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.
Night
by Elie Wiesel
Fahrenheit 451
by Ray Bradbury
Paper Towns
by John Green
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 30 minutes at the beginning of English class on block days. 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
I will not place a tight filter on what is read in this class and I’m asking for your support. I hope you will talk to your child about what he/she is reading this semester. I suggest you get a copy of a book and read it if you’re concerned about the content. If you want to know more about a book your child is reading, please try the School Library Journal website (http://www.slj.com/), the American Library Association website (http://www.ala.org/), or even Amazon.com. Or call me—I’ll tell you what I know.
When you sign your name to the syllabus, you understand books won’t be banned in my classroom and your child can choose what he/she reads.
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.