Lesson 1, Technology Connections

Subject/Course: English

Topic: Compare and Contrast To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Lesson Title: #life@home, a Twitter Assignment

Level: 9th Grade

Lesson Duration: 3 weeks (alongside class reading of The Glass Castle after reading To Kill a Mockingbird)

Lesson Objectives: making personal connections to unique and unconventional parenting in students' experience

References:

Lee, H. (1960). To kill a mockingbird. New York: Grand Central Publishing.

Walls, J. (2005).  The glass castle. New York: Scribner.

Atticus Finch, Rose Mary Walls, and Rex Walls are characters who all approach parenting in unique and unconventional ways. Most of the time, it adds to the fun of childhood, but sometimes it can lead to embarrassment. Nobody is perfect. We don't get to choose our family, but we do get to choose what we do with it; look at how Jeannette Wells chose to look at her parents and her childhood after everything she experienced in The Glass Castle!

Consider your own life at home and what makes it unique on a daily basis. Make at least 5 posts on Twitter over a three week period using the hashtag (#life@home). Use pictures as often as you can. You want these posts to reflect anything that sets your life at home apart; aspects that make it unique and special. It could be positive things, funny things, something that makes you smile, something to share, even something where we can all relate to the embarrassment of it all. Think about what funny things have your parents or guardians done to be your friend instead of your parent? Has anyone in your household tried to "act cool" and totally failed? Do you have family dinner? What kinds of things do you do together as a family? What makes those times unique (good or bad)? If you have siblings, what is it like to have them around, and what makes them special (good or bad)? These are some questions to get you started on thinking about what to post.

Have fun with this project! Have a good laugh, and share it with the class as your peers do the same over the coming weeks. I am looking for a personal touch, not a meme you can relate to already posted online.

Here are some generic examples:

When your dad makes you lunch, and guilts you into eating it #life@home

When your mom cuts your hair and leaves a lightning bolt behind #life@home

Watching the big game at home, rooting for different teams #life@home

#life@home

(Note: The concept is good, but please do not post memes like this one. Post your own photos with original text explaining them).

#life@home

(Note: This would be a good one if it was a picture of you wearing something your mom made you try on. Or, it would be a good one if it was a post about something your family does to your dog. Be very clear about the message you are saying and make sure the picture you post matches your caption).

When your parents try to be cute #life@home

When your mom tries to be cool in front of your friends #life@home