Multimedia in the Language Arts Classroom

2/20/2020

The challenge this week gives you two ends of a triangle: you’ve got a class (I’m going back to our 9th grade BR college prep class—not so old that middle school is a distant memory, not so smart that they will be so over it, not so young that we have to pretend nobody has sex or does drugs); you’ve got your media—any and all of the recordings accessible via the syllabus. How might you use this media and what texts would you pair with them—that’s the last leg of the magic triangle?

You’ve got a real opportunity to be pretty creative here. You are welcome to talk about any of the texts we’ve covered so far or will cover in class. Or you can go with something else you’d want to teach. Or you can go with a canonical text that might well be included in the framework. Or you can do a little of all three. Additionally, if there is other supplemental media—movies, TV, radio, news items, non-fiction, art-work, dance, whatever—you are welcome to use that.

Why do this? Here is something to think about as you move from being a student to a teacher: you are all English majors. You love literature. Some of you love the pretty heavy stuff--Joyce, Shakespeare, Morrison. Most of you love to read--I mean really love it (I am that person; this is late because I'm trying to finish a novel because I love it so much--it is not Gossip Girl). You will have classrooms filled with students who don't like to read and who don't do it well or often. And, also, you will have students who will go on to college or trade school and they will take, at most, one literature class: one. So the question to ask yourself as a future teacher is what is your actual job as a language arts teacher?

The frameworks stresses learning literary terms and concepts and exposure to literature, capital "L." All that is good. It's important and vital for students to have rich experiences with literature. But don't forget that the most important thing we teach our students is how to read and how to write. Anything. Not write only five paragraph essays. Not read only Shakespeare. I think it can be rough to think about. You've spent your entire college career studying literature, and now I'm telling you that teaching literature is not really the job. The job is literacy instruction. How to make students be good readers of all texts. And so a class that encourages students to apply the critical interpretive skills they would use reading Poe or Faulkner or Joyce is and should be what students do with any text, including the various media they will encounter in life much longer than they'll be in school and with much greater consequence if they do it badly.

As my contribution to the discussion: I have actually paired “Is your Dad Single?” with the stories we read during the first week of class, Girl & 7th grade, with actual rising 8th and 9th graders. I asked students to map out the story of “Is Your Dad Single?”—so what starts the story, what is the rising action, what is the climactic moment, the denouement, the “truth about life.” I ask them to do this graphically. Since that piece is really about deciding on who you want to be in your own life, we look at Girl and 7th grade through that lens—how do the various characters in each figure out who they are? That’s a final writing. Along the way, I have them write about their own stories of figuring themselves out, of 7th grade, etc. I also ask them to identify the “rules” of being a boy—so write 7th Grade as a series of “you” statements, but about boys, based on the story. The work requires listening, reading, note-taking. It requires working alone and in groups. It requires that they be able to prove a point about a text using the text as evidence. It gives them space to reflect personally. I really enjoy the entire sequence. We end with a very fun exercise where they make their own maps of their lives—who they are now, where they want to end up, how they are going to get there. They present that to the whole class. I do it with them. They marvel at the idea that a 49 year old could still possibly have a life plan.

42 Comments

Ethan Child

2/20/2020 04:51:47 pm

In a world in which young people, more than ever before, are directly engaging with digital media, it would be foolish for language arts teachers to ignore these trends. Multimedia such as videos, podcasts, and even social media form a significant component of the “text” and information that young people consume. By bringing these mediums into the classroom, language arts teachers can encourage students to scrutinize and evaluate forms of media that they might otherwise blindly accept. Additionally, the inclusion of varying modes of media fosters a differentiated classroom. Students will not be limited to written texts. This can be especially beneficial for students with limited literacy or proficiency in the English language who might find a lengthy written text intimidating. The inclusion of “non-traditional” texts, such as audio recordings, in the language arts classroom expands students’ understanding of what literature is or can be.
For a classroom experience that incorporates the three “texts” from “The Moth,” I would have students analyze these texts much in the same way that they would analyze a written text. I would encourage students to take notes on the structural elements of these stories, such as tone and theme. There is, however, an additional element to analyze in spoken texts: prosody. Prosody encompasses all the elements of speech that can be heard, such as intonation, rhythm, and pacing. In their notes and in class discussion, I would ask students to observe what the speakers of these three texts are able to achieve through control of their prosody. This is a good opportunity for a language arts teacher to provide explicit instruction in effective speaking skills—something that is too often overlooked in English classes. As a final assessment, I would have students write stories about a specific formative experience or anecdote in which they gained a new understanding, insight, or perspective, or about a time when they came of age. Students should write these stories to be performed live or recorded and played for the class. Thus, in addition to their written story, students should annotate their text to include specific notes in regard to their prosody, including notes on which words to emphasize and general pacing. This assessment would give students experience with constructing a text for a contemporary audience that can be reached through digital or technological modes.

Jess R.

2/21/2020 03:09:46 pm

Ethan, I love your idea of getting students involved with storytelling by having them do their own type of Moth episode. (I had the same assessment in my post, but I promise I wrote it before I read yours!). You make a good point in your post that this type of assessment isn't just useful to guide students through storytelling, but also with speaking skills. In my textbook for my EDHM 414 class, The English Teacher's Survival Guide, Mary Lou Brandvik dedicates an entire chapter to the importance of including the speaking and listening standards in English classes. She offers advice like include Turn-and-Talks, which are effective but quick. An oral story telling lesson would be a more creative, and in-depth way of including both speaking and listening skills. I think teachers and students could have a lot of fun with oral storytelling, too, possibly even making it a celebration in the classroom or asking permission to do a school wide Moth-style event, which students and teachers could present it. (Great fundraising idea, too!) There are so many things educators could do to support students in oral storytelling, and I think it is a great way to engage students with literature and social connections.

Gabby Sleeper

2/23/2020 07:08:57 am

Ethan,
I loved how you focus on prosody and getting students to think about a different kind of writing. Writing to an audience that will read your work and writing to audience that will actually hear it are two totally different things, and students often don’t get taught the latter (or at least, I didn’t in high school). Additionally, speaking in front of the class is a huge challenge, especially for high school students, but the only way to get over that fear is through practice, and public speaking is a pretty darn useful skill to have. I also like how you give students the option to perform or record themselves, as this may take away some of the anxiety of performing on the spot. When thinking about this lesson as a whole, I feel like it might fit well with a poetry unit. These stories, of course, are not poems, but this genre also does quite often have an emphasis on the spoken word, so connecting these stories to poems that have a particularly strong impact when spoken aloud might be something that you want to consider.

