Is Sarcasm a Literary Device, Mrs. DuBose?

This school year is certainly taking on a life of its own. We are all exhausted at the end of each day. This is a very good thing, though. We are working so hard and so diligilenty to make learning real and purposeful. One activity that has been added to our weekly agenda is something called text mapping. Since I came across the website for it, I have been anxiously awaiting for just the right time to introduce it to my students. This was our first week to try it out. It was certainly a success! Through it, the students are able to see all of the elements and devices of literature which are embedded into real stories by real authors. I have found that if students do not see the purpose or reality of what they are learning, they will soon forget it. With text mapping, the students get to see that what we learn in class is actually used by authors in stories they love. If you haven't heard of the text mapping project check it out. It's a great way to visually lay out a variety of literary elements into one lesson. www.textmapping.org

I can sense that this group of students is progressing in such a profound way. They are making connections everyday, and really working hard to prove themselves. I am so proud of what they are accomplishing on a daily basis. Last year, I had a section of my classroom wall dedicated to "Best Quotes of the Day." I did not have space for that this year, but I heard a comment from one of my sweet friends today in class that surely would have made the cut. He asked me if sarcasm was a literary device. The reason I found this so delightful was because previously in the week as I was planning for this text mapping activity and searching the text for literary devices, I came across many passages of sarcasm. I highlighted those to discuss with the class. After deliberating for a moment, I decided to not discuss sarcasm as something an author uses. Not because, authors don't use it to create great stories, but moreso because it just didn't fit with the specific elements we have been discussing. When my student found those sarcastic passages today and asked why they weren't considered literay devices, I chuckled and told him my story. We have a great time collaborating in class. I learn just as much from my students as they learn from me. We are a family of learners just breaking the surface! I am blessed beyond measure to share these experiences with such a great group of students. Loving what I do everyday, makes everyday great!

Below are a few snapshots from today as the students worked in groups to create their text mapping "scroll."

Morgan Phillips is reading our non-fiction connection, TOYS. We are becoming THIEVES in our non-fiction reading this year. Check out non-fiction literature cirlces (thieves) on google for more information. We love it!

Taylor Cutrer enjoys Toys, by Henry Holt. It is a perfect connection to our
 fiction novel, Holes, and our upcoming Invention Convention

Group 1 is working hard during a "text mapping" activity to locate literary devices within our Holes text.

Group 3 searches for devices such as irony, flashback, foreshadowing,
sensory details, and figurative language within their scroll.