Fantasy Worlds in Words: Crafting Original Narratives
January 22 - March 8th
Grades:
Grade 7 (Can be modified for 6th grade; They will use the mystery novel, Chasing Vermeer.)
Price:
FREE
Skills Learned:
●Cite Text Evidence When Analyzing a Text
●Writing Skills; Drafts and Revisions
●Research and Language Skills
Classtimes:
Classtimes will be coordinated between the Lead Teacher and Teacher Fellow
Session Length:
January 22 - March, 2024
Number of Sessions:
1 of 2
This course will be part of an ongoing research study by AIR, in collaboration with CWW, the CERES Institute for Children & Youth at Boston University, and the Rennie Center. The study aims to understand teacher and student experiences in the CWW initiative, including factors influencing effective implementation, and outcomes.
Course Program:
Using systemic functional linguistics (using Dr. Maria Brisk’s approach), students will write original narratives that are guided by the mentor text, Girl of Fire and Thorns. Studying all aspects of functional language in the mentor text and supplemental text, and using common core reading standards, students will master the use of a narrative arc. Halfway through the unit, we will create a jointly-constructed fantasy narrative, and the culminating task will be an independently-constructed narrative built on a thematic concept grounded in social justice. The unit will provide accommodations and modifications for a wide range of moderate disabilities and ELD levels 1-5.
About
Tommy Simmons
I have been in the classroom for 16 years, primarily in middle school as a humanities teacher. I have taught in Boston, Savannah (Georgia), and Mozambique. I have seen
too many motivated, creative, dedicated teachers leave the profession because they
did not feel supported. This partnership with Campus Without Walls allows me a chance to provide those supports for teachers who want it, hopefully disrupting the
systemic burnout in our profession. I am currently teaching at Mario Umana
Academy and am fully invested in the lifelong benefits of a dual language program.
Metalinguistic awareness and rollerblading are two of my favorite things.