Colby Nilsen

2/23/2020 07:15:01 am

Hey Ethan, I agree with you that having students analyze oral stories can be of profound help those who who may have trouble reading such as students with dyslexia. Also, this may help students with attention disorders, for it is more engaging than a book in the sense that it is essentially being told (or read) to you. The plus side is that it is arguably enjoyable for all parties involved.
Also your inclusion of Prosody was a really interesting notion. I agree that these are relevant topics, for these are key indicators of a character or narrator's tone that is easier to immediately understand than most novels.

Caroline Keenan

2/25/2020 06:57:43 pm

I really like how you focused on relating book to storytelling/podcasts. I think it is very important for students to be able to understand how to be able to read and listen to a story and still comprehend it. I think the elements you had the students listen for are crucial and really will help them/ she them that there are these types of elements in any story. I like how you would have student write about a time they came of age. This would really help students be able to focus and understand themselves and the actions they take.

Jessica Rinker

2/21/2020 03:01:09 pm

I would pair Homer’s Odyssey with a Moth Podcast to show how oral story telling is still relevant. Most 9th grade teachers only require students read certain books in the Odyssey, and I would do the same, but pair each book with a podcast. I would use “Is your Dad Single?” for Book 22, in which Telemachus, Penelope, and Odysseus are once again reunite. I would ask students how they think Telemachus might feel with the new family dynamic. (Book 22 shows how Telemachus is glad his parents are together, but there’s a moment when he has to step away from his dad to give his parents time to talk.)
Along with family, heroism is a major theme in the Odyssey. Odysseus is a hero by Greek standards (earning kleos, honor), but he makes many decisions that seem immoral and, ergo, unheroic to our eyes. I would therefore pair Books 10-12, the main adventures, with the moth podcast Liel Leibowitz “Real Men Don’t Rob Banks,” because it relates heroism to masculinity, while also tying in some family elements as Liel describes his relationship with his dad.
As we discuss the Odyssey and its themes, students would also learn. The elements of a story. I would ask students questions like, “What do you think makes a good story?” and “How would you define a hero.” Then my lessons would be catered to exploring the elements of story (plot, setting, character, conflict, etc.) and how heroes are defined culturally both in Homer’s time and ours. At the end of the unit, students would have to create their own Moth podcast, and they can pick any story, as long as it falls within the theme of family or heroism. Students would have the choice of either present Moth in person in class or record their story ahead of time and play it to the class.

Maddie Butkus

2/21/2020 03:53:21 pm

Hey Jess! I found your pair of these podcasts to Homer’s Odyssey utterly fascinating. I myself never would of thought of them even being comparable but after reading your post, I think you have a great lesson in place! Additionally, having students learn the elements of a story are crucial as well as bringing in the importance of a hero. This will help students not only during your lesson but also in their future classrooms. It is through both the elements of a story and the questions you would ask that students will be able to break down each work in order to better understand and comprehend them. Your use of media within the classroom is a great idea for students since they will have options on how they want to go about doing the assignment. The idea of having students create their own podcast based around a certain theme is such an excellent way to get students creative and indulged in their school work!

Olivia Sweeney

3/4/2020 07:04:54 am

Hi Jess!

I really like how you incorporate the podcast with certain books in the Odyssey, as these books can be very hard to follow, and using the podcast as a tool for students to understand the work better is such a great idea. It provides insight or a different approach to the books that students may not have comprehended at first. Using these podcasts hand in hand with specific books in the Odyssey definitely will ensure a greater understanding for several students in the classroom.

Maddie Butkus

2/21/2020 03:32:27 pm

In this modern day-of-age, it is crucial to incorporate media use within the classroom. Whether it be through the students own personal use of technology or media sources used within the classroom by the teacher for students, the benefits of using media can go a long way. When it comes to the three different media sources listened to this week, I would ultimately use them within my classroom in my unit of coming of age. I would want coming of age itself to be a unit within my classroom because of all that can be included within the topic itself. With all three of these media sources included, I can exactly picture three different texts I would like to pair with them in my coming of age unit. For “Maybe” by Jessica Lee Williamson, I would pair that with the story of Seventh Grade since they both talk about being yourself and learning how to have hope even after going through embarrassment. For “Is Your Dad Single?” by Erin Barker, I would pair that with the story Gossip Girl due to them both referring to growing up trying to find out who they are/who they want to be. Both of these works may not come across as what we as teachers or even parents want our students/children to become but they both hold lessons within about being yourself while within reason. For “The Secret Letter” by Paola Ayala, I would pair that with the story Love, Simon because they both go through the challenge of having to tell their family they are gay/lesbian and the hardships that go through with that. The best part about all three of these medias/texts is that they all are diverse in their purpose and help readers to understand the process of coming of age. When it comes to teaching these medias/texts within my classroom, I would take each of the three pairs I had mentioned and have students read/listen to them one pair at a time. For each pair, I would have students break down both works by creating a three-column chart (either on paper or typed) comparing the text, the media, and themselves through the aspects I specifically described early. For example, for “Maybe” and Seventh Grade, I would have students within their charts compare overcoming embarrassment and thus finding hope within the text, media, and themselves. The three different charts made would lead to multiple classroom and group discussions where students would be able to share their findings as well as learn about their classmates experiences. The most important aspect within this unit and these assignments are that students will be going through their own coming of age stories during their 9th grade experience. It is through this unit and the works within that students will be able to share their stories, support their classmates, and have at least a little better of an understanding of who they want to be. At the end of this coming of age unit, I will have my students pick one of the three pairs they have read/listened to that resonated most with them and type a paper about it. Within this paper they would write about why it was important to them, how each work related to both each other and themselves, and if appropriate/willing, a story about themselves relating to both works. This unit will obviously be contingent on time so I might not have the time to teach all three pairs listed above. If that is the case, I would try to teach at least two pairs, one of which would definitely include “Maybe” and Seventh Grade due to both their lengths and overall importance to the unit as a whole.

Molly Drain

2/21/2020 07:54:00 pm

Maddie,
I really like your idea of the three column chart where the students would compare the text, media, and then themselves. I feel that it is important for the students to find a connection with the texts that they read or listen to and these three groups are definitely well set up. You could even have the students write about their own coming of age story, sort of like a podcast on the moth, but on paper. It could be interesting to see the outcome after they have been exposed to six great pieces of literature. I agree with the two that you chose if you were only allowed to teach two. I felt that Seventh Grade is something that every student could connect to , regardless of their gender, and that Maybe exposed or highlighted the fact that it is okay to fail, but it shouldn't hinder you from going out and seeking your dreams.

