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The Rose That Grew from Concrete by Tupac Shakur

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The Rose That Grew from Concrete by Tupac Shakur

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Focus: Tupac metaphorically shows how resilience and perseverance can help rise above challenging circumstances

Guding Question: How does Tupac use the metaphor of a rose growing through concrete to show how a person's choice to be resilient can help to overcome obstacles? How does this relate to Will's choices in "Long Way Down?"

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The Rose That Grew from Concrete by Tupac Shakur

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Jason Reynolds on Writing 'A Long Way Down'

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Jason Reynolds on Writing 'A Long Way Down'

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Focus: Jason Reynolds talks about his inspiration for writing Long Way Down, his writing process, and what he hopes readers think about while reading his novel.

Guiding Question: How do Reynold's words support the inference that peoples' choices are important? Reynolds says that he wants young readers to think about decision making. He adds that he wants older readers "to think about how difficult it is for young readers and young people to make certain decisions if there are lots of things happening that we don't know and that we don't see."

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Kennedy Center Education Digital Learning

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Key Details = I can cite explicit and implicit details from a text to support a provided inference or conclusion

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How do your choices shape your life?

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Focus: Tupac writes about the struggles of a person dealing with pain and adversity

Guiding Question: How does Tupac's poem explore the emotional consequences of personal choices? How might Will relate to these words?

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Comments & analysis: Sometimes when I'm alone / I Cry,

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Jason Reynolds Reading from Long Way Down

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Jason Reynolds Reading from Long Way Down

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Focus: Jason Reynolds reads the beginning of his novel.

Guiding Question: As you read, focus on how decisions and choices affect peoples' lives (their own and others)

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Jason Reynolds Reading from Long Way Down

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Dear, Dreamer - artistic, engaging biography of Jason Reynolds

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Dear, Dreamer - artistic, engaging biography of Jason Reynolds

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Focus: A beautifully produced biography of Jason Reynolds, matching the writing style of the author. This is highly engaging and inspirational

Guiding Question: What decisions did Jason Reynolds make that led him to becoming a successful writer?

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Dear, Dreamer - artistic, engaging biography of Jason Reynolds

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Dear, Dreamer: A Portrait of Jason Reynolds | FILMER 2018

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Focus: a short, animated film that shows how daily, small decisions shape our lives

Guiding Question: Think about the choices that you make everyday. List 3 changes you might make to lead to a better result a year from now.

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"Experts Link Teen Brains' Immaturity, Juvenile Crime" 

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"Experts Link Teen Brains' Immaturity, Juvenile Crime" 

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Focus: The development of teenagers' brains can contribute to criminal behavior.

Guiding Question: Using the information from this article, discuss how might Will's decisions be influenced by his brain's development?

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Experts Link Teen Brains' Immaturity Juvenile Crime

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Focus: Shows how being aware of your own emotions can help you, and how to manage your emotions.

Guiding Question: Use this after reading to at least page 315. "The Rules" that Will and the other people in his community must follow do not allow crying, but Shawn's ghost openly cries. What is the new lesson that Shawn is trying to teach Will?

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CommonLit | How to Identify and Manage Emotions

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This informational text explores the benefits of emotional awareness and shares tips for managing emotions.

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Focus: A village lottery tradition shows how people can blindly follow traditions

Guiding Question: How do the choices made by the characters in "The Lottery" relate to choices made by characters in Long Way Down?

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Why Gun Violence Can't Be Our New Normal - TED Talk

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Why Gun Violence Can't Be Our New Normal - TED Talk

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Focus: The president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence shares what is necessary to end gun violence

Guiding Question: Analyze the explicit and implicit arguments in this video and connect them to gun violence in Long Way Down.

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Why Gun Violence Can't Be Our New Normal - TED Talk

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It doesn't matter whether you love or hate guns; it's obvious that the US would be a safer place if there weren't thousands of them sold every day without background checks. Dan Gross, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, makes a passionate, personal appeal for something that more than 90 percent of Americans want: background checks for all gun sales. "For every great movement around the world, there's a moment where you can look back and say, 'That's when things really started to change,'" Gross says. "For the movement to end gun violence in America, that moment is here."

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Dan Gross: Why gun violence can't be our new normal

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It doesn't matter whether you love or hate guns; it's obvious that the US would be a safer place if there weren't thousands of them sold every day without background checks. Dan Gross, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, makes a passionate, personal appeal for something that more than 90 percent of Americans want: background checks for all gun sales.