Teens+in+the+21st+Century

= = [|Wagon Wheel Discussion]-Empathy and American Teenager

= = [|Parent's Just Don't Understand]

A Guide to Teenagers-In groups of 3, (each group must have a balance of gender and grade level) complete the following This activity/task comes out of a constant need from teens to be "understood" instead of misunderstood and my desire to correct many of the online guides to understanding teens-written by adults :)

Each Team of 3 will construct a guide to Teens, paying particular attention to the specific groups and the following quantities: Create your guide in a google presentation labeled Guide to Teens and share to callen@neisd.net

10 Things that Parents should know about Teens 7 Things that Teachers should know about Teens 5 Things that School Principals should know about Teens 5 Things that other Teens should know about Teens 3 Things that companies/stores should know about Teens

Each Team should be prepared to present their Guide (which they can name) in class on Friday.

= = [|A Guide to Teens Written by Teens] Groups present their guides to the class.

= = Finish presentations in 3rd, 4th, and 6th

2nd Period and After Presentations- Each student will answer the following: What is the best thing about being a teenager? What is the worst thing about being a teenager? If your parents/grandparents were to say what is hard about being a teenager and what is good what would they say? What is different about about being a teen in the 21st century than generations before you? What does a "normal" day for a teenager look like? = = Are you the [|"Dumbest" Generation?] Listen to Mark Bauerlein and craft a response/argument to his theory. Class discussion about Baurelin's theory. Read and analyze the article: = = You are the smartest, best Generation ever--according to Don Tapscott! And you're [|GROWN UP DIGITAL-]hearing from Don Tapscott and responding to his ideas. What did he say that you agreed with? What did he say that you thought was NOT true about your generation? = = [|The Teenage Mind-A Frontline Exclusive] Watch the video and answer the following: Does the video, "get it right" as far as teenage brains? How well does the video accurately portray what it is like to be a teenager in America?

= = With one partner, open a google doc, share it to me at callen@neisd.net, put both your names on the doc, and title it, "Letter to the Editor

[|A Letter to the Editor]:

We are not the dumbest generation...We are... Your [|persuasive letter] to the Editor should be brief, succinct, and should use specific examples of what you have been accused of and give examples of why you are not those things. Be sure to explain what is good about your generation, For instance you use technology all the time and... What will your generation be like? What will you accomplish? What will be your legacy? Be sure to refute specific criticism's (ie Mark Baurlein says you are "Lazy and Ignorant")

Using the article the [|Empathy Deficit] you and a partner will create a response to your critics in the form of letter to the editor.

= = How persuasive is my letter? Share your letter to 2 other pairs-each pair should not be looking at more than 2.

Using the [|persuasive essay rubric] and keeping in mind the criteria provided for a "letter to the editor" defending your generation-score the persuasive essay aka "letter to the editor" **making specific suggestions** about how to make it more persuasive. What could they add to? What text or ideas could they add? Are you convinced that you are not the dumbest generation by their letter?

= = Using the feedback from the rubrics and digital feedback from yesterday you and your partner will refine your "letter to the editor"-for the first 20 minutes of class. The second half of class we will do a Gallery Walk of each of your classmates letters-this gives you an opportunity to look at all of the letters.

During the Gallery Walk you are looking:
 * use of persuasive language
 * compelling arguments (that are pro your generation)
 * use of evidence (textual, video)

At the end of class, we will take some time to reflect on what we saw-what made letters strong, what were elements of letters that could be made better.

[|Sarah Jayne Blakemore]: Ted Talk the Teenage Brain Where do you think she has it very right? Where does she need to work on her theory? What was most compelling?

= =

Decide on:

 * ===Who is the audience for this article?===
 * ===What is the intent or purpose of the article?===
 * ===What are the article's most valid points? Choose 2 or 3 (in your opinion)===
 * ===What are the weak points within the article? Choose 2 or 3 (in your opinion)===

Lastly,

 * ===Put the appropriate age (in your opinion) for the list of of areas the author highlights at the end of the article.===
 * ===Put the age in which you had those things/areas===

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