“I express to my students that reading is not an add-on to the class. It is the cornerstone.”
The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller (p. 50)
Goal
I hope that students find this class to be one that teaches them communication skills, helps them to explore new ideas, encourages them to grow as a person, as a life-long reader, and a life-long learner.
Curriculum
- “Trends” is an elective designed to expose students to themes and trends in literature from 1969 to the present.
- Students may read young adult novels, dramas, short stories, and poetry.
- There will also be films dealing with teenage issues that will lead to class discussions and novel comparison.
- Active participation in class is an essential factor for success and students will be expected to bring books to class each day
- Students will read books from the curriculum, read free-choice reading books, write about literature, participate in book club discussions, and develop presentations/projects.
Grading
All grades are counted equally and averaged together.
- Free Reading Teacher Conferences
- Free Reading In-Class Reading (Actively engaged reading)
- Book Club: Book Talks/Free Reading Book Talks & Book Socials
- Book Club: Reading Deadlines
- Free Reading Page Requirements (4th qtr. Only)
Grade Updates
- Grades will be updated in a timely manner.
Homework Philosophy
- Students will have deadlines for their “book club” books.
- Students should supplement their in-class reading time with out-of-class time in order to meet the announced deadlines for their “book club” books.
- This is an elective that should not be too big of a burden on their out-of-class life, but there will be some things to take care of.
- Students will be in three-four book club sessions.
Class Website
- All of my rubrics will be posted on this website.
- Students are expected check with this site for due dates.
- If a student is absent, he/she is expected to use this website to keep up with assignments.
- Student rubrics will be posted on this website
Feel free to email me: ([email protected])
- I check my email 2-3 times each day. I do not check email from home.
- Please keep in mind that depending on what is going on in class and extra-duty responsibilities that I may have to fulfill, I may not be able to respond to your email within a matter of hours after it is sent.
- I will respond in a timely manner.
- Please be respectful in email quantity.