Lesson #6:
DOWNLOAD all English lessons in Word forma

Shared Reading:
Sylvia Plath’s poem with be read twice. The title of the poem will be removed in order to encourage students to investigate the language.

Model/Direct Instruction:
The teacher will model close-reading for the first stanza of the poem and establish the criteria for evaluating and interpreting the poem (i.e. the teacher may encourage students to search for metaphors, imagery, diction)

Independent Practice:
Students will underline, mark, and note lines and words that connect to the terms discussed at the beginning of class. They will be encouraged to create their own title for the work.

Whole Group Discussion:
Students will share their reactions, connections and ideas. Students will also share their suggested titles and use evidence from the text to support their ideas.

Culminating Activity:
Students will compose their own “Mirror” poem as they use the desktop mirrors to look at themselves as they write. Warning: Students do not like looking at themselves (well, some do embrace vanity). Encourage them to think abstractly and use comparative terms such as similes and metaphors.

Closing:
Return to the aim to assess the students’ perception of reflection’s role in determining one’s identity.