and features of the product you
want to emphasize.
Drafting: Write directly to your target audience – the people to whom you are trying to sell your
product. Address them in terms and language they can understand.
Requirements:
A clever product name
100-word minimum
Graphic or Image
Scoring Guide
Assignment
Requirements
Audience
Awareness
Descriptive
Detail
Awareness of
Purpose
Clarity of
Message
Executive Suite
5
Corner Office
4
3
Cubicle
2
1
Mail Room
0
5
4
3
2
1
0
5
4
3
2
1
0
5
4
3
2
1
0
5
4
3
2
1
0
Graphic Organizer Mr. Rogers LA 10 Story: Author: Setting: Characters: Plot: Things I don’t understand yet: