Gradual Release of Responsibilities of the Teacher Responsibilities of the

Responsibility
Grade: 6th grade
Standards: Language
Standard 5
Demonstrate understanding of
figurative language, word relationships,
and nuances in word meanings.
Objectives: Interpret figures of
speech through personification.
Materials: The Giving Tree by
Shel Silverstein, slideshow
about personification
Student
The teacher must make sure that students are Students are responsible of
understanding the main idea of personification. The focus making sure they pay
of the lesson is that students understand what attention during the
personification is, be able to identify it, and write their introduction phase so they
own sentence(s) using personification. are able to participate
throughout the entire lesson.
Students are responsible to
participate and engage during
the story and the writing
portion of the lesson.

Essential Questions: What is

personification? What are some
examples from the reading you
found?

Vocabulary: personification,
moral,

Adaptations for EL: Stop during

reading to assess
understanding of the whole
class.

Adaptations for Students with

Special Needs: Stop during
reading to assess
understanding of the whole
class
DAP: The book is a lower level
reading than what students at
the 6th grade are supposed to
be at. This is to show exactly
what personification is in a
very simple form so they will
understand the concept itself.
Phase I: 1. To assess prior knowledge, I will ask if any of the engage with the concepts
Exploration and Explanation students have read the book. If not, I will ask if anyone has through manipulatives,
heard of or read anything form Shel Silverstein. I will then discussion, video,
ask if anyone knows what personification is. experiments, texts, role plays,
2. I will begin by reading the book. When the first example field trips, computers,
of personification come up, I will stop and ask Do trees
normally talk? or something to that extent.
3. After students have thought and answered, I will
explain how it is an example of personification, This is
what personification is. Personification is when human
attributes are given to non-human things.
4. I will tell the students to keep an eye out for more
examples as I read. If they hear one, to raise their hand to
share with the class what they think. They will do this for
the rest of the book.
Transition to Phase II: 1. Once the book is finished, I will ask the class what 1. engage in review
Review personification is. 2. volunteer to demonstrate
Phase II Expectations 2. Next, were going to work in our groups to create a very Phase II expectations
short paragraph that uses 2 examples of personification.
QUALITATIVE SHIFT IN RESPONSIBILITY--THE TEACHER WILL NO LONGER BE TEACHING THE WHOLE CLASS AS ONE UNIT.
EVERY STUDENT NOW TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR CARRYING OUT THE CONCEPT, STRATEGY, SKILL, ETC.
Phase II:
Guided Practice
One-on-One Differentiation
Formative Assessment
Plans for early finishers
Closure
Transition to Phase III:
Review and Phase III
Expectations
QUALITATIVE SHIFT IN RESPONSIBILITYSTUDENTS WILL NEXT WORK INDEPENDENTLY EXCEPT WHEN UNFEASIBLE
Phase III:
Independent Practice
Summative Assessment
1. Students are grouped in 3-4 students already, so they 1. engage with Phase II
will use these groups to work on the activity. exercise as independently as
2. Students will be asked to create a short paragraph that possible-work with the group
uses at least 2 examples of personification that they will and engage in the discussion
write together. for the writing
3. As students work in their groups, I will walk around the 2. request further
classroom looking and asking if anyone needs extra help scaffoldingas needed
or explanation on what the task is or clarification on
personification.
4. if feedback indicates class-wide confusion, back up to
Phase I and work with the whole class to further clarify
concepts
5. At the close of Phase II, interactively review key points-
I will go over one more time (at least) on what
personification is.
6. After all groups have been given time to write at least a
couple sentences, I will ask groups to share their
paragraph to the class (or I can read the examples)
1. Review concepts- what is personification? 1. engage in review
2. Explain directions for Phase III exerciseFinally, I am 2. volunteer to demonstrate
going to have you each write three sentences that uses a Phase III expectations
new example of personification.
1. Students will be asked to write their own three independently complete
sentence story that uses a different example of Phase III exercises
personification that their group didnt use in the
paragraph.
2. Scaffold if necessary
3. Students will then turn their writing in so the teacher
can assess their overall understanding of what
personification is based on their short writing sample.