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Literature Teachers Chatboard

The Leisure Seeker

by Bo

Jan 27, 2011

Have any of you read "The Leisure Seeker" by Michael Zadoorian? It is ..unsettling in that it deals with growing old, yet it is a thought provoking good book. I recomment it.

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Call of the Wild - Vocabulary List

by Mark

Jan 30, 2011

As part of another project, I compiled a list of 351 potential 'vocabulary words' from Jack London's novel, The Call of the Wild.

Words are listed "in the order they appear" in the novel.

The list includes the complete sentence in which the word first appears.

The list does NOT include definitions or parts of speech.

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Seeking class novel for high 6th graders

by Cathy

Feb 8, 2011

We are studying Western World and I am looking for a great novel for the class. I have high sixth graders and would love something good for both the boys and the girls. Also, if it would go along with our SS curriculum of the western world (South America would be great) it would be even better. Any ideas? Thanks

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Pulitzer Prize books are good for High School

by Steven

Feb 13, 2011

Here's a list of every Pulitzer Prize winners. Most are great books for high school. I particularly like To Kill a Mockingbird, The Killer Angels, and The Old Man and Sea.

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A great book with NO SPARK NOTES !

by Douglas Bates

Feb 19, 2011

The Notting Hill Mystery was recently mentioned in the NY Times as the first Detective Novel written in english. Now, it's available as an eBook for $3, and as a teacher, you have permission to copy it for the classroom!

Students will have a hard time bypassing reading this book, because there are no SparkNotes, no CliffsNotes, nothing to...See More

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Douglas Bates On 2/20/11, Mark wrote:

> We'd be foolish to go get the FREE version from Wikipedia or > other web sites. > [link removed]

It was because I could not read the Wiki book that I spent hundreds of dollars to republish this book and update the artwork. As the publisher, I only make $1 per sale. I am looking to recoup my cost...See More

Feb 20, 2011

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D Bates I ePublished this book in order to make it available at a > considerably lower price than the $24 paperback. I hope you > find to be useful in the classroom.

I want to emphasize the fact that this book is eligible for *free copies* for classroom use, based on one $3 purchase per class. The Notting Hill Mystery is a great work of fict...See More

Jul 14, 2011

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Need your opinions on these novels

by Victoria

Feb 23, 2011

I teach gifted, grades 2-8. To prepare for the state tests, I've been asked to work on reading with my 6th-8th graders exclusively. I see them for about 45 minutes a day and they are at all levels of reading. Some are reading 2 grade levels below, others are reading 5 above. In addition, the classes are mixed grades. For example, in first period, I...See More

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Dawn The Giver is great. My students always love this one. City of Ember is great too. On 3/04/11, Hutch wrote: > I'm surprised they didn't like The Giver. I've done that with > my kids and they beg me for the next two in the > series.....Gathering Blue and Messenger. I love City of > Ember, I'm reading it with my daughter now and can see th...See MoreThe Giver is great. My students always love this one. City of Ember is great too. On 3/04/11, Hutch wrote: > I'm surprised they didn't like The Giver. I've done that with > my kids and they beg me for the next two in the > series.....Gathering Blue and Messenger. I love City of > Ember, I'm reading it with my daughter now and can see the > obvious connections with the giver. > > > > On 2/23/11, Victoria wrote: >> I teach gifted, grades 2-8. To prepare for the state tests, >> I've been asked to work on reading with my 6th-8th graders >> exclusively. I see them for about 45 minutes a day and >> they are at all levels of reading. Some are reading 2 grade >> levels below, others are reading 5 above. In addition, the >> classes are mixed grades. For example, in first period, I >> have 2 6th graders, 3 7th graders, and 5 8th graders. >> >> I'm looking for a high interest novel to use with everyone. >> Last year, I used The Giver and The Lightning Thief. They >> really didn't care for The Giver, but they thoroughly >> enjoyed Lightning Thief--so much that they still talk about >> it and want to read the rest of the books in the series. >> >> I've come up with some books that I personally like and >> then some books that were recommended on the internet that >> I thought might work. Can you please look over the list and >> give me your thoughts? I'm mainly concerned with whether >> it's an interesting read and whether it would be >> appropriate for the grade levels. >> >> Hunger Games (my biggest concern with this is the >> violence...however, I LOVE the book and there are many >> books in our library that the students have access to that >> are worse) >> >> City of Ember--could relate to The Giver >> >> Among the Hidden >> >> From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankwiler >> (haven't read but we have been doing an art unit and >> thought it could tie in) >> >> The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm >> >> The View from Saturday >> >> Island of the Blue Dolphins >> >> A Wrinkle in Time >> >> Freak the Mighty >> >> The Cay >> >> >>

Mar 21, 2011

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Jenni I read View from Saturday in 6th grade. My kids love it! I like it because it is a different style of writing than they are used to, as it switches perspectives several times. Vocab level is very high, and so are some of the topics discussed. It is definitely a challenging book. Our 7th graders read Freak the Mighty and The Giver, which they love b...See More

Jan 23, 2012

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Teaching Literature!

by newteacher

Feb 26, 2011

Literature Teachers,

I've never really been a big fan of literature, and I was a little disappointed to find out how much of high school English teaching is devoted to teaching literature. I like the linguistics, grammar, and writing aspect of English class, as well as its ability to give students a voice and promote self expression, and ...See More

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books4learning I'd rather teach literature than grammar and writing! Literature is easy to teach if you just learn how to ask the right questions!

