Remember the Boys

Writing Workshop

Workshop Title: Remember

Step 1

Ask your students, “Who or what “terrorized” you in school when you were younger? How? Why?” Then give them time to discuss.

Step 2

Read “Remember the Boys” by Rachel McKibbens. When you’re done, briefly discuss how the speaker’s experience with the “boys” reflects a larger societal issue.

Step 3

Say, “Think of the ways in which your experience with those who “terrorized” you reflects a larger societal issue.” Then give them time to brainstorm.

Step 4

Have your students compose a poem similar in sentiment to “Remember the Boys” in which they discuss how their experiences in school reflects a larger societal issue.

Step 5

When the students are done, have them share their responses with one another.

The full presentation may be found HERE.

Analytical Lesson

Area of Focus: Various

Step 1

This lesson allows students to analyze various concepts and skills, so it is recommended that you have covered several of the “standalone” lessons before assigning this one.

Step 2

Show your students the following video to give them a bit of context behind the inspiration behind this poem.

Step 3

When the video is over, show your students the following image. Ask your students about the issues the political cartoon comments on. What is it condemning? Who is it condemning? How is it condemning them? Is it just about Trump and Kavanaugh? What are the larger implications? Explain.

Step 4

When your students are done, read “Remember the Boys” by Rachel McKibbens. As you’re reading, have your students think about the parallels between the poem and their conversation from a few moments earlier.

Step 5

Have your students open the following document and go over the introduction and instructions with them. In this assignment, your students will have to come up with a series of visuals that reflect different parts or lines of the poem. Then give your students around 30-40 minutes to work.

Step 6

When the students are done, have them work in the following Jamboard so they can share their images (you will need to change the settings so everybody can edit it). There are six different slides, one for each of the different sections of the poem in their Google Doc. Simply have your students copy/paste their images into the slide with the corresponding text.

Step 7

When the students have placed their images in the Jamboard, project it on the board. Ask your students to discuss the images on the screen. What do they all have in common with one another? And how do they reflect the text?