Teaching "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"

Aim: How will today's guest teacher teach the class?

Quick Write: Click here to read Amy's Aim, Quick Write, and lesson plan for today.

Today, we will begin welcoming our guest teachers. At the end of each daily lesson, guest teachers will be asked to evaluate student performance by reading their blog postings, and students will be asked to evaluate the teacher by using the student-generated rubric. When evaluating your teacher be sure to add written comments at the end, supporting your score with specific and relevant details.

Reminder: Everyone is expected to be prepared for each class by reading ahead. Guest teachers are NOT expected to simply read aloud their section; they are teaching a lesson with an Aim and leading the discussion. YOU are expected to be informed enough with the day's particular section to participate in the discussion and/or activity. This can only be done by reading it prior to the lesson.

The sign-up sheet for sections is in the classroom as is the student-created rubric for grading your lesson and lesson plan templates.

What's Due

• Mind Maps
• Cartoons
• Argument Essays
• Daily Blog Postings

***Your blogs will be graded for the 2nd marking period on completeness as well as critical thinking and writing. Email me two posts for the 2nd marking period that you think were your best. These will be read for the critical thinking and writing portions of your grade.***

Remember independent reading books? Time to start thinking about your reading projects. Here's a list of suggestions. However, other ideas are encouraged. Just run them past me.

*****Always check Engrade for your up-to-the-minute progress in this class.*****

Diving into Memories

Aim: How does memory relate to "I think therefore I am"?

Quick Write: Think about one of the most important memories you have. Indulge yourself in it. Can you taste it? Smell it? Feel it? What if that memory were taken away from you? Would it still exist?

Today, we will listen to a podcast about “the most severe case of amnesia ever documented” and evaluate how it relates (or doesn't relate) to locked-in syndrome.

We’ve been reading the true story of a man who lost everything except his memory. In this quest, we’ll consider the true story of a man who lost his memory but nothing else. Consider: How does this relate to "I think therefore I am"?

Step 1: Listen to this podcast of a Radiolab episode devoted to the science of memory. In this segment of the podcast, Oliver Sacks tells the story of Clive, a musician who suffered “the most severe case of amnesia ever documented.”

Step 2: Complete this 3-2-1 worksheet as you listen. Alternatively, you can take notes using the Cornell note-taking sheet or the Reciprocal Teaching Worksheet available in the classroom.

Step 3: After you have listened to the podcast, discuss your 3-2-1 worksheet with a partner or your class.

Final Reflection: You previously interpreted the quote “I think, therefore I am.” Interpret the quote once again as it relates to Clive. In other words, does Clive know he exists? Does he exist? What does all of this say about memory? Finally, what’s your brainy explanation for Clive only remembering love and music? Post this final reflection on your blog.

Reminder: This week we will be reading the memoir seminar style. Although everyone is responsible for reading all of the memoir, each student will take charge of a section of the book for a day, teaching a lesson and leading the discussion. The sign-up sheet for sections is in the classroom as is the student-created rubric for grading your lesson and lesson plan templates.


A reminder that before you left for Spring Break, you should have synthesized all of our heavy thinking about the soul and science into a cartoon that gives a graphic reflection of your opinion on the human vs animal debate. The cartoon counts as a project/test/quiz and is worth 50 points. You might also check out this site. Show your readers your opinion on what and how animals think as opposed to what and how people think. Be creative with your graphic story. (Don’t forget that writing conventions still count.) Post your cartoon to your blog using screen capture. (Shift, command, 4) Thanks, Tajmah!

Remember independent reading books? Time to start thinking about your reading projects. Here's a list of suggestions. However, other ideas are encouraged. Just run them past me.

Argument Essays are way overdue!!!!!!

*****Always check Engrade for your up-to-the-minute progress in this class.*****

In the Blink of an Eye

Letter Frequency in the English Language

e t a o i n s r h l d c u m f p g w y b v k x j q z

Aim: How do we evaluate Bauby's mindset in writing his memoir?

Quick Write: What does imagination mean to you? How important is it? What about memory? Can you have one without the other?

Step 1: Today, we are going to try to understand Bauby's method for writing his memoir by reading "The Alphabet" and applying his technique ourselves.
Step 2: After reading the chapter, think of 1) something that you need to do today, 2) something you want to do today, and 3) an opinion you have about how this day is unfolding for you. Pretty simple stuff, right? Here's the catch: Communicate these three things to a partner using Bauby's blinking technique. (Left eye only!) Use the English letter frequency chart above to spell out the words with your partner.
Step 3: Write a reflection about the experience. State your opinion about Bauby's mindset based on your own personal experience with this grueling communication technique.

