I messed up BIG! Help!

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Literature Teachers Chatboard

I messed up BIG! Help!

by BethAnn

Jan 28, 2010

I teach 6th grade L.A. When I was taking children's lit in college, I read The Silent Boy by Lois Lowry. I ran across it at the book store, remembered it as a good book, bought it, and started reading it to my 6th graders.

Well, yes, it is a good book; however, I don't remember some "mature" aspects of the book.

There are insinuations regarding an illegitimate baby. There was one part in the chapter where the main character caught the neighbor boy and a hired girl in the barn. The books says something about the girl having to tie her apron. I changed that part and said that the girl saw them kissing.

Should I omit, add, and reword to make it more appropriate? Should I finish the book as it is and just focus more on the main character's role and not make a huge deal about the mature aspects?

This book is listed as 5th - 8th grade level. Maybe I am just being a prude, but this really has me stressed. I really don't know what to do.

Yes, I have...See More

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BethAnn Or should I be honest and tell the kids that I made a mistake in choosing the book?

Jan 28, 2010

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Sara It is a good lesson to have learned. When in doubt, leave it out I'd say. You're saying you wouldn't choose this book again. For that reason leave out/soften/alter/abridge the parts that are not appropriate for 6th grade. Why read them if you think they're wrong for your class? And why risk a parent call asking why you chose this book and your trut...See More

Jan 29, 2010

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Rosie I have never heard of this book, yet I love Lois Lowry. Find out if the book is available in the school library. If so, then the students could have read it themselves.

I teach fourth grade and while researching the greek gods, at World Book online-subscription paid for the school, the students saw a picture of the Venus de Milo-naked scu...See MoreI have never heard of this book, yet I love Lois Lowry. Find out if the book is available in the school library. If so, then the students could have read it themselves.

I teach fourth grade and while researching the greek gods, at World Book online-subscription paid for the school, the students saw a picture of the Venus de Milo-naked sculpture. Lots of giggles, but I just told them if they aren't mature enough to handle greek myths we can stop. Most of them stopped, as they love our year long study of Greek Mythology.

On 1/29/10, Sara wrote: > It is a good lesson to have learned. When in doubt, leave it > out I'd say. You're saying you wouldn't choose this book > again. For that reason leave out/soften/alter/abridge the > parts that are not appropriate for 6th grade. Why read them > if you think they're wrong for your class? And why risk a > parent call asking why you chose this book and your truthful > answer would have to be - "I didn't reread it before reading > it." > > We can't do everything but that answer could lead that parent > to think you're not a thinking teacher. > > Which would be a shame for clearly you are. And you're not a > prude, you're a caring teacher. When in doubt, leave it out. > > You could even put the book aside altogether and make up some > excuse. > > >>> There are insinuations regarding an illegitimate baby. >> There was one part in the chapter where the main character >> caught the neighbor boy and a hired girl in the barn. The >> books says something about the girl having to tie her >> apron. I changed that part and said that the girl saw them >> kissing. >> >> Should I omit, add, and reword to make it more >> appropriate? Should I finish the book as it is and just >> focus more on the main character's role and not make a huge >> deal about the mature aspects? >> >> This book is listed as 5th - 8th grade level. Maybe I am >> just being a prude, but this really has me stressed. I >> really don't know what to do. >> >> Yes, I have SO learned my lesson. Never, ever, ever, read >> a book without re-reading it first. >> >> Please help me on this one! >> >> BethAnn >>

Jan 30, 2010

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