Molly Drain

2/21/2020 07:48:30 pm

Today’s kids are constantly surrounded by media in their everyday life and in school. I would use media to my advantage and to allow for the students to make connections between works. “Is your Dad single?” was a piece that many kids would connect to, since there are many students that are experiencing the divorce of their parents and experiencing what feels like they are being replaced by new people in their lives. “Maybe” is a piece that many students could connect to as the main character of Annie, which is what the story is about, is a character who is experiencing feeling left behind. But more importantly, the speaker exposes how they felt in times that brought her feelings of nervousness or of humiliation. She talks about the experience of failing which is something that everyone can connect to. Students can connect to this feeling of disappointment in themselves. “The Secret Letter” by Paola Ayala is a story that is more dynamic than the others as it introduces the concept of sexuality. This is something that ninth graders can connect to as they are figuring out who they are. Most importantly, these stories are told first person, which could be used as a teaching method. I would have the students consider a time for themselves that they felt was important in their lives and write a story about it. And just as Erin Barker did, I would have them perform it for the class or for their group. I feel that this piece could also be paired with “Seventh grade” by Gary Soto, where the reader is exposed to the pressures that a boy feels as he progresses into seventh grade. The students could choose a story that is about their personal lives or about school and use both “seventh Grade” and “Is your Dad single?” to base it off of. This could be an interesting process as the students could start off by comparing the two “texts” (as one is spoken orally). This comparison would be best done on a graphic organizer. After this step, they could get another organizer for their own stories and how they felt they connected to the two or three pieces they had looked at. This can become a writing sample for the students, where they are required to think deeply about their experience. There is a power behind storytelling, and behind sharing your own story. This is an opportunity to not only work on writing skills, but also public speaking skills and it allows for students to understand the importance of their own story as many of them may have the same theme. I feel that through this experience students can learn to connect what they read and hear to their own lives and through that they can begin to value literature. As the teacher, I would also present my own story as well, perhaps first to break the wall of awkwardness that occurs when students have to present. Using this media in the classroom can really break down barriers between students and issues with literacy.

Natasha Cardin

2/22/2020 05:25:23 am

Hi Molly! I really love your last line, "using media in the classroom can really break down barriers". I think when teaching a young high school classroom that can be very true! Especially since media controls these students lives, connecting with them through it is going to be essential in creating a positive learning environment. Also, by telling hour own story to the students, it would hopefully give the students a sense of connection. I also really liked your points about having your students share their own stories. There is power in doing that. I too thought about doing that, but worried that if I am to force the students to share their work that they may not actually be truthful in their writing for fear of embarrassment, so I said that if they would like to share they could. I also toyed with the idea of creating a "book" of their work and removing the names, so that others could read what everyone wrote.

Natasha Cardin

2/22/2020 05:16:40 am

Teaching children in this new age where technology rules over everything is going to take some adjusting. Technology has both its benefits and downfalls and it's our jobs as teachers to try and capitalize on the benefits that technology can provide. In this teaching scenario, I would bring the media into the classroom by first having the students look at The Moth website as a whole, give them time to peruse the website and listen to some of the stories there that stand out to them. We would discuss the purpose of the website, and a little bit about a story they may have listened to and what intrigued them about the story- whether it is the story itself, the structure, etc. Then I would have them all listen to “Is Your Dad Single” by Erin Barker. As a class, we would talk about what they teller’s story was about, was it about her father getting remarried, was it about dealing with new siblings, was it about growing up, etc. We would discuss the choices the teller made about how to structure the story and about the antidotes that the teller chose to use. I would utilize the flash memoir assignment we just did and inform the students that they are going to have a chance to write their own story about something that has impacted them, and as we read out next book to be thinking of what it is they might want to write about. Then I would introduce the book, Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. Throughout reading the book, we would look at the characters and how they are navigating teenage life. We would look at several of the teenage characters and Erin Barker and discuss how they are dealing with finding themselves. At the end of the unit, the students would then have written their own story and I would give those who would like to share their story the opportunity.

Shauna Ridley

2/22/2020 10:03:30 am

Hi Natasha!
I like how you incorporated the same assignment we had because it'd be helpful in identifying with the given scenario from "Is Your Dad Single". I feel like you could have all students share their story and even do some type of peer editing. I'm wondering if they'd have a specific structure to use or if they'd have free reigns to make up their own? During the reading/listening of both they are identifying the structure so I think it'd be helpful to incorporate this into the assignment. Good ideas!

Shauna Ridley

2/22/2020 10:05:07 am

I also wanted to say that it's great how you have students going through the website to get familiar with it! This will teach students the skills to do that with other websites, books, etc that they encounter and need to navigate through.

Megan Shaughnessy

2/22/2020 01:33:57 pm

Hi, Natasha,

I like how you note the assignment with just did to a task you would want your students to do. Allowing students to share their stories is extremely important. Not only is this important for the student who can get things off of their chest and maybe even get some help but for the teachers as well. In testing students' ability to comprehend literature and writing, teachers will also be able to understand the student better and understand the circumstances they are in and the challenges they are facing. Knowing more about a student will allow you to relate to them so they, in turn, can relate to the class and success in their education, which is extremely important.

Lauren Melchionda

2/22/2020 02:51:46 pm

Hi Natasha!
I enjoyed reading about how you would approach this teaching lesson and I loved the ideas that you came up with! I agree that technology may be harder to incorporate into the classroom today than when we were in high school or even elementary school. Kids get so distracted by anything, especially tablets or computers, since that is how parents decide to do parenting today which I do no agree with, so it is risky to bring the technology into the classroom. However, I believe that you came up with some very effective ideas to approach, especially when listening to podcasts with such strong messages behind them. I would hope that my students would take away these important messages by the end of the lesson.

Olivia Sweeney

3/4/2020 07:08:21 am

Hi Natasha,

I think how you invision yourself approaching this subject matter is interesting. I like how you would go over the website with students, and also have them navigate it to familiarize themselves with it. These two works you selected also do a great job of complementing the other, as they truly can be used hand in hand together. It is also definitely a great idea for students to write their own story, as this gives them the initiative to be creative and bring their ideas to life in their papers.

