Tanka, Haiku, and PILLOW BOOK

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

This is my first attempt at trying to incorporate what I am learning in the seminar into actual teaching/learning lesson plans, but here's what I am doing with my World Literature students (12th grade).

We started with archetypes, then followed with the African novel Things Fall Apart. I mention this because so many of the proverbs and customs and traditions they use as connecting points when discussing Asian traditions, proverbs, etc.

We began Asian literature with Chinese background, and I even introduced them to the philosophies (you should have heard the discussion trying to understand the Confusious and Taoists). We read many proverbs, and are now exploring Japanese Tanka and Haiku poetry, and while there is quite a bit of resistance, the students are actually taking notes and making the effort. This may be due to my acknowledgement to them that I am trying these for the first time as well.

The one lesson that is really working, however, is the lists. I have not yet introduced them to reading The Pillow Book excerpts, or even discussing it. I have simply directed them to make lists; usually I give them two or three topics a night...and they are doing a fabulous job. Many are very simple and rudimentary, but other students are taking the time to explain and elaborate on choices. I am very interested to see how they develop these lists once we actually begin to study The Pillow Book.

If you wish to see what my students have created, we use an online journal: http://www.blurty.com/users/loveisheavy

You can see the lists they have created so far.
This is not bragging because a) as I said, many (most!) are very simplistic, and b) I'm still not certain where we're going to go with all this information, but I just thought I'd share one thing I'm doing to try to incorporate what I am learning. [Edit by="cnorth on Oct 28, 2:44:35 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

Although I work with students in middle school, I find the making of lists after learning about the Pillow Book to be dynamic and fun for my students. In many ways it really reminds me of a blog-like form of literature, which gains its power from its lack of rules. It is interesting to share what you are doing in your classes and I thank you for trying new and different ways of teaching your students so that we all may learn from your efforts.

[Anonymous]

What a great idea! I, too, was struck by the Pillow Book as a great tool to launch student writing. In fact, that is what I based my curriculum project on. I'm glad to see that others are using it as well, and with success. I think that something as simple is listing can lead to imaginative, colorful, and really interesting writing.

[Anonymous]

RE: The Pillow Book

I introduced The Pillow book (Makura no sooshi) excerpts to my high school students. Before I handed out the excerpts, I showed the video about a Heian period court scene from The Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari) for 3 minutes to give my students help with understanding the historical background visually. We read the 1st chapter together, then I let them draw a picture of their most favorite season. I also gave them time to write a short essay about the favorite season.
The next thing was homework assignments: reading 4 chapters (Adorable things, Elegant things, Hateful things, and Things that make one's heart beat faster), and writing a report about their own experiences and comments comparing with the excerpts. By writing a report, they re-discovered themselves, and they were aware of the hitorical background and culture. It also gave me the chance to know my students better individually, how they think and feel about certain things.
In class, I asked them to list 5 things and 5 reasons for each 4 topics. During the process most of them were thinking hard but enjoying reasoning things out. After everyone made the lists, they enjoyed sharing their comments and discussing.

8)

[Anonymous]

I really like your idea of having your students create lists before they start reading "Pillow Book". I went and looked at some of your students work and I think they did a good job. They seem to have the idea. I loved the range of haikus - from birds to football.

[Anonymous]

I think your activity sounds fantastic. I thought about starting my own "Pillow Book", but never thought of having my students do one. I am excited to share this amazing piece of literature with my students. To have a writing project they can actually enjoy writing and creating their own history, that is a project to remember.

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