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Literature Teachers Chatboard

I Need Some Help!

by Jeffery

Jul 25, 2008

Hello World,

I am a teacher in Chicago working on his Masters in Curriculum and Instruction. A step in this process is taking a Research class. I am currently doing my research on the arts and how teachers integrate into their curriculum. I have created a survey, that if you would be so kind to take, would help me immensely. It only contai...See More

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What's up? On 7/25/08, Jeffery wrote: > Hello World, > > I am a teacher in Chicago working on his Masters in > Curriculum and Instruction. A step in this process is > taking a Research class. I am currently doing my research > on the arts and how teachers integrate into their > curriculum. I have created a survey, that if you would be >...See More

Jul 27, 2008

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Suggest a play for 6th graders

by Sarah

Jul 29, 2008

The curriculum map that we made for reading has us trying to get away from the basal. We can teach the theme/skills using the basal or novels, our choice. One of our themes is Plays. What are some good plays for 6th graders to read? We have 2 that I might use from our basal, but would appreciate other suggestions.

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Steve Check out "Novio Boy" by Gary Paulson. Read it first, though, some of the themes are more high school than middle school, but if you think the students can handle a play about a "boyfriend" try it.

Aug 31, 2008

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Jodi Carlson Novio Boy is by Gary Soto, not Paulsen

Nov 10, 2010

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Breaking Dawn--anybody reading? No spoilers included

by tgs/ga/8

Aug 2, 2008

icked up my copy of Breaking Dawn last night at midnight...read until 3:00 a.m. and am currently about halfway through. Didn't imagine any of this happening.

Anybody else reading?

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inkstainkedsoul On 8/02/08, tgs/ga/8 wrote: > Picked up my copy of Breaking Dawn last night at > midnight...read until 3:00 a.m. and am currently about > halfway through. Didn't imagine any of this happening. > > Anybody else reading?

I just finished reading it and its 2:19am, I'm far to wired to sleep. unbelieveable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I coul...See More

Aug 2, 2008

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tgs/ga/8 On 8/02/08, inkstainkedsoul wrote: > On 8/02/08, tgs/ga/8 wrote: >> Picked up my copy of Breaking Dawn last night at >> midnight...read until 3:00 a.m. and am currently about >> halfway through. Didn't imagine any of this happening. >> >> Anybody else reading? > > > I just finished reading it and its 2:19am...See More

Aug 3, 2008

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Montana 1948

by tslagle

Aug 3, 2008

I am required to teach Montana 1948 by Larry Watson, and am having trouble finding any unit plans, etc. Can anyone help me! Thanks.

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Printing Book Covers?

by Suzanne

Aug 12, 2008

Has anyone printed book covers from the internet? I tried B&N and Amazon, but found that they don't display the entire cover. I was hoping to make a bulletin board with recommended titles. Any help is much appreciated... Thanks, Suz

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Ideas for novels for high schoolers

by Teri

Aug 16, 2008

This year they've combined my 11th grade reading class with the 12th grade so the novels I used last year (Meg, Night, Speak, Hiroshima) I cannot use again without the seniors shutting down. I'd love some recommendations of high interest novels (not necessarily "easy" reading) that I could use. Preferably Young Adult novels. The one I'm thinking ab...See More

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mrs.h The Samurai's Garden, A Lesson Before Dying, The Great Gatsby, Animal Farm, Catcher in the Rye

Aug 27, 2008

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The Scarlet Letter or The Great Gatsby?

by Teri

Aug 17, 2008

With our block schedule, I've been told that there's only time to read one novel in American Lit. I have to choose between The Scarlet Letter and The Great Gatsby. I'd love to hear your opinions.

