Teaching Theme NOT AN EASY THING TO DO Wasn’t taught how to do this as a student Students need to reach end of text – wide range of achievement levels makes difficult to read anchor texts Students need to have liked the text Is a complicated process involving the combination of several skills – analyze text & cite evidence

Not Easy, But So Worth It

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

Warm Up: List three important events that take place in Walk Two Moons. ELA Aim: How can we determine one of the themes of Walk Two Moons?

Warm Up Answers

What a theme is NOT A theme is NOT what the book was about When discussing what the book was about you are dealing with its subject.

Examples of subjects (non- themes) include: Sal goes on a road trip with her grandparents Phoebe is on a mission to find her mother, who has mysteriously disappeared A father struggles to get back on his feet after his wife dies

A theme can be defined as… … the opinion the author has about a topic or issue that people can relate to This definition is kind of vague, right?

Some examples of themes include: Maintaining healthy relationships is a worthwhile endeavor Society has a major influence on the course of people’s lives Overcoming adversity requires certain traits like courage, determination and intelligence Okay, but how do I arrive at these conclusions? STILL VAGUE?

What steps do I need to take to determine the theme? Step 1: Brainstorm a few “big ideas” from the story/passage Step 2: How does the main character(s) change from the time the story begins to the end Step 3: Based on the changes that happened throughout the story, and the big idea you came up with, what opinion does author have about that big idea or issue?

What steps do I need to take to determine the theme? Step 1: Brainstorm a few “big ideas” from the story/passage –Big ideas are issues or topics that everyone can relate to, whether man or woman, young or old, Jew or Gentile, Puerto Rican or Dominican –Examples: CONFLICT, FORGIVENESS, FRIENDSHIP, ADULTHOOD, INDEPENDENCE

STEP 2: CHANGE One of the keys to figuring out theme comes in looking for a change that takes place within the main character(s) of a story. Have the thoughts, actions and/or feelings of the main character changed over the course of the story? If so, how? OR Has the main character changed because of the events that have taken place in the book?

How do I figure out the theme of a story? Step 3: Based on the big idea you came up with, and the changes that happened throughout the story, what might be a possible opinion that the author has about that big idea or issue?

Let’s return back to some examples of theme Maintaining healthy relationships is a worthwhile endeavor Society has a major influence on the course of people’s lives Overcoming adversity requires certain traits like courage, determination and intelligence Okay, but how do I arrive at these conclusions? STILL VAGUE?

Read Aloud “Holden and Pops” by Evan Gerlachen

TEACHER MODEL – “Holden and Pops” by Evan Gerlachen CHARACTERBEGINNING OF STORY TURNING POINTEND OF STORY HOLDENAssumes Pops would not be interested in the games he plays, and is intimidated by technology Takes mom’s advice and becomes more open-minded toward Pops Holden learns something new and interesting about Pops THEME: Assuming things about people may stop us from really knowing them

Group Work: Directions The class will be divided into four groups: Gooseberries, Blackberries, Maple Trees & Tulips Each group will be assigned one of the messages that Mrs. Partridge left on the Winterbottom family’s porch throughout the book Each group will use that quote, along with the knowledge of key events from Walk Two Moons to come up with a theme. In order to help you come up with the theme, complete each of the three steps you have been given on the worksheet. If you need help, please raise your hand, and I will be happy to assist.

SHARE OUT

GOOSEBERRIES: “Don’t judge a man until you’ve walked two moons in his moccasins.” Pg.51 BIG IDEA: CHARACTERBEGINNING OF STORY TURNING POINTEND OF STORY SAL THEME:

BLACKBERRIES: “Everyone has his own agenda.” Pg.60 BIG IDEA: CHARACTERBEGINNING OF STORY TURNING POINTEND OF STORY SAL THEME:

MAPLE LEAFS: “In the course of a lifetime, what does it matter?” pg. 105 BIG IDEA: CHARACTERBEGINNING OF STORY TURNING POINTEND OF STORY Phoebe THEME:

TULIPS : “We never know the worth of water until the well is dry.” Pg. 198 BIG IDEA: CHARACTERBEGINNING OF STORY TURNING POINTEND OF STORY Phoebe THEME:

INDEPENDENT WORK SHORT RESPONSE DIRECTIONS: Based group work exercise you did today, write a paragraph that does the following: Identifies one of the themes of Walk Two Moons Uses evidence from the graphic organizers and book to help explain why Uses appropriate language, correct grammar and punctuation

Homework Think about the way you determined one of the themes of Walk Two Moons in class today Your assignment for tonight will be to choose one of your favorite songs, listen to that song, and then determine what the theme of that song is take Be sure to take the same steps you took today in class to help you figure out the theme I will collect your homework tomorrow in class.