Blogging in the Classroom
from Diana Weiss
Don Quixote- Sanity is the Question
Topic: Blogging/Podcasting
Description/Highlights:
As we read the book Don Quixote by Miguel Cervantes, the students journaled about and recorded the plot line events in Don Quixote.
The blog was added after chapter six. The students paired themselves with a family member and decided whether Don Quixote was sane or insane. They then backed it up with examples and explanations from the book to clarify their ideas.
After all blogs were written, each student combed through them to find which way the evidence pointed and generated a podcasted debate on Don Quixote’s sanity.
Supporting Material (example: Lesson Plans, Reference Material, Rubric):
Following is a copy of the posted assignment and the rubric.
Sanity is the Question....
“To be or not to be? That is the question.” - Shakespeare
I know--we are studying Don Quixote now, so why am I bringing Shakespeare into it?
Simple. I am challenging you to figure it out.
That’s right. It is up to you to figure out if Don Quixote is sane or insane.
That is the question.
Here is how it works. Choose one of your family members. Sit down and tell them about Don Quixote and his adventures in the first six chapters.
Then answer the following question together:
Don Quixote is
A. Insane, crazy, and out of his mind
B. Sane and pretending to be insane
Once you have chosen, send a comment to this blog sharing the family member you have chosen to work with and which conclusion you have come to.
Then the fun begins.
Begin a new blog on your page. (We ended up transferring all blogs to the teacher’s page, so that all students had immediate access to one another’s blogs)
For the initial post, be sure to introduce your family member, and tell us your conclusion.
Is he sane? Is he insane?
From there, begin a blog /journal on your thoughts, reasons, and evidence.
Work together to explain the first six chapters.
Give at least two examples and/or quotes to back up your answer from each chapter.
Be creative- you can type the journal together in first person (we, our) or you can each choose a different color and post your thoughts separately.
After the students finished supporting their blog they rated themselves using the following rubric :
Sanity is the Question |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
What events prove his sanity? |
information missing |
One sentence with no background |
One or two sentences with an example that is not explained |
Several sentences with either an example or explanation |
A well-defined explanation of the answer giving details, examples, and background to clarify the initial statement. |
|
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
What events prove DonQuixote is insane? |
missing |
One sentence with no background |
One or two sentences with an example that is not explained |
Several sentences with either an example or explanation |
A well-defined explanation of the answer giving details, examples, and background to clarify the initial statement. |
|
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
How do these events connect with his purpose? |
missing |
One sentence with no background |
One or two sentences with an example that is not explained |
Several sentences with either an example or explanation |
A well-defined explanation of the answer giving details, examples, and background to clarify the initial statement. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consulting the rubric and posted blogs, they worked as a group to build their defense for their viewpoint. Their goal: to diminish the other group’s point leaving the audience with a clearer understanding of their opinion of Don Quixote’s sanity or lack there of.
The groups then podcasted a debate on the topic.
(For further information please see our section on creating podcasts)
General State Standards that this project covers:
Reading:
-Students will build literary, general academic, and content specific grade level vocabulary.
-Students will extract and construct meaning using prior knowledge, applying text information, and monitoring comprehension while reading grade level text.
-Identify author’s purpose
-Summarize narrative text including characters, setting, plot, and theme with supporting details
-Generate and/or answer literal, inferential, critical, and interpretive questions, supporting answers using prior knowledge and literal and inferential information from the text and additional sources.
-Use examples and details to make inferences or logical predictions while reading text.
Writing:
-Students will write for a variety of purposes and audiences in multiple genres.
-Generate a draft
-Select and organize ideas
-Provide oral, written, and/or electronic feedback to other writers
-Speaking
-Students will develop and apply speaking skills to communicate key ideas in a variety of situations.
-Interact and collaborate with others in learning situations by contributing questions, information, opinions, and ideas using a variety of media and formats.
-Demonstrate listening skills needed for multiple situations and modalities
-Listen to, summarize, and interpret message and purpose of information being communicated
-Listen and ask questions to clarify