learning letter

This has been one of my favorite classes at EWU.  Not because it was the most fun but because I have learned the most in it.  Everything we did in this class had a purpose and was directly related to the class.  Many class I have taken have had so much busy work or assignments that didn't relate to what we should have been learning.  Teaching literature to adolescence was always the focus. 

We got to work with a lot of adolescence literature.  We all got to pick one book and present it to the class.  Not only did this help me get in the mindset of figuring out how to use the book I picked in a classroom, but also we got to learn about so many more books we maybe hadn't read.  It gave us exposure and knowledge of books that are available out there.  

There were five books that were assigned as text books.  Each student picked a book and had to present a lesson on that book.  We all had to read each book though, and participate in each lesson.  This was another great way to think about how we can use each of those books in the classroom.  I especially liked the variety of the books.  The lessons and reading opened my eyes as to what can be used in a classroom.  I had never read a graphic novel and never would have guess that I would like it, but I did! 

I really liked the beginning part of the quarter that got us thinking about different educational theories.  I don't think I have had that much exposure to that many theories in any other class.  Usually the only people we hear about in education classes are the old theories such as Blooms taxology.   This was a good chance for us as future teachers, to know what we want out of our classroom.  My favorite theory was on differentiated instruction. 

From this class I have gained a lot that I will be able to take to my classroom with me.  I really want to focus my efforts on using differentiated instruction in my classroom.  I think that learning juts a little bit in our classroom has got me reading on my own about approaches other teachers have used.  It still isn't going to be easy to me or always make sense but the more I work at it the easier it will get.  By coming to class, reading the texts, and participating in the discussions I have learned a lot for my classroom.  I will have a better understanding of what I want to happen.  I will have a bigger repertoire of books to choice from for my students.  If I have a particular student looking for a book I will know a special book for that student. 

 

 

 

What a terrible story!!!  To me reading this book was like sitting through several hours of the commercials of the kids who are malnourished in Africa, or the dogs and cats that have no homes.  This book really did give me bad dreams.  I haven't read a lot of novels about concentration camps.  Of course as a history major, I do know the awful things that happened.  I didn't enjoy reading this book.  I do agree with all the critics that it is a good book.  To me this was like how Kirsten explained that she can faint when things get too graphic.  This was that kind of book to me.  The worst part about this book was that you can't tell yourself that it isn't real. 

I was amazed my the love Elie had for his father.  Even when people told him to stop taking his father food when he couldn't move, Elie still took him food and coffee.  I would like to think I would do the same, but even in the book there are parts where sons give up on their fathers. 

I don't know if my instinct to live would be strong enough to live through something like that.  I would have given up early on in the beginning.  The fear of being burned or beat to death would consume me.  There was one part where they had to run so much in a blizzard and they had to keep each other awake so they didn't freeze to death.

I just can't fathom how people could treat each other like that.  I don't allow my husband or son to kill bugs.  I can't stand people who make their animals sleep outside.  I want to have a pet cow and let it in the house and I would give it baths.  This book is just scary!  I really hope nothing like this ever happens again.   

romeo and Juliet

Confession:  I have never read Shakespeare! 

To read this story I had to read each scene with a scene by scene summary.  I really struggle with the language.  I even struggle with just British literature.  I could be confused by a southern accent:)This is so difficult for me.  I have avoided Shakespeare all my life, and until this class I have succeeded!

Sure I know the story of Romeo and Juliet.  I haven't seen the movie,s but I have been alive long enough to hear the story from others.  I have to admit though I was checking my Netflix and HBOgo account to see if it was available.  I can't even imagine a high school class reading this. It would have to be done with a movie for me to understand any of it.  I really wonder what the Hell is wrong with me and why I can just figure it out.  It seems funny to me that I will have a minor in English and be able to teach it but can't figure out Shakespeare.  I don't know what I will do if someone asks me to do a unit on him.  I guess we watch the movie!!!! :) 

My reading the summary with the text I at least understood what was happening but I still wouldn't be confident that I could read any other Shakespeare without an aid.  When I read the summary, it was just your basic love story.  They love each other, but shouldn't or can't and he dies.  Just like the Notebook... He loves her and her parents won't allow it because he's poor.  They find each other and she looses her mind.  I guess we do know Romeo and Juliet's love didn't take them together. I guess there must be a reason why almost every high schooler has read Shakespeare's stories.  I just though it was another love story and love stories are so predictable! 

Edgar Allan Poe - The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pffaal

What an interesting story!!!  This really reminded me of The Wizard of Oz.  Hans Prrall was being cared off in an air balloon to a different world, and comes back to tell his story.  Of course, when he gets back they don't believe him, but the read is left to guess if it really happened or not.  The story is about Hans, who says that he went to the moon to get out of some murders that he committed.  he hopes that his wild story will get him out of the charges. The city officials decide that they should pardon him because of his story, but apparently the messenger  goes missing.

I loved the descriptions of space as he was leaving Earth.  I also liked that Poe recognized when Hans' goes up into space his breath would become labored or that he would have pain.  I also liked that it was a day by day account of what was happening.  I liked that when Hans came back that his balloon was covered in paper from Holland, and the paper wasn't from the moon.  This was the reason the officials thought Hans couldn't have went to the moon. 

I didn't like the density of the story.  It was hard to read the first time through.  I started to read it but soon found my mind drifting to other things and I wasn't able to stay with the story.  I had to read a summary and then go back to read the story to fully understand what was happening.  Also, with a class discussion it helped me fill the holes to what I was confused about or not getting. 

So basically, I liked the story line.  But I wish it was easier to read and maybe even just shorter.  I think the story still could have been good if it was cut down by a third.