Talking Back to Talking Back to Morrison’s Texts: Morrison’s Texts: From Reader to From Reader to

WriterWriter

By: Tonya Wells-AbariBy: Tonya Wells-Abari

IntroductionIntroduction

Why teach Morrison’s texts?

Challenges of teaching Morrison’s texts

From Readers to Writers

Teaching Strategies

Importance of Teaching Importance of Teaching MorrisonMorrison

Rich in Language—both Literal and Figurative

Characterization

Teaching Writing in Context

Historical Context

History is the Gateway to History is the Gateway to the Futurethe Future

“I'm interested in the way in which the past affects the present and I think that if we understand a good deal more about history, we automatically understand a great more about contemporary life. Also, there's more of the past for imaginative purposes than there is of the future.”

--Morrison, An Interview with Time Magazine

Challenge = OpportunityChallenge = Opportunity

Historical Backdrop

Controversial Themes

Vocabulary

OPPORTUNITYOPPORTUNITY

Literacy First Student Strategies

Questioning Clarifying Predicting

Using Prior Knowledge

Context Clues Visualizing

Active Reading Pre, During, After

Reading Summarizing

Teacher Strategies Explicit Instruction

Multiple Intelligences

Scaffolding Model Strategies

Focused Questions Graphic Organizers

Think Aloud Literature Circles

Reciprocal Teaching

Student Strategies Student Strategies Cont.Cont.

KWL (Know, Want to Know, Learned)

Double-Entry Journal

Sociograms

QQuestion uestion AAnswer nswer RRelationshipselationships QAR’s helps

students to identify the four types of questions:

QAR

Author and You

Think and

Search

On Your Own

RightThere

From Reader to WriterFrom Reader to Writer

“I think some aspects of writing can be taught. Obviously, you can't teach vision or talent.

But you can help with comfort.”

--Toni Morrison

Teach Writing to All Teach Writing to All StudentsStudents

Variety of Culminating Activities

Literature Circles and Socratic Seminars: Get them talking

Text Structures

Help students become familiar with key terms (i.e. cause/effect, compare/contrast, analyze, evaluate, etc.)

Graphic OrganizersGraphic Organizers

Modernism Includes Modernism Includes TechnologyTechnology

Internet

Web-based Journals (AKA the BLOG)

Imagination Software

Audio-Visual Equipment

Office Hours via AIM

Create a BlogCreate a Blog www.Blogger.com

Students can create their own personal blog and URL address. They can respond to the text and enter their information just like a traditional journal. Other students can even reply and edit their entries.

ConclusionConclusion Help students to build upon the ideas

of Modernism

Encourage students to be literary scientists

Teach strategies that allow students to first, become better readers—this will ultimately improve their writing as well.

The EndThe End

For more information or a copy of this presentation, please contact

Tonya Wells-Abari or Marjorie Lancaster.

Thank you for your time.

Tonya Wells-Abari:

tawnee001@aol.com

240.304.0271

Marjorie Lancaster:

mlancaster@chccs.k12.nc.us

919.942.2857

Facilitator BiosFacilitator Bios

Tonya Wells-Abari is currently a Humanities teacher with On Location Education: School for Young Performers (NY). Additionally, she is a full time writer and copyeditor as well. Some of her credits include HBO’s The Wire, National Treasure 2, Body of Lies, The Lion King and The Color Purple traveling tour. Tonya is also a Language Matters II participant and has used her knowledge of Morrison in both traditional and non-traditional classroom settings. Mrs. Wells-Abari holds a B.A. from the University of MD at College Park and a MBA from the University of MD, University College. She enjoys reading, music, and spending time with family and friends.

Facilitator BiosFacilitator BiosMarjorie S. Lancaster is currently a 12th grade English teacher at East Chapel Hill High School in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Mrs. Lancaster is a veteran teacher with 32 years of teaching under her belt (28 of those years were spent teaching high school). She holds a B.A. from Duke University and a M.A. from Tulane University. Also a Language Matters II participant, Marjorie feels that teaching Morrison in her classroom is “not an option,” for she has witnessed her students acquire the same passion that she has for Morrison’s work over the years.