First, I'd suggest a good text books about reading and evaluating literature. I find the Perrine Structure, Sound, and Sense helpful.

Second, you do not have to do tons of research, especially on th...See More

Mar 6, 2011

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Sara On 2/26/11, newteacher wrote:

Interesting post - I'd agree with you that Language Arts classes and certainly Lit classes both favor reading over writing. I've long advocated that they should be taught separately - have a Reading Class even into high school and a separate writing class.

But it's a tradition and a long story behind...See MoreOn 2/26/11, newteacher wrote:

Interesting post - I'd agree with you that Language Arts classes and certainly Lit classes both favor reading over writing. I've long advocated that they should be taught separately - have a Reading Class even into high school and a separate writing class.

But it's a tradition and a long story behind that tradition of why we try to teach writing by assigning essays about literature. When in your own classroom, you can 'tweak' things and more than a little. You'll get a reputation among the parents as 'the teacher who really teaches writing' and they'll fight to get their kids who can't write into your class.

Till then, bear up. Be careful who you tell theat 'you've never really been a big fan of literature'. (how is that? Literature has some remarkable writing in it - that has never intrigued you? Faulkner's long run-on sentences won him a Pulitzer Price)

You don't have to research the authors in depth - though when you know the little tidbits about the authors' lives it does make great stories to tell in class. But - the author's life does not always correlate with their writing - at all. Shirley Jackson denied her entire life that she had anything in mind when she wrote "The Lottery" and that the idea came to her as she pushed her baby home from the supermarket in her stroller. If you just look for how an author's life correlates with their writing, that is not even history - it's psychology. It's certainly not essential to literature to try to ascertain how the authors' lives connect to their writing.

Are your students excellent writers? Do you have something to teach them about writing? Would your co-op teacher allow you to teach some classes on writing?

If not, can you answer questions like - who is the best writer or who are the better writers just from the perspective of writing? (it's surely not Faulkner with all his run-on sentences) I've never considered that question before and some would say it can't be answered but don't let that stop you. Even questions without definitive right answers can still be asked.

Run that by your co-op teacher as a discussion question. Have a piece of writing by a recognized author at hand whose work you want to use as an example of excellent writing - totally aside from the literature that it is.

I was taught the editorial by Mary White's father written at her death was one of the greatest pieces of short expository writing. And it's March - isn't that still Women's History month? I know history's not your thing but what about the expository writing of the Women's Movements? Would she let you use that as examples of writing that in fact were not only good but effective in bringing change to society?

Let us know how it goes. You don't need to take a class in how to 'be more effective' - you need to find a way to include your expertise and your strength into the class. When you're teaching to your strength of interest, you'll be strong. (ps - if you want to take a class, take a class in either public speaking or acting - those classes help teachers more than any others.) > Literature Teachers, > > I've never really been a big fan of literature, and I was a > little disappointed to find out how much of high school > English teaching is devoted to teaching literature. I like > the linguistics, grammar, and writing aspect of English > class, as well as its ability to give students a voice and > promote self expression, and I was a horrible history > student, even in college, and I'm finding it somewhat > difficult to research the authors and writings in depth and > explain perfectly how to writer's life correlates with his > or her work, like my cooperating teacher can. Does anyone > have any suggestions for me? Are there special classes that > help English teachers learn how to teach literature more > effectively? I really wish they were separate classes. I > would rather be allowed to teach grammar, general reading > and comprehension skills, poetry, creative writing, and > expository writing.

Mar 11, 2011

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Great Pulitzer Prize Ranked by Teachers and Students

by Dawn

Mar 21, 2011

Here's a cool site that ranks Pulitzer books based on teacher and student recommendations. Looks pretty good. I wish it had grade levels too.

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Romanticism cross-curricular

by john

Mar 24, 2011

Looking for some cross curricular assignments for high level students regarding Romanticism. Specifically looking for science/math topics involving romantic philosophy.

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Gwyn The first thing that comes to me is how Romanticism was a rejection of things material, which would relate to science and the Industrial Revolution. The world is too much with us . . . Wordsworth.

Mar 24, 2011

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Asked to remove pages from a book

by Concerned

Mar 31, 2011

Some parents complained about a passage in one of the books that is part of our 7th grade curriculum (the student is not in my 7th grade class). The page talks about the female protagonist getting her period and all these feelings she is having (including her desire to touch another girl's breasts). We never read this passage aloud in the classroom...See More

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Bill Good luck. I would never want to remove pages. Sounds too controling and Big Brotherish.

On 6/12/11, Fanny Phoenix wrote: > Hello again! > Of course if would like to rather leave it and not read it in > class, I wish you good luck fighting for that too! > Yours, Fanny

Jul 2, 2011

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Tom For those who haven't read the 1995 edition (not censored by Anne's dad), it is definitely tough for seventh graders to deal with. I taught it two years ago, and the kids were almost undone by Anne's directness RE her period and her sexual longings. What really took them to the brink (this was a coed class) was the entire page Anne dedicated to a d...See More

May 10, 2013

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