Lesson Plan Title:
Why is it that Johnny can’t read?
Subject:
English, Reading, American Studies, American History
Grade Level:
High School
Rationale:
In today’s society, reading literacy has become a “hot” issue. On the national, state, and local levels, funding for educational initiatives focusing upon reading readiness of American children and adult reading literacy has become top priority. Some reports and studies indicate that Americans are reading less and more and more children are entering school with fewer reading readiness skills. With our society becoming more dependent upon other types of media, it is imperative that students assess and evaluate the role of reading in their lives.
Objectives:
- The student will be able to:
- Analyze songs for their slant on an issue.
- Read notification essays on a current issue.
- Evaluate source material for the purpose and message.
- Use sources to support personal perspectives in discussions.
- Conduct research for a particular purpose.
- Discuss issues using a variety of sources to support opinions.
Audience:
Suggested for high school English students. This unit was written specifically for an elective course, Strategic Reading, which is an independent, student-directed, reading workshop course. This unit could also be used in and American Studies or American history class when studying current issues.
Time Frame:
3 class periods – 1 for the analysis of music and reading of the selected essay; 1 calls period or research; 1 class period for a full group discussion or Socratic Seminar.
Materials:
CD player, Don Henley’s song, “Johnny Can’t Read” from I Can’t Stand Still and 10,000 Maniacs In My Tribe for Cherry Tree. The lyrics to both of these songs are found in their respective record sleeves, Newsweek essay by Anna Quidlen “Aha! Caught You Reading,” access to computers for research; Socratic Seminar rubrics.
Background:
Don Henley former drummer for the Eagles, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees (1998), has created a successful solo career as a songwriter, recording artist, record producer and activist. Many of his songs address contemporary issues. “Johnny Can’t Read” focuses upon reading illiteracy and raises several thought-provoking questions. This song also reflects Henley’s respect for reading and his reading background. As he stated in Heaven is Under Our Feet, “I began to read when I was five. My did sometimes read me the ‘Funny Papers’ to me on Sundays and my mother a college graduate and former schoolteacher, read to me almost every day from books. As I grew, she made sure that there was always reading material in the house that was suited to my age and ability.” As fro his respect for reading, he stated, “American Literature, like the air we breather, belongs—or should belong-to everybody.” His pioneering project to raise money to preserve Walden Woods emphasized his respect for the written word.
Natalie Merchant, formerly of 10,000 Maniacs, also writes songs focusing upon contemporary issues. Her song “Cherry Tree” also looks at the issue of reading illiteracy. Ask the students to find additional information about Merchant’s career.
Procedures:
- Prepare students by establishing guidelines for full group discussions. If possible, train the students in the Socratic Seminar technique. The Socratic Seminar is a student led forum where differing viewpoints are discussed in depth with in a 40 to 60 minute time period. The teacher sits outside of the circle and records the participation of the students. The Socratic Seminar is not a debate but is an objective discussion of an essential question using source material as support.
- Provide background to Don Henley’s career
- Pass out lyrics to “Johnny Can’t Read” and listen to the song.
- Briefly discuss the song based upon the following questions:
- What is the narrative story that is told in the song?
- Why can’t Johnny read?
- Who might be guilty for Johnny not reading?
- What is Henley’s point of view?
- What lines indicate the slant or perspective of this song?
- What skills did Johnny obtain from his schooling?
- What do you agree or disagree with in the song?
- Distribute copies of the essay from Newsweek, “Aha! Caught You Reading.” Allow time for students to read.
- Briefly discuss the essay based upon the following questions:
- Have you or someone you know read the Harry Potter books?
- What do you remember about the Harry Potter mania the summer of 2000?
- What statistics are used in this essay?
- What is your reaction to the statistics used?
- What is Anna Quidlen’s point of view?
- What lines indicate the slant or perspective of this essay?
- What do you agree or disagree with in this essay?
- How does the comment about “Survivor” relate to Henley’s song lyrics?
- Ask students to share what they know about Natalie Merchant. Distribute the lyrics to the 10,000 Maniacs song “Cherry Tree.” Play the song.
- Briefly discuss this song based upon the following questions:
- Who is the narrator of this song?
- What is the story that is being told?
- What symbols are used in these lyrics?
- What is the point of view represented in this song?
- What lines indicate the slant of the song?
- Which piece does this song support—Henley’s or Quidlen’s?
- What do you agree or disagree with in this song?
- Assign students to research on the Internet the topic “reading literacy.” They are to find statistics, evidence, stories, facts, sources which will support their beliefs and prepare them for a class discussion or Socratic Seminar on one of the following:
- Ultimately, the responsibility for a student graduating from high school with out being able to read lies with
- The parents
- The teachers
- The students
- The media-rich environment
- Society’s values
- Economic status
- Other
- A student is able to graduate from high school with out ever having to read a book.
- Agree
- Disagree
- Qualify
- The most influential factor in determining whether or not Americans read is
- Computer technology
- Economic status
- Family upbringing
- Occupation
- Audio-visual media
- Education
- Other
- Conduct the Socratic Seminar or class discussion using one of the suggested essential questions. Encourage the students to use sources to support their opinions.
- After the discussion, assign students to select a book for free reading. Encourage the development of lifelong reading skills by students discovering the types of books that engage them.
Evaluation:
There are several options for evaluation of the objectives. Students could be evaluated upon the sources they found in their research. Students could also be evaluated based upon their oral or written analysis of the two songs and the essay. Finally, a rubric is used for evaluating student involvement in a Socratic Seminar. The focus areas include leadership, conduct, reading, listening, and thinking/reasoning. A rubric could be created fro any type of class discussion with the teacher observing the students’ participation rather than generating the questions and ideas during the discussion.
Selected Recordings:
Don Henley’s “Johnny Can’t Read” from I Can’t Stand Still, Electra/Asylum Records, 1982), lyrics and music by Don Henley and Danny Kortchmar.
Natalie Merchant, 10,000 Maniacs “Cherry Tree” from In My Tribe, Christian Burial Music, ASCAP, 1987), lyrics and music by Robert Buck and Natalie Merchant.
Enrichment/Additional Resources:
Biography, bibliography, discography, for Natalie Merchant and Don Henley
Quidlen, Anna, “Aha! Caught You Reading.” Newsweek, July 17, 2000, 64.
Articles on Socratic Seminars—
Malaska, Sue, “Socratic Questioning: Renewed Respect for an Ancient Idea.” Ohio Journal of the English Language Arts, Winter, 1998, 100-102.
Tredway, Lynda, “Socratic Seminars: Engaging Students in Intellectual Discourse.” Educational Leadership.
No lyric links were available- lyrics are found on both record sleeves.