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CMJ I agree; choose the one that you'd be most excited to teach especially since you have an option. Due to "common planning" in our district such individual choices are a luxury. However, I'd choose The Great Gatsby because it's shorter and lends itself to more time for discussion and literary analysis. Besides, I found that once we got into it, the k...See More

Aug 17, 2008

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kjp I would definitely teach The Great Gatsby- the characters and motivations are more accessible to kids today-- they all get the idea of thinking money solves everything. Also, it is much easier to read. You'll loose your students right away unless they are honors kids with The Scarlett Letter. It has one of the highest lexiles of all books used in c...See More

Aug 17, 2008

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Any interesting ideas for teaching Speak?

by newbie

Aug 17, 2008

I will be teaching Speak this school year, any interesting ideas for activities. I just read it and of course the theme of identity is clear, but sometimes that can seem like a really heavy topic. Any ideas to lighten this theme?

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tgs/ga/8 For what grade level?

On 8/17/08, newbie wrote: > I will be teaching Speak this school year, any interesting > ideas for activities. I just read it and of course the > theme of identity is clear, but sometimes that can seem > like a really heavy topic. Any ideas to lighten this theme?

Aug 18, 2008

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newbie I will be teaching Freshman English

On 8/18/08, tgs/ga/8 wrote: > For what grade level? > > On 8/17/08, newbie wrote: >> I will be teaching Speak this school year, any interesting >> ideas for activities. I just read it and of course the >> theme of identity is clear, but sometimes that can seem >> like a r...See More

Aug 19, 2008

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Lit Circle Schedule and Structure

by Jessica

Aug 19, 2008

This is long and rambling but bear with me please…

I start my first job teaching 7th grade Literature in September in a school that is heavy into Lit Circles. I know that there have been some posts on here as to what they are, and in reference to their efficacy....that is not my question.

I was a 6th grade Maternity LR last year...See More

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L. Swilley On 8/19/08, Jessica wrote: I > know that there have been some posts on here as to what > they [Lit Circles] are, and in reference to their efficacy....that is > not my question.

[But isn't it. See your remarks below.]

> Additionally, what do they do IN the lit circle? I know > that the idea is that they come up with...See More

Aug 21, 2008

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Teri On 8/21/08, L. Swilley wrote: > On 8/19/08, Jessica wrote: > I >> know that there have been some posts on here as to what >> they [Lit Circles] are, and in reference to their > efficacy....that is >> not my question. > > [But isn't it. See your remarks below.] > >> Additionally, what do they do IN the lit c...See MoreOn 8/21/08, L. Swilley wrote: > On 8/19/08, Jessica wrote: > I >> know that there have been some posts on here as to what >> they [Lit Circles] are, and in reference to their > efficacy....that is >> not my question. > > [But isn't it. See your remarks below.] > >> Additionally, what do they do IN the lit circle? I know >> that the idea is that they come up with questions and >> discuss, > > *** but how can you be sure they are getting >> everything they should out of it? And how can you be sure >> that they are staying on topic and not wasting time??*** > > [my emphasis]. > > Answer: You can't. And consider: > > Students have come to us ignorant of the knowledge we > want them to have. Lit circles presume that the students are > able to provide for themselves that knowledge. (If that is > so, why is anyone other than a clerk needed to maintain > discipline in the classroom?)

Lit circles are more for teaching students how to develop their own ideas than on formal Literature instruction. They are more appropriate for reading classes than English classes, in my opinion.

> > What is the teacher actually teaching in a class where Lit > circles are in progress? Is he/she teaching only how to > converse politely? If so, the lit circle can work (and the > teacher has become merely a disciplinary clerk for the > event), but if the *subject* of the conversation at the > tables is important, how can the teacher be assured *that* > is what is effected? How can he even be sure that common > sense is governing the discussion? Is the teacher able to be > a every table constantly? And even it that were possible, > what *exactly* is the student learning from his neighbor? > And isn't *exactly* what he is learning the very measure of > the course? >

Of course, the teacher should model any and all skills for the class as a whole before he/she begins Lit Circles. As for making sure the students are discussing/doing what they're supposed to...one alternative is to have one circle meet each day during SSR time. That way the teacher can sit in with each group--as a group member, not an "expert."

> The teacher is a mind thinking about the subject in a way > that he should want his students to think about it. He does > not want his students to think WHAT he thinks, but HOW he > thinks about it, the advantages and limits of that HOW. > > I will appreciate any discussion of the above points. > > L. Swilley > > > > > > > > 2.

Aug 22, 2008

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