Shauna Ridley

2/22/2020 09:35:58 am

I would like to relate the podcast “Maybe” with the book “Gossip Girl”. These two relate because of the prominent struggle to fit in. First the students would create a venn diagram filling in the similarities and differences between the two pieces. Although the situations of both protagonists are different the students from Gossip Girl are very concerned with looks and how they appear to everyone else. In Maybe the young girl feels lonely and only wants to fit in through being recognized as a talented person which also has to be confirmed by outsiders. As they are making the diagram they will look into the characters actions and how they fulfill the need to fit in. The students should then be able to recognize the the theme of both, connecting the facts that it is not what others see but how you view yourself. Students can then make a list of modern day examples of the struggle to fit in or maybe how easy it is to fit in now. It’d be interesting for students to take on the opposite perspective of what they have experienced when creating their list. If students chose how easy it is to fit in they should then write a paper on the perspective of what it is like to not. And likewise for students who don’t fit. There should be examples or quotes tied in from Gossip Girl or Maybe to help support their view. This assignment should help students relate to the people from the two pieces they have heard/read and will make them think more critically when interpreting a text. It isn’t always easy to pick out what the author wants you to, so switching perspective will help students to always look at texts in many different views. After students write these papers it’d be productive to share with the class so that we can see how everyone has taken their stance.

Nicole Costa

2/24/2020 01:33:25 pm

Hi Shauna,
I’m glad you paired Gossip Girl with “Maybe” because, before now, I didn’t see the connection. You made a strong point by observing that both the characters of Gossip Girl and Erin were struggling to fit in. The compare and contrast the different perspectives of fitting in and not is a great way to get your students engaged in critical thinking. In my opinion, that’s the most important takeaway of a novel or text, and it’s always helpful to get teenagers to think about situations from another perspective! I think this would be an effective lesson in the classroom!

Megan Shaughnessy

2/22/2020 02:11:05 pm

In modern times it is hugely beneficial to incorporate technology and media into the classroom. While it is our job as teachers to teach students how to read and write, we also need to give them the proper skills to do so- and navigating media and technology is another way to understand literature. In teaching a 9th-grade literature class with this media content, there is so much to explore. To start, I would first pair "Is Your Dad Single?" by Erin with American Born Chinese by Gene Yang. Both targeting young adults Erin and Yang both try to find themselves in a world they cant relate to. Yang cannot connect to the American life, his family is different, he looks different, he eats different food, and his own family cannot relate to what he is going through at school.
Like Yang, Erin's dad does not know what she is going through. Both Erin and Yang dealt with multifaceted identities within themselves and others. During both Yang and Erin's journey of adolescents, they find their way, which included stereotyping people, to which they both find out never is the way to understand someone. "Maybe" by Jessica is another great way to understand Martin in Hauser's article on Feminism and The Babysitters Club series. Like Jessica's experiences first hand, Hauser argues Martins points in that characters need to inspire. It does not matter if what they are doing may be far fetched, but it needs to inspire its readers.
Martin wanted to make it clear the girls did the work on their own and wanted to create characters who were "aspirational but realistic," which is why Jessica can relate to Annie so much. Like Martin does to her readers, Jessica was able to connect to, be inspired by, and learned the value bravery. And Lastly, I would pair "The Secret Letter" by Paola with "7th Grade" by Gary Soto, because both narratives explore the theme of taking a risk can lead to goals. While those risks are different, they both lead to individual success. Victor takes the risk of taking French and talking to Teresa, not giving up when he fails. Paola takes the risk of sharing her secret letter to her family about her girlfriend. With each of these narratives, I would have students like I did with the last, identify a theme. After identifying a theme, they would then create a timeline or flowchart with the character involved in their analysis. They can then explore a common theme with different narratives and styles. The actions, climax, and other elements a speaker or narrator chose to use are crucial to the purpose of the piece, and that is a skill students can take to any career path. The student will then use their response in writing that will be read by classmates.

Lauren Melchionda

2/22/2020 02:48:29 pm

Technology today is already over used quite a bit in classrooms, so going about this approach is going to be tricky to be able to make sure everyone is staying on track as well as concentrated. Despite young children, preteens and teens being the age group who abuses technology the most, they can also benefit from it as well. The Moth website is a very useful tool if you were to approach these podcasts in the classroom. I would let the students explore the website, maybe write down a few that they wish to listen to outside of school, for some extra credit (after writing up almost like an analysis or connection to anything learned from inside of classroom). Teaching a diverse group off children, whether it be their race or the types of families they come from and/or live with, you have to keep in mind larger lessons that they can take away as well, not just educationally. Of course education is the most important thing, but teaching kids life lessons is all a part of growing up as well. When presenting the podcast “Is Your Dad Single?”, I would have a class discussion about it, in hopes that some of the kids who come from a divorced families can relate to Erin Baker. She tells us about one of the hardest times of her life, as long as a big change that asks occurred at a young age, so the students could also write their own turning points of their lives, if they have faced one yet, and if they feel comfortable enough, to present it in front of the class. The other podcast “The Secret Letter” would also be one we could all listen to as a class as well. This could be a very significant and important message sent to the beginning high schoolers, if some do struggle with their sexuality. They need to know that it is okay to be you, because being you is the best thing that you can be. So, after listening to this podcast, I would have the students get into groups and share with one another a story about how you were nervous for you parents to find something out that you did not want them to, whether it be good or bad. There are many ways to approach these inspiring stories to these young adults.

Gabrielle Boutin

2/22/2020 09:07:01 pm

Hi Lauren! I really enjoyed using the Moth website and I think it could be really useful in the classroom; especially when it comes to maybe offering extra credit. I think you are absolutely right when you said that it is tricky to balance the use of technology in the classroom. It is hard to balance the abuse of technology with its benefits. I also completely agree with you when you were writing about lessons not just being solely educational, but also meaningful. I think “Is Your Dad Single?” and “The Secret Letter” would be incredibly beneficial for students who come from a mixed family or modern versions of families, and students who are struggling to find themselves. I think both stories show students that it is okay being yourself, and that is the best person you can be. I also think with both of these short stories, it could help connect to a classic novel like Little Women. Students could brainstorm what Little Women would look like modernized. I think finding a theme that is current and connecting it to a classic is a great way to incorporate classic texts into a modern classroom. Because, after all, timeless themes are what makes a classic novel last forever. There are always themes in classic novels that can connect to modern readers. It is the job of the teacher to encourage or help the readers/students to find those connections.

