What We Are
READING
What are we reading this year?
This year we are going to be reading some great stories from a combination of genres: drama, young adult, historical fiction, and dystopia.
I Must Betray You
by Ruta Septeys
Fahrenheit 451
by Ray Bradbury
Oedipus Rex
by Sophocles
Antogone
by Sophocles
WHY DO WE HAVE TO READ THESE BOOKS?
We read whole class novels and plays so that we may have a common experience together. When we can experience a story together, we can discuss the big life questions that the story makes us think about, we can argue about decisions made by the characters, and we can enjoy the surprises, thrills, and tragedy together as a community.
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These books have brought discussion, debate, and controversy; they teach lessons across the generations that have read them.
WHY CAN'T I JUST READ WHATEVER I WANT?
YOU CAN and you WILL!
There is absolutely no stopping you when it comes to independent reading. In fact, we will be reading independently for 10 minutes at the beginning of English class. That adds up to 40 minutes per week in class. You will also be reading an additional 30 minutes a day outside of English class. It doesn't have to be in one 30-minute period. It can be broken down into smaller increments. Maybe you have 10 minutes on the bus ride home or 15 minutes in study hall, or maybe you want to read before you go to bed. Whatever works best for you as long as you are reading. Reading whole class novels DOES NOT MEAN YOU STOP READING OTHER THINGS! The books we are reading serve a specific academic purpose for us - your reading for fun and enjoyment should never stop.
READING POLICY
What We are Studying in English
We will be studying World Literature which includes poetry, plays, stories, memoirs, songs, art, pop culture, etc. I will also be showing films and film clips. Some of these films are rated G/PG/PG-13/R. As with all my curriculum I have chosen to show these based on their value in the classroom. Not only the main themes of the films will be important, but also the music, language, sights, clothing, customs, and culture of the time we are studying. I want to encourage students to read critically, write consciously, speak clearly, and tell their truth. With that I want them to be critical viewers of media, including print, internet, television, video, social media, and other digital spaces. Our classroom is a safe place to develop these skills.