The document outlines an 8th grade language arts class agenda that focuses on the poet Langston Hughes. The agenda includes independent reading time, discussing Hughes' experiences like various jobs that may have influenced his writing, reading his poem "The Weary Blues" aloud, and identifying figurative language techniques in the poem like metaphor, simile, and rhyme. Students are assigned a reading response and asked to consider how entering contests influenced them and how Hughes' life experiences may have shaped his character and work.

1. 1­22­14.notebook
January 24, 2014
1/24/14
8th Grade Language Arts
Agenda:
1. Independent Reading
Assignments:
-Reading Response (M)
2. Langston Hughes
1

2. 1­22­14.notebook
January 24, 2014
Things to think about:
Ø Your experiences in entering contest- talent contests, science
fairs, literary, music, art, sporting events
Ø Why was the contest important to you?
Ø Was it hard to have other people judge your work or efforts?
Ø How did you feel about your performance?
Ø Who has inspired you to keep doing what you like to do?
2

3. 1­22­14.notebook
January 24, 2014
Prereading­ Sort these words into categories. Be sure
to name each category. Feel free to create more
than three categories if you need to.
blues
troubles
dull
echoed
mellow
pallor
satisfied
syncopated
croon
melancholy
raggy
3

4. 1­22­14.notebook
Prereading Notes:
Read the first four paragraphs.
Then look the illustrations and
read the last line of the story.
What do you think happens?
January 24, 2014
As You Read:
As you read, write comments
about Hughes's many jobs and
how you think he felt about
them.
Looking Back:
After You Read:
Were your predictions accurate?
Explain.
Find examples of experiences that
taught Langston Hughes about life.
What events do you think helped shape
his character or writing?
4

5. 1­22­14.notebook
Prereading Notes:
Read the first four paragraphs.
Then look the illustrations and
read the last line of the story.
What do you think happens?
January 24, 2014
As You Read:
As you read, write comments
about Hughes's many jobs and
how you think he felt about
them.
Looking Back:
After You Read:
Were your predictions accurate?
Explain.
Find examples of experiences that
taught Langston Hughes about life.
What events do you think helped shape
his character or writing?
5

6. 1­22­14.notebook
January 24, 2014
"The Weary Blues"
by Langston Hughes
What predictions can you make about he
poem's tone and poem's content based on
the vocabulary we explored?
Tone= The way the author feels about the
subject
Elements of Literature
6

7. 1­22­14.notebook
January 24, 2014
How did hearing the poem read
by the author help you to understand?
Pull
The poet speaks...push the star to hear
Langston Hughes speak. Review the
text of the poem using the blue button
link.
7

8. 1­22­14.notebook
January 24, 2014
During Reading­ Throw the dice to uncover the
figurative language or sound device you have been
challenged to locate within the poem. Touch the dice;
then tap the yellow arrow to pull out your term. Record
your example under each term.
8

9. 1­22­14.notebook
January 24, 2014
9