Gabrielle Boutin

2/22/2020 08:49:34 pm

We live in a world that surrounds social media and technology. Media is a huge part of the modern classroom and I find that it is very hard to create a classroom that students (especially 9th graders) will actively engage in that has little to no technology. That is why my ideal classroom would have a balance of different types of media that would keep my students on their toes. For example, I would use different types of texts and pull similar themes from them to make connections. All students are different and learn in different ways so as a teacher, it is important to be able to adjust your lesson to reach your students. For example, I would use Little Women, Gossip Girl, and “Is Your Dad Single?” all in one lesson. Little Women is a classic coming of age novel, Gossip Girl is a very modern coming of age book, and “Is Your Dad Single?” tells the journey of a girl finding her place in a modern mixed family. All of these texts or pieces of media have the similar journeys that 9th graders are likely to go through. They have relationship issues, family drama, and school troubles. The combination of these texts covers most of the bases of what my students might be going through in their personal life. I think combining Little Women and a book like Gossip Girl would make an interesting class discussion. I think in the 9th grade there would be a clash of opinions and personal experiences that taking two texts from different eras and attempting to compare them would bring out a lively discussion.

Jailyn Tavares

2/22/2020 10:50:50 pm

Hi Gabrielle!
I really enjoy your selection of Little Women and Gossip Girl to be paired with teaching a lesson on "Is your Dad Single?". While both LW and GG are very different they can share a lot of information with "Is your Dad Single?" like you mentioned. I think the fact that LW is based in a different time will really help engage in the conversation of how the March sisters life problems may be different to the life problems in GG and "Is your Dad Single?". For example, the March girls didn't have to deal with the thought of not having their parents together of adjusting to new siblings in the house. Both Blair in GG and the speaker of the audio recording have parents who were no longer together which is something that is not unusual in today' society and is rather common. This comparison of the two texts can really bring out a lively discussion as you said. I never thought of bringing LW into this weeks discussion and I am glad you opened my eyes to a new point of view. Great Job!

Justin Carpender

2/22/2020 10:56:53 pm

Hey Gabrielle!

I like your idea for the lesson! Do you think that maybe it would be beneficial to instill a little bit of competition amongst the class and have a sort of debate? You could have the students, after listening to “Is Your Dad Single?” decide if they think that Baker’s story is more reminiscent of Little Women or Gossip Girl. This would determine the teams, and if they are vastly unbalanced you would just have to assign some people to go over from one group to the other. They would have the rest of the class period to work together and form an argument for why Baker’s story is more similar to Little Women or Gossip Girl for a coming of age story. At the start of the next class (allowing some more preparation to be done for homework), the teams would come together and have a respectful in class debate in which they argue their position. What this will do is help all students to understand prime in-text examples of coming of age for both books, so when it comes time to write an essay they will have prior support on the topic. While I was never too competitive, I think that this would be a good way to get the class excited to prove their teams position about a coming of age story, and consequently learn the opposing side as well.

Thank you,
Justin Carpender

Olivia Leonard

2/23/2020 12:12:19 pm

Hi Gabrielle! I really enjoyed your idea of comparing "Is Your Dad Single?" to Little Women and Gossip Girl. I like how you are pulling in novels written at two very different times while also including a media aspect. As you noted, each story would likely have an aspect the students could relate to which would make for an interesting class discussion. I think picking out relatable themes throughout the three stories would be interesting as well. You could discuss how the characters deal with the things that come up in their lives and how they differ in their response to them. I like the idea of trying to close read and find the connections between these three pieces. Great idea!

Justin Carpender

2/22/2020 10:45:16 pm

Hello Everyone!

Media and technology can be incredibly valuable in the modern day classroom, provided that the instructor properly knows how to implement it. I believe that an excellent novel to pair with “Is Your Dad Single?” would be The Adventures of Highschool Finn by Mark Twain. “Is Your Dad Single?” follows Baker as she learns about her new role in her family, and while she is annoyed with the change brought from around her, is able to be happy with being herself. I believe that this podcast would be an incredible introduction to Twain’s novel because it would help the class understand Huck’s frustrations in his new home with Widow Douglas. From an outside perspective, it is clear that Widow Douglas, while strict, provides a safer homelife alternative than living with Pap. Huck is annoyed at this though and feels that he cannot be himself, and so runs away with Jim to live how he wants to be. Baker did not run away, but she was upset about no longer knowing her place in her home after her dad’s remarriage, so there are similarities to draw there. It is not a perfect parallel, but it could help the class identify with Huck’s character and understand the rest of the novel in his coming of age story. Finding my role in my family was something that was incredibly important to me when I was a freshman, and Huck finding his role and purpose in society drives his character in not giving up Jim at the end of the novel, so I feel that students could use “Is Your Dad Single?” to help understand Huck’s motivations for leaving Widow Douglas.
As a passion project I would assign an additional assignment for the students to complete. I would ask them to go through The Moth and find an episode that they enjoyed. I would then ask them to find anything, whether that be a book, TV show, movie, etc. and have them connect the episode to the source of their choosing. They would create a quick presentation in which they give a synopsis of the Moth story they selected and then make connections. The goal behind this would be to have the students start to create thematic connections between what they encounter in their lives, which would help them later in high school when they need to draw connections between different books.
I would give an example of this where I would connect “The Secret Letter” to Steven Universe, the television show. The connection here would be the acceptance of homosexuality that Paola Ayala had at the end of her story, and the acceptance of Garnet existing at the end of the episode “The Answer.” Garnet is a fusion of different gems, which is completely unacceptable in the social norms, and she is shunned and scorned for existing. This is similar to how some reject gay people for merely existing, something that they cannot change. By the end of the episode, she finds people who accept who she is and encourage her to be herself, similar to how at the end of Ayala’s story she is accepted and can say that she is going to her girlfriend’s house without feeling worried that she is going to be judged. The connection between these two sources would be fear of judgement, and the acceptance afterwards with a focus on the thematic significance of having an LGBT+ identity.

