Engl4800Katthoms

Here is my article on how to turn the English Classroom into a place for students to develop their identity.

My Entire Unit Plan on //Crank// by Ellen Hopkins media type="youtube" key="dCu5t6vj03Q?fs=1" height="385" width="640"

2 Week Unit Plan Crank by Ellen Hopkins Grade: 8 + [] media type="youtube" key="OQXHJXUqP7w?fs=1" height="385" width="480" Summary of Book: Seventeen-year-old Kristina Snow is introduced to crank on a trip to visit her wayward father. Caught up in a fast-paced, frightening, and unfamiliar world, she morphs into "Bree" after she "shakes hands with the monster." Her fearless, risk-taking alter ego grows stronger, "convincing me to be someone I never dreamed I'd want to be." When Kristina goes home, things don't return to normal. Although she tries to reconnect with her mother and her former life as a good student, her drug use soon takes over, leaving her "starving for speed" and for boys who will soon leave her scarred and pregnant. Hopkins writes in free-verse poems that paint painfully sharp images of Kristina/Bree and those around her, detailing how powerful the "monster" can be. The poems are masterpieces of word, shape, and pacing, compelling readers on to the next chapter in Kristina's spiraling world. This is a topical page-turner and a stunning portrayal of a teen's loss of direction and realistically uncertain future. [|www.amazon.com]

Overview: Students will be exploring identity, through their relationships, activities and associations. They will be writing their own thoughts, ideas and assumptions about their identity in class as well as discussing their identity outside class. During the unit students will also be researching the effects of drug abuse and listening to an officer about drug awareness.

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