October 29, 2015

Independent reading and Writer's Notebook collided today in the form of a one-page activity. Students had 25 minutes to complete the activity and read independently.

We challenged the structure of Elizabeth Bowen's "The Demon Lover," considering how the story would have been different if told in chronological order rather than with flashbacks. Most students believe the mystery would be lost if the story started in 1916 when Kathleen met the soldier.

We finally got to interpret the story! Students have probably been thinking about what the story means on a deeper level since we started reading on Monday. Today, they put those ideas on paper. Students were asked "Who--or what--takes Mrs. Drover away at the end of the story?" Students considered language and events to support their responses.

After writing, they shared their response with a partner to be sure the interpretation could be supported by the text. We closed out our session by updating the events and questions that we have been tracking and thinking about the group discussion that will happen tomorrow.

Today's Board