Thank you,
Justin Carpender

Jailyn Tavares

2/22/2020 10:57:44 pm

Technology nowadays has taken over the world and classrooms are no exception. Technology will allow students a better learning experience that fits with the growth of technology in society. Children can use technology such as iPads, computers, and even smartboards. With this, students are able to get a different learning experience. They can use iPads and computer to dig through research, follow purposeful learning websites, listen to audio, watch videos, etc. Doing research can enhance reading skills and writing skills may be improved through children practicing literacy skills on learning websites for example. While this can be a plus in the classroom, this can also have negative consequences. You don’t want technology to take over your classroom completely. A teacher still needs to be a teacher and work with their students individually and as a group. The purpose of technology would be to enhance the learning experience by including other types of learning.
With the three “texts”, this provides a technology experience since it is forcing the students to listen to audio of an informative speech. These speeches get raw and talk about real things in the world such as learning to deal with stepsiblings, finding your sexuality, and wanting to be accepted. I would have the students choose whether to compare “Is Your Dad single?”, “Maybe”, or “The Secret Letter” to the short story “7th Grade”. Students will be reading “7th Grade” and listen to audio for one of the other stories and with this they can compare some of the benefits and challenges of understanding the literature through reading and audio. Afterwards they can compare and discuss how the two relate through ideas such as learning about yourself, figuring out who you are, or how to just deal with life’s problem as a growing young adult in this world. Afterwards, I would have students use technology to create their own audio recording to tell a story about their adjustment and challenges they faced while making the transition from middle school to high school.

Nicole Costa

2/23/2020 05:32:17 am

Even though we haven't read the novel yet, I would pair these three audio recordings from The Moth with Elizabeth Acevedo’s The Poet X. Erin Baker, Jessica Lee Williamson, Paola Ayala, all shared personal stories in front of an audience. In Poet X, Xiomara writes poetry to express the experiences that she is going through. In addition to the novel, I’d like to incorporate teaching a few Shakespearean sonnets as a sub lesson. I would teach these lessons over a two week period.
For one, we would read the novel as a class and I would assign reading groups. Secondly, towards the end of week one (on different days) I would play Erin, Jessica, and Paola’s voice recordings and ask the students to close their eyes while I play them and imagine they are in the audience. After each recording, I would ask the students in their reading groups to draw any parallels between Xiomara in Poet X and each speaker’s story.

During week two, I’d include more multimedia by incorporating the Ted Talk by Akala at TedxAldeburgh “Hip-hop and Shakespeare” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSbtkLA3GrY while introducing a few Shakespearean sonnets.
I remember watching this video and it really resonated with me so I think the class would enjoy it. As an activity and a way to personally connect to our character, Xiomara, our class would create their own poetry slam. First, the students would be assigned to write a poem in iambic pentameter about Jessica Lee Williamson’s point in “Maybe” as she expressed how giving into fear held her back from performing again. The students will be asked to write a poem in iambic pentameter about FEAR. I will give students a second option to write the poem in whatever style they like afterwards. They could even write it in the style of a hip hop song like Akala. Once we have completed the revisions of our poetry, our poetry slam will take place in the classroom!
AS another way to incorporate multimedia in the classroom, I will give students the following two options:
ONE: We will record our poetry slam and post it to our class website. My biggest concern with this activity is students will be unwilling and scared to openly share their poetry. Since I write poetry myself, I understand this feeling completely. I took my years to share or submit my poetry. I will then share with the class my own personal poem that I wrote titled Fear that I wrote about 5 years ago.
SECOND: As a second option, I’d like to give the class the opportunity to submit their poetry anonymously. The class could create their own pseudonym, much like Xiomara does with X. Then, I will record voice recordings (I will read the poetry) and post them to our class website.

Caroline Keenan

2/23/2020 06:17:34 am

In today’s world children will most likely always have some sort of access to technology and media. I think that it is very important as educator to always try to stay up to date with the latest trends and incorporate as much technology and media into the classroom as we can. Incorporating technology allows the students to learn new things about technology every day, such as finding texts on “The Moth”. In this teaching scenario I would first have the students listen to “Is Your Dad Single” by Erin Baker. In groups the students would use a large piece of paper to tell us what the storyteller’s story was about in their own words. Once finished we would hang the papers on the board and view everyone’s interpretations and then come up with an overall summary of the story altogether by combining each groups idea. I would then have each student individually explore the moth website, trying to find a story that they can relate to in their teenage life or one they found that could relate to their peers. I would be interested to see if students would come up with a common story, I would keep a tally. A story that I would connect this podcast to “Is Your Dad Single” by Erin Baker would be Gossip Girl. Gossip girl is a story that ninth graders would definitely be able to relate to, between family problems, school drama, and relationships. One of the main characters in the Gossip Girl, Blair, parents are divorced. Looking at this story and listening to the podcast we could connect how they deal with in similarly and differently. For extra credit I would have the student practice writing and producing their own podcast.

Savannah Resendes

2/23/2020 08:09:15 am

Hi Caroline!
I enjoyed reading your teaching discussion this week. I liked that you gave the students and opportunity to explore “The Moth” website on their own. I am sure there are hundreds of stories just like the ones we listened to this week and ones that the students can relate to on a personal level if they could not to the three that we listened to. I also liked your comment about keeping tally on the student’s common themes. It is important that teachers make personal connection with their students and this could be an opportunity to learn more about your students and their personal lives that they are willing to share with you.
Great Job this week!

Gabby Sleeper

2/23/2020 06:50:18 am

The evolution of technology is a wonderful thing, especially in a classroom setting, and it is definitely something that teachers should embrace. The rise of audiobooks and podcasts makes storytelling more accessible to students who struggle with the act of actually reading (whether that be because of a cognitive issue such as dyslexia or a physical issue such as being visibly impaired). Further, making use of media shows students that anything can be analyzed, not just classic, difficult literature. Students can, and should, think critically about what they hear on the radio or on podcasts, what they watch on TV, and what they read in the news. Of course, the only way to encourage students to do this is by exposing students to various forms of media in the classroom and show them how to examine things that are not just novels.
If I were to utilize the media that we listened to this week, I might pair “Maybe” with To Kill a Mockingbird. Both stories deal with a person setting out to do something and failing. Jessica Williamson attempts (twice) to perform at her talent show, and both times she ends up simply crying on stage. She puts an immense amount of effort into her second performance, yet it still goes terribly wrong. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus attempts to defend an innocent black man who is accused of raping a young white woman, but despite his best efforts, Tom is still found guilty and ends up being shot to death. This is an important lesson for students. Sometimes, they might try their hardest at something and still fail. However, they shouldn’t give up. Williamson may not have done well at her school talent show, but it is clear that she eventually is able to perform on stage (seeing how this is exactly what she is doing when telling that story). Atticus cannot save Tom, but he does tarnish the name of Bob Ewell (Tom’s accuser) and change the minds of some of the townspeople.
In pairing these texts together, I would play “Maybe” after having read To Kill a Mockingbird, providing a transcript along with the recording. I would want to have a discussion with the students about what I talked about in the previous paragraph and ask them to think about a time where they failed to set out what they accomplished. What did they learn from that experience? How did they react? This would be an informal journal entry. Then, I would have students write letters to Williamson and Atticus, giving them both advice on failure and how to continue forward, focusing on the positive aspects of these stories.