Next week, we will be reading the memoir seminar style. Although everyone is responsible for reading all of the memoir, each student will take charge of a section of the book for a day, teaching a lesson and leading the discussion. The sign-up sheet for sections is in the classroom.

A reminder that before you left for Spring Break, you should have synthesized all of our heavy thinking about the soul and science into a cartoon that gives a graphic reflection of your opinion on the human vs animal debate. The cartoon counts as a project/test/quiz and is worth 50 points. You might also check out this site. Show your readers your opinion on what and how animals think as opposed to what and how people think. Be creative with your graphic story. (Don’t forget that writing conventions still count.) Post your cartoon to your blog using screen capture. (Shift, command, 4) Thanks, Tajmah!

Remember independent reading books? Time to start thinking about your reading projects. Here's a list of suggestions. However, other ideas are encouraged. Just run them past me.

Argument Essays are way overdue!!!!!!

*****Always check Engrade for your up-to-the-minute progress in this class.*****

Ni Hao!

Aim: How do we apply our knowledge of imagination and memory to Bauby?

Quick Write: What does imagination mean to you? How important is it? What about memory? Can you have one without the other?

Ni hao! (How are you in Chinese.) Frankly, I'm jet lagged. The video above was taken a few days ago in Shanghai, China. I asked the kind Chinese ladies to wave to my students.

Today we will start thinking about imagination and memory and how it applies to Jean-Dominque Bauby. We will be reading the memoir seminar style. Each student will take a section of the book, teaching a lesson and leading the discussion that day. Let's spend today getting back in the groove.

A reminder that before you left for Spring Break, you should have synthesized all of our heavy thinking about the soul and science into a cartoon that gives a graphic reflection of your opinion on the human vs animal debate. You might also check out this site. Show your readers your opinion on what and how animals think as opposed to what and how people think. Be creative with your graphic story. (Don’t forget that writing conventions still count.) Post your cartoon to your blog using screen capture. (Shift, command, 4) Thanks, Tajmah!


Remember independent reading books? Spring break is a good time to start thinking about your reading projects. Here's a list of suggestions. However, other ideas are encouraged. Just run them past me.

Argument Essays are overdue!!!!!!

*****Always check Engrade for your up-to-the-minute progress in this class.*****

The Spring Break Happy Dance

Aim: How do we apply our close read of "Science of the Soul" to Jean-Dominique Bauby?

Quick Write: Reflect on what you learned in detail this week in at least one well-organized paragraph.

Step 1: By now you should have read this article about the “Science of the Soul.” Question: How do the ideas in the article apply to Bauby? Do they apply to Bauby?
Step 2: Synthesize all of this heavy thinking into a cartoon that gives a graphic reflection of your opinion on the human vs animal debate. You might also check out this site. Show your readers your opinion on what and how animals think as opposed to what and how people think. Be creative with your graphic story. (Don’t forget that writing conventions still count.) Post your cartoon to your blog using screen capture. (Shift, command, 4) Thanks, Tajmah!


Remember independent reading books? Spring break is a good time to start thinking about your reading projects. Here's a list of suggestions. However, other ideas are encouraged. Just run them past me.

Argument Essays are overdue!!!!!!

Last, but not least, have a joyful Spring Break!

*****Always check Engrade for your up-to-the-minute progress in this class.*****

A Little Levity About A Heavy Topic

Aim: How do we analyze the difference between animals and humans?

Quick Write: Do you believe animals have souls? Explain.

Check out this comic showing one of the many differences between animals and humans. Do you think it is an accurate description of the differences?

Philosopher Rene Descartes famously wrote: "I think, therefore I am."  The simplest interpretation of this is that humans know they exist because they can think. Descartes argued that even if a devil had control of his mind, he still would know he existed because he could at least think that thought about the devil. Do you agree?

As we are learning in this course, there is wide variation in levels of thinking. At one end there is meta-cognition—thinking about thinking. At the other extreme, there are animals, who (or is it which?) definitely have brains and definitely think, but perhaps not at the same level as humans—or at least many humans! 


Step 1: Read this article about the “Science of the Soul.” Based on what you already know about the mind and the information you gathered from the article, where do you fall on the following question: If there is indeed a physical (scientific) basis for thinking and feeling, what in your opinion is the basic difference between animals and humans? Use this worksheet to take notes as you read.

