[MOSAIC] Any high school English teachers out there who want to talk shop??? Tasks? Fences?

[Jenniffer Benedetto]

Hello,

I teach ninth graders at an inner-city high school in Upstate NY.  The levels vary from what might be considered to be an advanced class, two inclusion classes, and a middle of the road class at the end of the day.  We are currently reading Fences  and the kids love it- all four sections of nines.  We are reading the entire play aloud and stop for some pretty meaningful conversations. We recently did a Task I together and as I sit here grading them, I've noticed that most of the essays are regurgitating back to me exactly what I read to them.   We wrote the introduction together, took notes on the board for ideas to put within the body paragraphs, and even wrote the conclusion together. Any suggestions?

Jen