Colby Nilsen

2/23/2020 07:00:03 am

Have you had an experience that has altered your life? Did it change or make you question your life / identity?
I would have this be the opening writing exercise, and I would ask students to keep that and reflect upon it / connect it to the texts.
I would then have students listen to these two podcasts in class.
Naturally, I would pair these texts to Gossip girl, for they share relatively similar situations that can be made into prompts.
Blair had got much more of attention before Serena came back, and now she is essentially pushed to the side by everyone swooning over Serena; how does this relate to Erin's story? How are they alike? How are they different"?. Correlating to that notion I would choose the situation of Nate telling Blair that he had sex with Serena after it was weighing on him greatly, and compare it to the “Secret Letter”.
Writing Prompt 2:
“Have you ever kept a secret and finally let it out?”. This of course relates correlates to Paola's story
I would ask students to write about this, and I believe for 9th graders, this would be a possibly engaging prompt to encourage students to write.
Along with trying to pick relatable texts to students lives and create prompts that will make them interested, Throwing students a metaphorical curve ball in the English curriculum can be engaging and interesting, for they are used to the typical books or movie dynamic. Implementing stories orally through technology could possibly help students become more attentive listeners in general as well as dynamic students. Having students take two different forms of media and be able to connect them in an organized fashion with a prompt is a great implementation of relevant and current- thinking in literacy competence.

Hannah Brodeur

2/23/2020 07:14:34 am

Hi Colby! I loved the connection you made between “Gossip Girl” and “Is Your Dad Single?”. There is such a clear link between what Blair experiences in school and even her own family and what the speaker does as well. I think bringing in the podcast cold really help students think deeply about the characters in “Gossip Girl” and why they behave in the way in which they do. I also think all your open-ended questions are extremely effective. They really allow the reader to think deeply about their life instead of just thinking about one-word answers. The only thing that is difficult with questions like this is if students will feel open enough to share them. It is very scary to express these ideas and write them. But if you present an open and safe classroom, I’m sure they will feel okay. I also enjoyed reading about your idea regarding having students learn stories orally through technology. It could have increase engagement just by including that different source of media. I also agree that the combination of multiple forms of media will help students think about the relevancy of the text and the importance of it.

Hannah Brodeur

2/23/2020 07:14:05 am

Media can be an extremely important tool, especially in classrooms. It allows teachers to bring so many more opportunities for students. For instance, can do different projects through media they would never have the chance to do otherwise. Which in turn will lead to more learning on the students end. Some items that could be helpful in a classroom is podcasts, movies, the media and etc. These different outlets give students the chance to think outside of the box as the world and any information is at their fingertips. If I were to connect one of these podcasts with a book I would use “Maybe” with “The Giver”. “Maybe” gives insight to the listener on the journey of this individual in which they struggled and found out who they were. It also presents an extreme importance of memories and how significant they can be. This would tie nicely with “The Giver” as the main character Jonas is living in a world in which he is really questioning himself and what’s around him. It also presents the importance of memories as he is the holder of them and it is a difficult task. This is an important text for students to read and this podcast could allow students to understand on a more personal level how the characters in the text are feeling. “The Giver” can feel overwhelming to students as it is a whole new world that they have never experienced so it can feel out of touch. I would include a number of different assignments to connect these two. I would start by having students write in their reflection journals about themselves, their interests, what they like to do, what their dreams are. Then I would give students a scenario in which I would ask the question, if everything you wrote down was taken away from you, how would you feel? Therefore, similar to “Maybe” as throughout her experience on the stage, even though she wanted to be there something was taken from her. Also, through “The Giver” in which all freedom is taken away from individuals. I would have students begin to think about making connections between them. Also, the reflection journal gives students the chance to write freely, to practice their skills, and the to think about whatever comes to mind. Another assignment I would give students would be to pair the different literary elements of the two. For instance, as we progress through “The Giver” I would ask students questions regarding characterization or plot. The overarching assignment would contain two parts. The first would be a podcast in which students will discuss a moment in their life that changed them. Then they will write a short paper in which they will discuss the different literary elements they used in the podcast. For instance, they will explain their use of characterization (how they presented themselves), they will explain the different elements of plot that occurred throughout the story, etc.

Savannah Resendes

2/23/2020 08:03:26 am

In modern times, technology is a huge part of everyday life. Media is constantly growing and becoming a bigger part of society in sharing news, communication and social media and education. It is crucial that future educators learn to use these medias to their advantage and incorporate it into their classrooms. With the “text” this week, we are introduced to oral literature. Each author telling a personal story that changed their lives and made them see life from a different perspective. I would break the students up into three groups, one focusing on each of the text from this week. All of the students are to listen to the clip and break them down into pieces. The introduction, the climax, the conclusion and talk about the tone of the piece, the themes and the overall lesson given in the story. These texts are relatable to young adults as they deal with issues that the students may be facing themselves such as divorce and step families, failure and humiliation, and exploring your sexuality and coming out. For the group working on “Is Your Dad Single?’ by Erin Barker, I would have them compare it to “Gossip Girl” and make a Venn diagram showing the similarities between the texts. Both of these texts discuss trying to find your role in a group dynamic, whether it be family or friends, especially for Blair who is also dealing with a new man in her mother’s life. For the group focusing on “Maybe” by Jessica Lee Williamson, I would have the students compare and contrast to “Seventh Grade” by Gary Souto. Both of these texts deal with the trial and error process of trying to fit in and be successful in school or a talent show. For the group focusing on “The Secret Letter” by Paola Ayala I would bridge this text with “Gossip Girl” as well because each has a secret that comes out, Paola with her sexuality and Nate with his secret affair with Serena. I would have this group discuss the differences in the situations. As a part two I would have the students create their own version of these stories and talk about an event in their lives that changed them or their perspective on things. I would have the students break into groups to create a smaller and less intimidating setting for the students to discuss these personal events. Then, if the students would like after work shopping in small groups, preform in front of the class, and I would participate as well. Public speaking skills and organizing your thoughts into a well-formed speech are great skills that a student can acquire, and the process is similar to writing an essay, so they are taking a break from the conventional process of essay writing and working on story telling.

