PERSEVERING DESPITE OBSTACLES

Maggie Eldredge-Burns

Seattle University Master in Teaching Program

TEED 521 Winter Quarter

LEARNING TARGETS AND GENERALIZATIONS

1. Students will understand how and why we persevere despite obstacles.

*It can be very hard to keep going in the face of obstacles, but it is worth the struggle

*We all face obstacles in our lives

*Obtacles are easier to face with the support of people who care about us

*Perseverance requires finding inner strength and courage

*Everyone is capable of persevering despite obstacles

2. Students will be able to compare and contrast obstacles they have faced and how they persevered to those of the characters they read about.

3. Students will be able to work together in a literature circle, reading and drawing meaning from the text as well as discussing with group members in a productive manner.

4. Students will be able to make reasonable predictions about what the characters in the text are going to do to overcoe the obstacles they face.

5. Students will be able to ask important questions about the obstacles that arise in the text.

6. Students will be able to make text-self, text-text and text-world connections that inform our exploration of perseverance.

THEMATIC BOOK AND RESOURCE LIST

Forbes, Esther. (1987). Johnny Tremain. New York: Laurel-Leaf Books.

Johnny Tremain is the story of a young silversmith apprentice in colonial Boston. When his hand is terribly injured, Johnny becomes a messenger boy for the Sons of Liberty and encounters more than he bargained for. Used for literature circle.

Holm, Jennifer L. (2001). Our Only May Amelia. New York: HarperTrophy.

Our Only May Amelia is the story of a young girl growing up in the Washington Territory who can’t seem to behave as a proper young lady should with seven older brothers should. Used for literature circle.

Larson, Kirby. (2006). Hattie Big Sky. New York: Delacorte Press.

Hattie Big Sky tells the story of sixteen year-old Hattie as she embarks on a trip to Montana to prove up the claim left to her by her uncle, all on her own. Used for literature circle.

Mah, Adeline Yen. (2005). Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society. New York: HarperTrophy.

Chinese Cinderella is the story of a young girl who seeks refuge at a martial-arts academy after a falling-out with her family. She joins the Chinese Resistance movement and embarks on a mission to save a crew of American soldiers during World War II. Used for literature circle.

Riordan, Rick. (2005). The Lightning Thief. New York: Miramax.

In The Lightning Thief, Percy Jackson discovers that he is anything but ordinary. He is, in fact, the son of Poseidon and it turns out that Zeus believes Percy has stolen his lightning bolt. Percy has just a matter of days to find the lightning bolt and prevent a war among the gods. Used as read aloud book.

Robinet, Harriette Gillem. (2002). Walking to the Bus Rider Blues. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks.

In Walking to the Bus Rider Blues, Alpha and Zinnia must use the methods of Martin Luther King, Jr. to nonviolently solve the mystery of who has been stealing their rent money. Used for literature circle.

Salisbury, Graham. (1995). Under the Blood Red Sun. New York: Yearling Books.

In Under the Blood Red Sun, Tomi’s family is Japanese but it has never been a problem before. Now the Japanese have bombed Pearl Harbor and Tomi’s father and grandfather have been arrested. Suddenly, the fact that he is Japanese seems to matter very much. Used for literature circle.

LITERATURE CIRCLE BOOKS