Teacher Resources and Supplemental Material for "Long Way Down" by Jason Reynolds by Adeline Rajnert

Introduction to "Long Way Down"

adelinerajnert — 2024-06-20 17:51:12 UTC

An introduction to the book "Long Way Down" by Jason Reynolds, including a brief summary and key themes. Provides a foundational understanding of the book's premise and main themes.

Author Interview

adelinerajnert — 2024-06-20 17:51:13 UTC

Watch an engaging interview with Jason Reynolds as he discusses "Long Way Down" and his writing process.

Discussing Grief

adelinerajnert — 2024-06-20 17:51:15 UTC

Analyze how "Long Way Down" deals with the theme of grief through its protagonist, Will.

Cycle of Violence

adelinerajnert — 2024-06-20 17:51:16 UTC

Explore the cycle of violence depicted in the story and how it affects the characters and their decisions.

Use of Poetry

adelinerajnert — 2024-06-20 17:51:18 UTC

Discover how Jason Reynolds uses poetry to convey emotions and messages in "Long Way Down."

Character Development

adelinerajnert — 2024-06-20 17:51:19 UTC

Dive into the development of the protagonist, Will, and other characters in the novel.

Gun Violence

adelinerajnert — 2024-06-20 17:51:23 UTC

A look into the portrayal of gun violence in "Long Way Down" and its impact on youth.

Family Dynamics

adelinerajnert — 2024-06-20 17:51:24 UTC

Examine the complex family relationships in the book and how they influence the characters' actions.

Jason Reynolds' Publisher Page

adelinerajnert — 2024-06-20 17:53:15 UTC

Explore all of Jason Reynolds' published stories and texts.

Excellent Resource to Introduce to Students

adelinerajnert — 2024-06-20 17:54:36 UTC

There are three different stations included in this activity, and each station comes with its own task, directions card, and table card to display the location of the station. There is also a student handout for easy recording.

STATION 1: Meet Jason Reynolds

STATION 2: Poetic Devices - students look up the definitions to key poetic devices.

STATION 3: Read about gun violence in America.

Book Trailer

adelinerajnert — 2024-06-20 18:10:48 UTC

A video book trailer for "Long Way Down" to introduce students to the book in a dynamic way

Excellent Resource to Intro Graphic Novels

adelinerajnert — 2024-06-20 18:20:04 UTC

If you plan to use the graphic novel version, begin your unit with this How To Read a Graphic Novel Introduction Lesson! Prepare students for discussing any graphic novel by teaching them important terms like "panels," "gutters," "spreads," and more with this visually appealing resource.

Students will learn important graphic novel terms, comic book history, reading tips, and more.

Then, students will practice identifying the parts of a comic and using visual information to answer some simple questions.

Theme Analysis StoryboardThat

adelinerajnert — 2024-06-28 22:22:13 UTC

In this activity, students will identify themes in Long Way Down and illustrate examples from the text. Students can explore by identifying these elements themselves or in an “envelope activity”, where they are given one or more to track throughout their reading. Then, they'll create a spider map illustrating what they found!

StoryboardThat is an excellent resource for creating engaging and visually appealing storyboards that enhance student comprehension and creativity. This particular link offers a valuable rubric, premade templates, and comprehensive guides, making it easy for teachers to integrate storyboard activities into their lesson plans seamlessly. The provided rubric ensures clear assessment criteria, helping students understand expectations and achieve learning objectives.

StoryBoardThat Movie Poster Project

adelinerajnert — 2024-06-28 22:25:46 UTC

This storyboard activity invites students to create their own movie poster, allowing them to creatively engage with the material and demonstrate their understanding in a visual format. Aligned with New York State learning standards, the activity includes a detailed lesson plan, rubric, and assessment criteria to ensure clear guidelines and expectations. This project is an excellent way to integrate artistic skills with analytical thinking, fostering deeper comprehension and making learning more dynamic and interactive.

In 'Long Way Down,' The Ghosts Of Gun Violence Chill A Plan For Revenge

adelinerajnert — 2024-06-28 22:36:36 UTC

The NPR article "In 'Long Way Down,' The Ghosts Of Gun Violence Chill A Plan For Revenge" discusses Jason Reynolds' novel "Long Way Down," which follows the story of a teenager named Will who grapples with the cycle of gun violence after his brother is killed. The book, written in free verse, portrays Will's internal struggle as he encounters the ghosts of people affected by gun violence during an elevator ride, challenging his plans for revenge and highlighting the consequences of such actions.

Code of the Streets and Flipgrid Project

adelinerajnert — 2024-06-28 22:40:49 UTC

Students discuss the "Code of the Streets" and watch a short video. They then discuss the following questions before completing a Flipgrid assignment with the following prompt:

"Considering your own personal knowledge about life, what you learned from "Code of the Streets,” and what you know about Will as a character, make a flipgrid where you explain what you think Will decides to do at the end of the book. Make sure to support your answer with examples from the book. (1-2 minutes)"

Revenge Vs. Violence

adelinerajnert — 2024-06-28 22:42:19 UTC

Revenge is a strong motif in Long Way Down, and a great way to have students explore this concept is to have them read about and discuss the concept of revenge vs. justice. This article about revenge vs. justice is a great starting point for students. Students can read the article in partners in class and then discuss the key differences between revenge and justice.

Goodreads Reviews

adelinerajnert — 2024-06-28 22:49:51 UTC

Explore the numerous reviews of the novel that has received over 100,00 ratings at 4.26 stars.

adelinerajnert — 2024-06-28 22:55:25 UTC

Teachers can use this rationale created by my department to advocate for the inclusion of "Long Way Down" in the curriculum by emphasizing its relevance to the diverse experiences of students. Highlighting the novel's ability to engage students through its relatable themes and accessible narrative style can demonstrate its educational value. By addressing potential concerns sensitively and offering alternative resources for deeper exploration of sensitive topics, educators can build a compelling case for integrating the novel, fostering empathy, critical thinking, and academic skills among students.