Samantha Colon

2/23/2020 08:13:27 am

In todays day and age technology is almost a component in everyone’s lives regardless of your age. We use it so much to get connected with others or to simply get information as quickly as possible when we need it. With something like technology that’s so evolutionary and such a popular trend it would not be beneficial if we didn’t incorporate tech into classrooms where things like videos, podcast, and other modes could be used as a resource to the text we intend to teach especially when most students know how to use or are aware of these resources. When teaching the story “7th Grade” I would have my students choose between “Is your Dad Single” or “Maybe” and which story they feel related more and best fits one another. I feel listening to the audio is beneficial especially with students that struggle reading and as a class we could compare the two as a piece and compare and contrast the differences between audio vs reading. I want to focus a bit on if the class enjoyed this and whether it was beneficial for them to listen or to read. Afterwards, in groups, students will map out the audio they chose and look at it through the perspective of 7th grade focusing on how the two relate and how the characters got where they are in life. After discussing and taking notes students will be able to create their own story through their own audio. Students will have the choice to make a video creatively or just an audio recording if they are feeling camera shy. The video/audio assignment will be about what their individual story is whether that is who they are, what they have gone through, or their plan on what they want to be.

Olivia Leonard

2/23/2020 01:21:03 pm

I have a love-hate with technology when it comes to a classroom. While there are undoubtedly many positives to technology, I think there needs to be an appropriate balance, especially in an English classroom. Podcasts are definitely one of the benefits and I think occasionally incorporating them into a classroom would allow for some great discussions. In terms of the ones from The Moth, I would have students listen to them on their own and record what they think the speaker is feeling in that moment. I would then have them list what they believe the message/ point the speaker was trying to get across from telling their story. I think this is important because it forces students to listen to the entire podcast and look for a bigger meaning. I would then have them take a message they gathered from one of the podcasts and have them write their own story. This could be shared in small groups. To finish off this lesson I would have students come back to a large group and compare how these podcasts relate to literature of media they have seen/read in the past. Since we started the class listening to podcasts I would feel ok including films in this discussion. I think in comparing these stories to other things students feel familiar with, they are forced to look closely at two different stories and relate them to one another. For example, if we had read Gossip Girl in class that would be an easy one to compare to any one of the podcasts. Someone could argue that the characters in Gossip Girl relate to the point in “Is Your Dad Single?” that not everyone is who they come off to be. Even though the characters in Gossip Girl strive to behave/look a certain part, they are an equal mess of good and bad.

Samantha Colon

2/23/2020 05:10:06 pm

Hi Gabrielle,

I completely agree with you when talking about combining Little Women and Gossip Girl into one lesson. Especially since we did it right after each other it was good for us so I think it would be good as well for a 9th grade classroom. These students would be able to compare the different time frames and have a good discussion while putting it into context with things today they see in the text. I noticed you talked about discussions but do you have any activities you would do? I think probably having the students write how they would change the text to be more modern could be interesting.

Becky Tynan

3/2/2020 12:51:43 am

I would warm the class up to this text with lots of pre reading activities because I think It really important for students to understand context and how gun violence applies in their lives in and outside of school settings. Since unfortunately we do need to think of gun violence in schools. I would probably steal an assignment from an old history teaching (interdisciplinary learning whaaaat) and ask students a series of issues and posed on wither side of the worksheet a "solution" one obviously more liberal and one more conservative. Then at the end ask them to total their "left" and "right" answers to see which way they may tend to lean politically. This activity starts students to see political discussions as ones that 1. need to be had. 2. Ones they can partake in- who cares if you're not old enough to vote yet? & 3. one that does not need mom and dad's opinions either!

This contextualization of how politics would transition nicely to another activity about learning about author and text in a conversation we would have about black male representation- which may seem- boring?- to mostly white kids from a VERY consevstihve part of that state. But by maybe asking my student of their knowledge of any black writer if at all who they know and what they wrote? Maybe a larger class list on the board take the marker and come up and write it kind of deal we could see as a class how much we could really represent in our knowledge that demographic ( the point being we can't) This way students can see the gap in their learning but also in gerneral where black male representations in literature have gone. Now finally introducing us to our author and his text and the mostly true story inspired plot we have in front of us.

As far as questions about the text I would want students to analyze the style and why the text says so much with so few words and why the pace is so fast? What does that mimic for them? What is the author's reasoning behind that? (keeping up with 9th grade standard of being introduced to rhetoric) and I would ask them maybe for a more personal free write assignment ( low stakes)n to write about guns and gun ownership/ if their family owns guns? How are things different them versus Will? We need to as teachers keep in mind decolonizing a classroom is not done overnight and requires more thought provoking personal learning that students will never get unless we ask them hard questions that may come with some hard feelings to unpack- but this is probably writing I wouldn't have them share- maybe just a class discussion so we build more trust as teacher to students.

Olivia Sweeney

3/4/2020 06:39:21 am

In an English Language Arts classroom, incorporating the use of media and relating texts to present day issues/concerns is truly key to ensure students have a better understanding of the text. It allows students to see how the work as a whole is relevant in today’s time, and it also allows students to relate the work in any way possible. If I had to incorporate this into a classroom, I would choose Gossip Girl, and relate it to the podcast “Maybe,” as these two truly relate to the difficulties teenagers go through to be perceived as “normal” by society’s standards. Gossip Girl is clearly more fixated on looks and one’s status as majority of the characters come from prestigious families who are immensely rich, but in the podcast “Maybe,” the young girl just simply longs to be seen as herself and the amazing personality she has, and just simply does not want to feel alone all the time anymore. If I were to teach this podcast and book in class, I would simply have students read Gossip Girl first together as a class, and then we would listen to and break down the podcast “Maybe” together, so students can see the overall theme in a more tangible way to their standards of living. It would definitely be a great idea for students to make characterization lists when reading Gossip Girl, as each character has different needs they strive for to fit in, and this will show students the difference among them, and how everyone’s struggles to fit in vary. To put it in more modern day terms, students will also be able asked in a large class discussion to give examples teens face today to “fit in” with society’s cruel standards today. This will allow students to see the struggles the characters face in Gossip Girl and to have a better understanding of struggles teens may face today, so they are ready to comprehend all of the key components in the podcast “Maybe.” When it comes time to listen to “Maybe” in class and break it down into smaller pieces, students will also do a characterization break-down for the young girl in the podcast. Once we conclude listening to the podcast, this will provide a great discussion for the whole class about the similarities and differences in the desire to fit in as. A teen in both Gossip Girl, and “Maybe.”

Multimedia in the Language Arts Classroom

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