1. Bellringer: Sept. 5 and 6
To be written and placed in your notebook section “bellringer and exit tickets”:
Why is the following statement a good example of a theme?
“Finding yourself is a long and difficult journey which is often painful but also worthwhile in the end.”

2. Other good examples of themes
“It doesn’t matter what problems you have or the decisions you make or how different you are, you can still do good.”
“Life is a test of endurance so you have to make the best of it.”

3. Theme for Part Time Indian
Put the theme brainstorming paper into your notebook under WRITING ASSIGNMENTS section. Do not lose it.
We will be going back to this handout again and we will be using it to help write a response.
However, we’re not doing that today.

4. How do poets use patterns to develop their theme about maturing?
Lesson 1: Poetry

5. What does it take to be an adult?
5 – list five things (actions, behaviors…) which demonstrate someone is an adult.
3 – list three things (actions, behaviors…) which adults are always telling teenagers they need to learn to be an adult.
1 – identify ONE grown-up in your life who is the most adult person you know.
Turn to your partner and share.
What items do you have in common?

6. Rites of Passage
In most cultures, we have steps in life which mark a coming of age or a movement towards adulthood. It is part of our changing identity as we grow up.
Think of what happens in our culture:
at 16?
at 18?
at 22?
16- driver’s license. 18- high school graduation/legal adulthood college graduation maybe or moving out of parents’ house

7. The three stages in a rite of passage
1. Separation - we lose our identity as a child, often abruptly (Think about Junior moving schools)
2. Transition - we are being tested, educated, or confused. We might have to undergo some form of ordeal. (Think about the problems Junior faces both at home and at Reardon before he is accepted)
3. Incorporation - we move back into the larger community, often with our new identity. There is usually some form of ceremony. (Remember the final two chapters of the summer book? The graveside ceremony and then Rowdy and Junior’s reconnecting as friends?)
You could hand out the pdf as a further reference and notes for throughout the lesson and year.

8. Rites of Passages are a pattern
We see rites of passages in cultures and literature from around the world and from throughout time.
What occurs in each stage builds a message about what the culture values and the challenges that young people must overcome to be accepted as an adult.

9. Vocabulary you might need
Look up each word.
Then prepare to act out an example of the word with your partner.
Knave
Demure
Flanks

10. Identifying Patterns
You have received five notecards – leave these in your name tents at the end of class.
On the top of each notecard, write the following headers. One header per card: phrase/word repetition (anaphora), important images, figurative language (personification and symbols), powerful tone words, and rhymes.
Partner 1 - review repetition, imagery, and personification
Partner 2 -review symbol, tone and rhyme
Review the literary devices if needed. Anaphora is the repetition of words and phrases at the beginning of sentences or lines. Personification is the figurative language most used in “If”

11. Read the poem! Partner 1 – read the poem out loud
Partner 2 – read the poem out loud (again!)
Together – mark up the poem. Identify the words/phrases/lines which seem important or stand out to you.

12. Ticket out
What seems to be the theme of the poem?