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wahoo
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 1889
Location: Starfleet Academy
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 Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 8:23 am Post subject: Reaching Out |
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So, if anyone's interested, I was thinking about a book discussion thread, but not just any books, the books on the school system's curriculum. If every child in our school system had an adult with whom to discuss their reading assignments, then maybe we'd be a stronger, smarter community.
You may not have a child in the system; I don't. But, we all know kids who go to school. Wouldn't it be great if literature could bring us all closer and reinforce our goal of educating everyone?
Just a hair-brained idea. But I thought I'd throw it out there as a way to begin bridging the gap between schools and regular citizens. Become involved in your school system and make your tax dollars go a little further...without having to run a bake sale or attend any meetings.  Sort of a non-invasive way to connect with our students.
It might also be fun. I have to read the same books every year, it'd be nice to get some fresh, adult perspectives on their themes and relevance in today's world.
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Tarheel
Joined: 21 Aug 2006
Posts: 16565
Location: South Boston
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| Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 8:27 am Post subject: |
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good idea...
What are some of the books in the curriculum?
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justme
Joined: 12 Jun 2008
Posts: 1083
Location: Halifax
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| Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 8:30 am Post subject: |
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| I love to read. I agree with you about needing some fresh perspective on oft-read books. Post your list so we can get started. My general classes will start on Bridge to Terabithia in another week. |
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dtalbott
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Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 13671
Location: Got a one-way ticket, going the wrong way.....
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| Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 8:35 am Post subject: |
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| justme wrote: | | I love to read. I agree with you about needing some fresh perspective on oft-read books. Post your list so we can get started. My general classes will start on Bridge to Terabithia in another week. |
If I remember correctly, as a student who loved to read, I really liked teachers who assigned books that had been made into a movie.
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justme
Joined: 12 Jun 2008
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Location: Halifax
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| Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 8:38 am Post subject: |
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| The first thing the students ask about is the movie. Unfortunately (for them), I don't have a VCR/DVD player or a TV in my room. So, we always discuss the book first and then I try to round up the technology. |
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wahoo
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 1889
Location: Starfleet Academy
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| Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 8:40 am Post subject: |
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I don't teach this one, since I'm strictly ninth grade now, but I thought that we could start with the eleventh grade stuff because they take the SOL.
11th grade:
Of Mice and Men
A Raisin in the Sun
The Scarlett Letter (I think some still cover this one).
To Kill a Mockingbird
10th grade:
Huck Finn
Julius Ceasar
9th grade:
Animal Farm (CP)
Wish You Well
The Outsiders (G)
The Miracle Worker
Children of the River
The Hobbit (honors)
The Black Pearl (G)
Romeo and Juliet
When I get the updated lists, I'll post them correctly.
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dtalbott
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Joined: 25 May 2006
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Location: Got a one-way ticket, going the wrong way.....
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| Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 8:47 am Post subject: |
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Where's Catcher in the Rye?
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wahoo
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 1889
Location: Starfleet Academy
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| Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 8:50 am Post subject: |
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| dtalbott wrote: | | Where's Catcher in the Rye? |
I read this every summer. It may be too racy for our school system. Don't know. Holden is a true lost soul and rebel, someone many of our students might relate to.
I'd like to update some of our lists, but budgets prevent that.
I think Ender's Game should make it onto the 9th grade list, but new books are expensive.
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Tarheel
Joined: 21 Aug 2006
Posts: 16565
Location: South Boston
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| Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 9:01 am Post subject: |
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Reading is so good for you. It stimulates every part of the brain, it is like a brain workout of sorts.
I encourage people to read, and read often. biographies and other forms of non fiction are my favorites, but fiction is OK too.
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“Among natural rights are these: first, a right to life; secondly, to liberty; thirdly to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can.” ---> Samuel Adams |
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Tarheel
Joined: 21 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 9:03 am Post subject: |
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What about Pilgrims Progress? 
Seriously though...are any biographies required reading?
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“Among natural rights are these: first, a right to life; secondly, to liberty; thirdly to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can.” ---> Samuel Adams |
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wahoo
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 1889
Location: Starfleet Academy
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| Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 9:48 am Post subject: |
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| Tarheel wrote: | What about Pilgrims Progress?
Seriously though...are any biographies required reading? |
Much of that stuff is in the textbook, and often times, they are excerpts. So, I thought we could begin with more accessible texts. The eleventh graders cover American Lit from Puritan sermons, early settlers' journals, Native American treaties, right on into contemporary works.
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"Make it so!" Cpt. Jean-Luc Picard
I don't mind admitting my mistakes; I just think you should go first. |
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V
Joined: 24 Jan 2007
Posts: 1752
Location: a log cabin in Argentina
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| Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 9:56 am Post subject: |
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I love To Kill A Mockingbird.
Somehow I manage to fit a quote into almost any teaching situation.
Miss Dubose was in the spotlight last week.
Oh yeah, and the Rosetta Stone (and not because there's a language learning system with the same name).
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Last edited by V on Sat Aug 30, 2008 10:00 am; edited 1 time in total |
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dtalbott
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Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 13671
Location: Got a one-way ticket, going the wrong way.....
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| Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 9:57 am Post subject: |
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Since you are doing Tolkien, look into Heinlein and Robert Jordan.
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Patrick_Bateman
Joined: 07 Jul 2007
Posts: 3362
Location: Mostly on Facebook anymore
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| Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 10:35 am Post subject: |
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| dtalbott wrote: | | Since you are doing Tolkien, look into Heinlein and Robert Jordan. |
and here we go.
Not picking on you DT, but the problem is going to be everyone's going to want their own books. Hell, I'd love to talk about Palahniuk or perhaps The Godfather (and the book is way better than the movie)or American Psycho. But they're not for school age children. Starship Troopers is, but is not on the list. But there's going to be people gunning for the classics as well as newer stuff (Nick Hornby, David Sedaris, maybe even Stephen King). What you'll end up with is a ton of books and everyone wants something different. I know because it was tried on another board I go to and someone had to step in and run it.
If wahoo is doing it, then I'd say let her pick. Whoever wants to read the book can read and discuss. There's a few books on that list that I haven't read that I'd like to. Just my 0.02.
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dtalbott
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Joined: 25 May 2006
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Location: Got a one-way ticket, going the wrong way.....
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| Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 10:44 am Post subject: |
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We're discussing options, nothing but suggestions.
My kids will be reading from my collection, anyway.
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if I would have shot them when I first wanted to, I’d be out of prison by now. |
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