Unit Chunkin'

To be honest, I was feeling overwhelmed.  However, the idea of holding each other accountable sort of made me focus and think, "I need to focus on X, Y, and Z."  The last class, Ramina and I decided to email each other on Monday to sort of keep tabs on one another.  "I've done this so far.  What do you think about this?"  It helped a lot.  In addition to keeping tabs, I think the thing that helped me to sit down and narrow my unit down to a certain concept was a web mapping.
I looked at the handout that Sarah passed out a few classes ago, and then I looked at the one Ramina created.  I opened my laptop and decided to create a web, print it out, and use it as a tool in helping me think.  I knew from the beginning that I wanted to do a Multi-genre Research project.  So, I started to think, "I want to guide my kids and provide them with as much assistance as I can offer them, and then slowly 'ween' them away from having to need me, and allowing them to grow as researchers, thinkers,  and writers."  The problem, I guess, is that I over think things.  So, as I planned my six week unit, I thought, "Ok, I want to focus on psychoanalysis, and PTSD.  Can we, then, use Multi-genre as a tool to conduct research on PTSD?"  This is different, doable, and awesome!  The thing is, after I printed my unit "chunk" to turn in, I began to look at what my chunk is lacking.  So, I think, what genres are my kids familiar with?  Perhaps, it's best to assume that they know nothing at all, and teach different genres so that they are familiar of different conventions, and so that they can have options.
I guess, as I begin to create and draft my unit, I stop and think of everything that it lacks and ways in which I can include these things in my unit, but not do so in an overwhelming way.
On another note, I just read the first sixteen pages of Tom Romano's new book, "Fearless Writing," Awesome!!!  If I knew how to create emoticons on this thing I'd totally type a little "thumbs-up" guy.  Get a copy :)