Congratulations- you have all begun your first assigned reading for the year, and completed your first writing activities. Please let me know if you have questions about class policies, the assigned work, etc. I am usually available before school & after for assistance. Remember to bring an independent reading book for class on Wednesdays and be prepared to write. We will begin with personal narratives. I have many samples of student personal narrative and memoir pieces, so see me if you would like to read through them.
Don't forget to turn in your academic honesty pledge and to complete your vocabulary.
Happy reading!
Mrs. Tyler
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Welcome back!
I hope you all enjoyed discussing your summer reading books this morning. I look forward to hearing more about your experiences as the week progresses. Remember that if you are a CP or Honor student, your summer reading essay from the world literature book you selected is due tomorrow. Please contact me with any questions you may have after reading the course expectations, and extra handouts of today's materials have been added to my school website. Remember to email me if you would like access to the course Ning.
Have a great evening & I will see you tomorrow.
Mrs. Tyler
I hope you all enjoyed discussing your summer reading books this morning. I look forward to hearing more about your experiences as the week progresses. Remember that if you are a CP or Honor student, your summer reading essay from the world literature book you selected is due tomorrow. Please contact me with any questions you may have after reading the course expectations, and extra handouts of today's materials have been added to my school website. Remember to email me if you would like access to the course Ning.
Have a great evening & I will see you tomorrow.
Mrs. Tyler
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
And the reading continues...
I just finished Adam Bagdasarian's novel, The Forgotten Fire,and found it to be a riveting telling of the horrific events in Turkey during World War I, the genocide of the Armenians. After reading this story, inspired by Bagdasarian's uncle, I am shocked that nowhere in my education was this piece of history discussed. I learned a great deal about the Holocaust that occurred in Germany, and have even studied and discussed modern genocides, but this was the first time that I learned about the Armenian history. The book opens with a quote by Hitler,"Who does now remember the Armenians?" and after reading this story of a young boy trying to survive as his home, his family and his world is destroyed around him, make me determined to learn more. It is a book that is filled with the horrors of war, but a very worthwhile read.
I somehow managed to make it through all my school years without reading Robert Cormier's The Chocolate War. I want to ask my students and myself the often used T.S. Eliot quote: "Do I dare to disturb the universe?" For the main character, Jerry, this is his goal, and he attempts this disruption by trying to stand against the secret school society that exerts itself control over the student body by assigning them "jobs" like unscrewing everything in a classroom, and a frightening teacher/administrator, Brother Leon. Cormier's work examines how hard it is to stand up for what you believe and challenges you to explore the questions raised by the ending. Again, it has material dealing with bullying, teen issues, etc., but it is a good read!
I finished Melissa Marr's Fragile Eternity, this time Seth's story. I really liked how this novel in the series fleshed out his character a lot more and separated him from just being Aislinn's really nice boyfriend, into someone with emotional depth. This novel describes Seth's journey from being a mortal into a fey-mortal (fey in the mortal world, mortal in Fairie). His growing importance to all the Fairie courts make him an interesting figure as the series continues. I look forward to seeing what happens next.
Apparently, I read The Christopher Killer back in February when I was really sick. I had a lot of deja vu moments as I was reading (and finally called the library to confirm it), and just couldn't get sucked into the story. Sometimes books are hyped, and they just aren't for you. It is very forensic which I usually like (used to be a big fan of CSI - only the original Las Vegas one, and I LOVE Bones - both the TV show and the Kathy Reich book series), but I just couldn't get into this one. I don't think I really connected to the narrative style or the main character, which made it tough to really soak in the story. If you like forensic type thrillers, this may work for you, but it wasn't for me.
Along the way, I read Iris Johansen's Eight Days to Live (part of the Eve Duncan Forensics thriller series) and couldn't put it down. It starts with Jane MacGuire's art show in Paris, and her refusal to sell a mysterious painting she's entitled, Guilt. The action starts off right away with the grotesque murder of her friend, and art show presenter, Celine, in Paris, and doesn't stop until the final showdown in Syria. It is a fast paced journey throughout Europe and the Arabian Pennisula, complete with secret societies, car chases, and double-crosses. A great summer read.
On to enjoy some more books... waiting on deck: The Gathering, Ten Things I Hate about Me, and An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England.
Keep reading!
I somehow managed to make it through all my school years without reading Robert Cormier's The Chocolate War. I want to ask my students and myself the often used T.S. Eliot quote: "Do I dare to disturb the universe?" For the main character, Jerry, this is his goal, and he attempts this disruption by trying to stand against the secret school society that exerts itself control over the student body by assigning them "jobs" like unscrewing everything in a classroom, and a frightening teacher/administrator, Brother Leon. Cormier's work examines how hard it is to stand up for what you believe and challenges you to explore the questions raised by the ending. Again, it has material dealing with bullying, teen issues, etc., but it is a good read!
I finished Melissa Marr's Fragile Eternity, this time Seth's story. I really liked how this novel in the series fleshed out his character a lot more and separated him from just being Aislinn's really nice boyfriend, into someone with emotional depth. This novel describes Seth's journey from being a mortal into a fey-mortal (fey in the mortal world, mortal in Fairie). His growing importance to all the Fairie courts make him an interesting figure as the series continues. I look forward to seeing what happens next.
Apparently, I read The Christopher Killer back in February when I was really sick. I had a lot of deja vu moments as I was reading (and finally called the library to confirm it), and just couldn't get sucked into the story. Sometimes books are hyped, and they just aren't for you. It is very forensic which I usually like (used to be a big fan of CSI - only the original Las Vegas one, and I LOVE Bones - both the TV show and the Kathy Reich book series), but I just couldn't get into this one. I don't think I really connected to the narrative style or the main character, which made it tough to really soak in the story. If you like forensic type thrillers, this may work for you, but it wasn't for me.
Along the way, I read Iris Johansen's Eight Days to Live (part of the Eve Duncan Forensics thriller series) and couldn't put it down. It starts with Jane MacGuire's art show in Paris, and her refusal to sell a mysterious painting she's entitled, Guilt. The action starts off right away with the grotesque murder of her friend, and art show presenter, Celine, in Paris, and doesn't stop until the final showdown in Syria. It is a fast paced journey throughout Europe and the Arabian Pennisula, complete with secret societies, car chases, and double-crosses. A great summer read.
On to enjoy some more books... waiting on deck: The Gathering, Ten Things I Hate about Me, and An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England.
Keep reading!
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