Step 2: Continue reading The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. How would you characterize Bauby’s life after his stroke? How has his severe physical impairment affected his feelings or thoughts? Has locked-in syndrome changed his identity as a human being? Has it affected his “soul”—whatever that is? Why or why not?

Step 3: Synthesize all of this heavy thinking into a cartoon that gives a graphic reflection of your opinion on the human vs animal debate. You might also check out this site. Show your readers your opinion on what and how animals think as opposed to what and how people think. Be creative with your graphic story. (Don’t forget that writing conventions still count.)

Argument Essays are due!!!!!!

*****Always check Engrade for your up-to-the-minute progress in this class.*****

Diving into Bauby's Mind

Aim: How do we dive into Bauby's mind using Depth of Knowledge (DOK) questions?  

Quick Write: Generate one deep question you have to guide today's reading of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.

Watch this movie trailer for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.

The metaphor for today is diving deep. If there is anything we hope you have learned from our Socratic seminars, it's that questions are the fuel that drives knowledge. Do you think you ask good questions? Check it out on the "Depth of Knowledge Question Stems" sheet in which DOK 1 is the lowest level question and DOK 4 is the highest level. How does your Quick Write question score?

Today we will continue to reciprocally read The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, summarizing and generating questions as we go.

Today's activity: When we've completed the reading for the day, continue developing your Mind Map. (You should have opened a free account.) As your mind map develops each day, you should share it on your blog. You may prefer to mind map using colored pencils and paper or other materials--and that's okay too.

Argument Essays are due!!!!!!

*****Always check Engrade for your up-to-the-minute progress in this class.*****

Mind Mapping our Reading

Aim: How do we begin analyzing Jean-Dominique Bauby's character?  

Quick Write: This week we 1) peer edited our argument essays, 2) strengthened our final drafts by revising them based on the feedback we got, and 3) participated in a Socratic seminar on public selective schools.
We also began a new unit in which we are reading literature through the lens of mindset psychology. To that end, we 4) analyzed and connected some essential questions and quotations to literature and we 5) reflected on the impact of the neurological condition known as locked-in syndrome.

Write a well-organized paragraph evaluating your progress on each of these five activities and skills on a 0-4 scale (See below for key.) Your evaluation is an opinion, so in order for it to be credible, you MUST support it with detailed evidence and facts.

Key
4 = Exemplary
3 = Proficient
2 = Developing
1 = Emerging
0 = No Effort

Before we begin reading The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, share out at least one of the questions you had yesterday after watching the video and reading about locked-in syndrome. We will reciprocally read the memoir in class meaning as we read we will periodically stop to summarize what we've read and generate questions about the passage. Some of the questions you had yesterday can guide us through the reading.

Today's activity: When we've completed the reading for the day, create a Mind Map. (You should be able to open a free account.) Mind maps are like graphic brainstorming devices for taking notes. As your mind map develops, you will be able to share it on your blog. You may prefer to mind map using colored pencils and paper or other materials--and that's okay too.

Argument Essays are due!!!!!!

*****Always check Engrade for your up-to-the-minute progress in this class.*****

Introducing Jean-Dominique Bauby

Aim: How do we use questioning to evaluate locked-in syndrome?  

Quick Write (Emphasis on Quick): Identify the people, places, things, ideas that make life worth living for you personally.

·       Watch this video and complete a 3-2-1 afterwards. 
        (3 observations; two questions; 1 feeling, reaction, or emotion)

Locked-in Syndrome is a rare neurological disorder characterized by complete paralysis of all of the muscles except for those that control eye movement. It may result from traumatic brain injury such as a stroke. Those with locked-in syndrome are conscious and can think and reason, but they are unable to speak or move.

Jean-Dominique Bauby, was 43 and the editor of French fashion magazine Elle when he suffered a massive stroke that left him a victim of locked-in syndrome. Previously known for his wit and sociability, he found himself basically imprisoned by his body. He described his life after the stroke as living metaphorically in a diving bell. The stroke left Bauby incapacitated to do anything except move his left eye. By blinking it, he wrote a moving and life-reaffirming memoir. 

Step 1: Based on the above information and the knowledge you already have about brain science, write at least two questions you have about Jean-Dominique Bauby and his conquest of locked-in syndrome to guide us through our reading of his memoir.. For example, one question everyone must have is how he adapted the ability to move only one eye into a process for writing his memoir?

Step 2: Share your questions with your class.

Step 3: After all we have read and discussed today, respond to the Quick Write again only in general terms. In other words, what do you think makes life worth living in general? How might this relate to mindset?