My Papa's Waltz by Theodore Roethke

Today you will need a copy of the poem and a highlighter.

By Caroline Salvadore

Audio Response

NOTE: Today you will need a copy of the poem, a sheet of paper, and a highlighter.

Warm-Up: Working with your group, review the meanings of connotation and denotation.  With your partner(s), answer the following using your microphone:

1. What is the difference between connotation and denotation?

2. What is the difference between "house" and "home"?

Open Audio Recorder

​Warm-Up

Review/HK

Denotation vs. Connotation

Application of Knowledge: "My Papa's Waltz" by Theodore Roethke

Group/Individual Assessment

Online Rotations​

Happy Friday Eve!

Agenda

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Standard

LAFS.1112.RL.2.4

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings or language that is particularly fresh, engaging, or beautiful. (Include Shakespeare as well as other authors.)

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Multiple Select

Objectives! Hint: select ALL of them

• Students will review the meaning of connotation and denotation.

• Students will apply knowledge of connotation and denotation to the poem "My Papa's Waltz" by Theodore Roethke.

• Students will annotate "My Papa's Waltz" while analyzing impact of words and phrases

Essential Question: In what ways does connotation impact both meaning and tone? Support your response by analyzing words and/or phrases from the text.

Salvadore School of Learning

Multiple Choice

Denotation is...

• everything the word suggests and all the associations that come with it

• the literal definition (meaning) of a word

• how the word makes you feel

Multiple Choice

Connotation is...

• the literal meaning of a word

• all the nonliteral meanings and feelings you associate with a word.

• the definition of a word

Multiple Choice

True or False: Words can have positive, negative, or neutral connotations.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which of the sentences below uses words with positive connotations?

• My aunt Janey is mature and experienced.

• My aunt Janey is ancient and outdated.

Multiple Choice

BONUS QUESTION!!!

True or False: Tone is the feeling or atmosphere that a piece of writing creates within the reader.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or False: Connotations can be positive or negative. They can create a wide range of good or bad feelings and images that reveal the author's attitude, or tone.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What is the tone of the following sentence:

Kareem made a silly face at Beth.

• Frightened

• Excited

• Playful

• Angry

Multiple Choice

What is the tone of the following sentence:

He scowled at Alexi when she brought him dinner.

• Frightened

• Excited

• Angry

• Joyful

Multiple Choice

What is the tone of the following sentence:

She was jolted by his sudden appearance.

• Playful

• Excited

• Angry

• Frightened

Multiple Choice

Which highlighted word in the passage has connotations that create a calm tone?

Startled by the thunderstorm, the anxious kitten snuggled up to the napping golden retriever. The two snoozed by the fireplace on that frigid winter night.

• startled

• anxious

• napping

• frigid

Write this on the back of your poem

"My Papa's Waltz"

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First, listen as I read along. You should be considering the poem's rhythm, word choice, and meaning.

https://reader.activelylearn.com/student/4841494/notes

Some text here about the topic of discussion

​WE DO/YOU DO

Let's annotate the poem for connotation and denotation. Underline words that can be perceived as positive and highlight those that can be perceived as negative.

​Let's complete this chart using your annotations

Group Assessment and Activity​

There should be roughly six groups. Each group has been provided one (1) dry erase board and one (1) expo marker. ​

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Starting from one end of the circle, your group scribe will write down one negative word and/or phrase to show to the class. Then the next group must present another negative word/phrase that has not yet been used yet. Once a group that has been called on is out of words, other groups will have a chance to chime in for extra-credit.

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Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Group Assessment and Activity​

There should be roughly six groups. Each group has been provided one (1) dry erase board and one (1) expo marker. ​

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Starting from one end of the circle, your group scribe will write down one ambiguous word and/or phrase to show to the class. Then the next group must present another ambiguous word/phrase that has not yet been used yet. Once a group that has been called on is out of words, other groups will have a chance to chime in for extra-credit.

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Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Do now

With a partner or by yourself

read the poem silently and contemplate possible meanings of the poems. 

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Be prepared to discuss possible meanings as a whole group.

Multiple Choice

How does the poem's rhyme scheme mirror it's events?

• It's predictability reflects the father's dependability

• it regularly reflects the rhythm of a waltz

• it's unpredictability reflects the narrator's fear.

• it's randomness reflects the chaos of the scene.

Multiple Choice

What does the author's word choice suggest about the waltz itself?

• It is graceful and gentle

• It is precise and professional

• It is the first time they've done it

• It is rough and clumsy

Audio Response

Does this author use connotation and denotation to impact meaning? How so? Support your response with words and/or phrases from the text using your microphone.

Open Audio Recorder

Open Ended

You may write or type. Based on the language and tone of the poem, how do you thinik the narrator feels about the waltz with his papa? Is this a happy or unhappy event for him--or perhaps a bit of both? Support your response with a minimum of three pieces from the text.

Need help? Click image on the left.

Open Ended

Achieve 3000: Pass a random article of your choice on the first attempt by the end of this timer.

Open Ended

Achieve 3000: Pass a random article of your choice on the first attempt by the end of this timer.