Teacher Inquiry Workshop (TIW)

Hope Wilson

Prof. Kim Kiefer

Teacher Inquiry Workshop

July 2016

                                      Connecting Life Lessons with Education:

                                                  "What is a Caged Bird?"

Teaching Context - I am a graduate student preparing to become an educator. My first priority will be to teach the curriculum offered by the school district and prepare my students for the standardized test. My personal plan is to focus on progressivism and cognitivism. I plan to teach a diverse population in the urban area. I plan to engage my students to focus on life and future plans as they continue to learn to think differently. Diversity thinking can always prevent the feeling of being “caged”. 

Overview - Learning about life challenges  is the goal of this lesson plan. The activities will focus on being capable of knowing when someone may need assistance in figuring out life. According to The Theory Chart progressivism and cognitivism "Learns by solving problems through educative experiences.” will be a great concept for me to use. Also “Develops problem solving abilities.” will constantly engage children in life challenges and the desire for perseverance.

Students will be instructed to respond to the reading, participate in the class discussions, initiate questions to individual students, and directly participate in small peer groups to discuss their responses to the text. These activities will create brainstorming/prewriting opportunities for culminating of "What is a Caged Bird?"

1. Was this poem written directly about a person or for a group of people?

       If a group of people which group?

2. Was this poem written for entertainment purposes ? If not then why?

After 15-20 minutes of reflection/discussion, students will share some of their responses in a class discussion. Then write a response focusing on why people may feel "caged".The students will be given 30 minutes to respond and it must be at least one paragraph. The student will take turns reading their response in front of the class. 

Theoretical Lens-The reading lesson for writing " I know Why the Caged Bird Sings?" TIW reflects standard 9 21st Century Life and Careers. It integrates career growth for the K-12 curriculum and in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.  The students are encouraged to become reliable citizens in society and become mentally prepared for life like opportunities in the 21st century work environment. The Clark approach will be encourage. First The Reflection and Quick Overview; During the students reflect on the subject and the context that are being addressed; evaluate the qualifications and motives of the author, examine the reading for additional clues, such as the title, publication information, and easily discernible strategies for organization. Then The Reading for Meaning and Structure; the students read the text for meaning to determine what it is saying. To aid understanding and they are encouraged to look for structural clues within the text and summarize the main points. Last Interacting with the text; The students are encourage to interact with the text, activity engaging in a critical dialogue with it, in order to understand it more deeply and determine how much of it to accept. Such interaction involves distinguishing between fact and opinion, evaluating the type of evidence cited, deciding whether the writer is aware of the complexity of the topic, and paying close attention to how language is being used to shape the reader's perspective.

The Standard: Standard 9 is composed of the Career Ready Practices and Standard 9.1, 9.2, and 9.3 which are outlined below

• The 12 Career Ready Practices These practices outline the skills that all individuals need to have to truly be adaptable, reflective, and proactive in life and careers. These are researched practices that are essential to career readiness. 

• 9.1 Personal Financial Literacy This standard outlines the important fiscal knowledge, habits, and skills that must be mastered in order for students to make informed decisions about personal finance. Financial literacy is an integral component of a student's college and career readiness, enabling students to achieve fulfilling, financially-secure, and successful careers. 

• 9.2 Career Awareness, Exploration, and Preparation This standard outlines the importance of being knowledgeable about one's interests and talents, and being well informed about postsecondary and career options, career planning, and career requirements. 

• 9.3 Career and Technical Education This standard outlines what students should know and be able to do upon completion of a CTE Program of Study.

Practical Lens - Recognizing when someone is caged, deciding when to evaluate their situation, and when some  additional knowledge is necessary.  David Foster Wallace wrote " if you're automatically sure that  you know what reality is and who and what is really important-if you want to operate on your default-setting-then you, like me, will not consider possibilities that aren't pointless and annoying. But if you've really learned how to think, how to pay attention, then you will know you have other options," empowers a student with the needed knowledge  of recognition and give them the option of expression. To enhance their ability to encourage someone to persevere . Educators have a challenging job de Montainge explains  " the greatest and most important difficulty known to human learning seems to lie in that area which treats how to bring up children and how to educate them" presentation is important. 

