Welcome to Mr. Samuel's Classroom
Mr. Samuel starts by demonstrating the strategy through using the symbols in a short segment of the reading passage. He reads the text out loud to students, asking them to follow along, and shows them the reasons behind placing each of the different symbols at particular points in the text. Go to the next slide to begin to listen in on his explanation:
Mr. Samuel: In the phrase “Because the Vietcong lacked the high-powered weaponry of the American forces”, do we see an example of a Vietcong army weakness or strength?”
Students: A weakness.
Mr. Samuel: Yes! And what is that weakness?
Students: Vietcong lacked high-powered weaponry.
Mr. Samuel: Exactly. Good job! So, let’s look at our text code key. What is the symbol we are using to denote Vietcong army weaknesses?
Students: V-
Mr. Samuel: That’s right! So, we’re going to underline “Vietcong lack high-powered weaponry” and we are going to put the symbol “V-” next to it.
V-
Because the Vietcong lacked the high-powered weaponry of the American forces
Mr. Samuel: Now, let’s look at the rest of the phrase: “the high-powered weaponry of the American forces”. So, is this a weakness or a strength and for whom?
Students: It’s a strength, for the American forces.
Mr. Samuel: Great. So which symbol are we going to write next to the highlighted portion “the high-powered weaponry of the American forces”?
Students: US+
V-
Because the Vietcong lacked the high-powered weaponry of the American forces
US+
Mr. Samuel: Now, let’s look at the rest of the phrase. “they used hit-and-run and ambush tactics, as well as a keen knowledge of the jungle terrain, to their advantage.” They who?
Students: The Vietcong
Mr. Samuel: Yes, and what symbol should we list for the “hit-and-run and ambush tactics” and the “keen knowledge of the jungle terrain??
Students: These are both Vietcong army strengths, so “V+”
Mr. Samuel: Great job! Let’s underline and add the symbols.
V-
US+
Because the Vietcong lacked the high-powered weaponry of the American forces, they used hit-and-run and ambush tactics, as well as a keen knowledge of the jungle terrain, to their advantage.
V+
V+
Mr. Samuel: Now, is there any information that tells us about the setting that the U.S. and Vietcong were fighting in?
Students: The jungle?
Mr. Samuel: Yes, the jungle terrain! So let’s go ahead and put our symbol “⭐” for setting there.
V-
US+
Because the Vietcong lacked the high-powered weaponry of the American forces, they used hit-and-run and ambush tactics, as well as a keen knowledge of the jungle terrain, to their advantage.
V+
V+
Mr. Samuel has demonstrated and modeled for students the examples of how to use each code. Using this coding system, students will be on their way to finding the details that support the main idea behind the paragraph: “United States troops were outmatched to fight the Vietcong in the jungle terrain of Vietnam”. Continue with the lesson to explore the effects of conducting these coding exercises both independently and in small groups.
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Transcript
Welcome to Mr. Samuel's Classroom
Mr. Samuel starts by demonstrating the strategy through using the symbols in a short segment of the reading passage. He reads the text out loud to students, asking them to follow along, and shows them the reasons behind placing each of the different symbols at particular points in the text. Go to the next slide to begin to listen in on his explanation:
Mr. Samuel: In the phrase “Because the Vietcong lacked the high-powered weaponry of the American forces”, do we see an example of a Vietcong army weakness or strength?” Students: A weakness. Mr. Samuel: Yes! And what is that weakness? Students: Vietcong lacked high-powered weaponry. Mr. Samuel: Exactly. Good job! So, let’s look at our text code key. What is the symbol we are using to denote Vietcong army weaknesses? Students: V- Mr. Samuel: That’s right! So, we’re going to underline “Vietcong lack high-powered weaponry” and we are going to put the symbol “V-” next to it.
V-
Because the Vietcong lacked the high-powered weaponry of the American forces
Mr. Samuel: Now, let’s look at the rest of the phrase: “the high-powered weaponry of the American forces”. So, is this a weakness or a strength and for whom? Students: It’s a strength, for the American forces. Mr. Samuel: Great. So which symbol are we going to write next to the highlighted portion “the high-powered weaponry of the American forces”? Students: US+
V-
Because the Vietcong lacked the high-powered weaponry of the American forces
US+
Mr. Samuel: Now, let’s look at the rest of the phrase. “they used hit-and-run and ambush tactics, as well as a keen knowledge of the jungle terrain, to their advantage.” They who? Students: The Vietcong Mr. Samuel: Yes, and what symbol should we list for the “hit-and-run and ambush tactics” and the “keen knowledge of the jungle terrain?? Students: These are both Vietcong army strengths, so “V+” Mr. Samuel: Great job! Let’s underline and add the symbols.
V-
US+
Because the Vietcong lacked the high-powered weaponry of the American forces, they used hit-and-run and ambush tactics, as well as a keen knowledge of the jungle terrain, to their advantage.
V+
V+
Mr. Samuel: Now, is there any information that tells us about the setting that the U.S. and Vietcong were fighting in? Students: The jungle? Mr. Samuel: Yes, the jungle terrain! So let’s go ahead and put our symbol “⭐” for setting there.
V-
US+
Because the Vietcong lacked the high-powered weaponry of the American forces, they used hit-and-run and ambush tactics, as well as a keen knowledge of the jungle terrain, to their advantage.
V+
V+
Mr. Samuel has demonstrated and modeled for students the examples of how to use each code. Using this coding system, students will be on their way to finding the details that support the main idea behind the paragraph: “United States troops were outmatched to fight the Vietcong in the jungle terrain of Vietnam”. Continue with the lesson to explore the effects of conducting these coding exercises both independently and in small groups.