Reflection Len-This plan will engage the students in some life matters. They will approach life without fear. It should be successful because it is essential to some success in life. This plan may encourage students to find their  balance. This assignment will engage a personal development in the students . Allowing them to consider their challenges and understand the process that 

encourages  life choices. Which consist of considering one's interest and talent , career options, planning, and requirements. I will definitely explore this  lesson plan when I become an educator. I will make enhancements as needed with coaching from my colleagues.

Inquiry Questions

* How can personal growth effect the life changing decisions children will make?

* What grade level can some life lessons  be incorporated into a daily class curriculum?

Sources

Advance CTE: State Leaders Connecting Learning to Work. (2014, June) The Common Career Technical Core. https://www.careertech.org/cctc

American School Counselor Association, A. S. (2004). ASCA National Standards for Students (Competencies and Indicators). Alexandria, VA.

Angelou, Maya. “I Know Why  The Caged Bird Sings". 1983. Penguin Random House 

Career Readiness Partner Council. (2014). What it Means to be Career Ready? http://www.careerreadynow.org/docs/CRPC_4pager.pdf

Clark, I. L. (2010) College Argument:  University the genre. Dubuque. IA: Kendall Hunt.

Folkers, D. R. (2011, October). Setting a New Standard with a Common Career Technical Core. 
Techniques.

Partnership for 21st Century Skills. http://www.p21.org/

Verdi, Gail , Ryan, K, & Cooper, J (2000). Those who can teach. New York: Houghton Mifflin. Turner, G. (2003). Foundation on line learning community with Gayle Turner. Gayleturner.net http:homepages.wmich.edu/~Cummings/philosophy_state.html

Do Now-Define Caged. Describe the word usage.

Essential Questions

1). How will you describe a caged bird?

2)  Have you ever felt like a caged bird? 

3). Can a caged bird free him/herself?

Learning Objectives

When should you reach out to people and should you seek advice before approaching someone concerning their personal life?

  1. Do Now Activity ( 5 minutes)

  2. "Caged"  discussion / reflection/analysis ( 5 minutes)

SWBAT - Analyze text for main idea; identify and cite textual evidence to support analysis, 

develop speaking and listening skills, participate activity in peer discussion and idea generation, and strengthen writing skills through narrative generation

 1. "Why did The Caged Bird Sings?" individual / Peer Reading Response Question / 

           Discussion (20 minutes)

 2. Write a descriptive paper on ways people can become caged.

 3. Read " I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings?" Responses in the author's chair 

          (30 minutes remaining class time)

             

  “ I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” Reading Discussion Questions

1. Was this poem written directly for a person or a group of people?

       If a group of people which group?

2. Was this poem written for entertainment purposes ? If not then why?

                                " What is a Caged Bird ?" Response Paper

Write a short descriptive paper on how you will assist in 

“un-caging” someone.  Focusing on your reason for writing by references from " I Know Why did the Caged Bird Sings?” poem. This paper must be at least one complete paragraph and 

read in the author's chair. Full credit will be given for clearly focused response letters with 

textual evidence that supports writing purpose. Students will have approximately 20 minutes to generate response letters at which time students will begin reading their letters in the author's chair. This activity will continue into the next class until all students have read their responses.

Further Teacher Inquiry

I plan to present this TIW upon becoming an educator. This assignment incorporated with academics may prove to produce a well rounded student. I want to encourage children to live an inspired life. This project with " I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" poem will encourage 

students to discuss and write about their progressive and cognitive capabilities.   

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill for the caged bird
sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

The title and inspiration for this poem came from a line in Paul Dunbar's poem "Sympathy" http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/11717-Paul-Laurence-Dunbar-Sympathy .
It was also the title of the first volume of Dr. Angelou's autobiography published in 1969.