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Final "Exam" Blog Post

  The book I want to include in the curriculum is Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe . A common argument that I hear is “Why have kids spend time in class reading something they can easily read on their own?” and my response is this: Kids can sometimes read a book and not understand some of the subtle, but key components of the story without some guidance. Isn’t this why we have english class? To teach kids how to read books beyond their words and into the meaning that it holds and how that is constructed throughout the story? There are stories like this one that are important to not only read, but understand. It gives a different perspective and teaches empathy if you read in between the lines. Another argument that is commonly made is “Kids have to grow up and take themselves and their work seriously. I do. We expect them to.” Just because this book is classified as young adult literature does not mean that they cannot learn mature themes and topics from thi...
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A Rite of Passage

You must pass a series of tests in order to be officially instated into adulthood. These test measure resourcefulness, intelligence, independence, and functional skills.  TEST ONE 1. If your check engine light is on in your car where should you take it?  2. How long does it take to get to school/work? What time do you have to leave by in order to be on time?  3. What date do your taxes have to be filed by?  TEST TWO 1. You forgot to pay your rent this month. Do you: a. Call your mom and cry b. Ask your dad for money c. Pay your rent a day late  2. How often should you wash (or change) your sheets?  3. What do you do if someone offers you candy from the back of their van?  TEST THREE 1. Can you parallel park?  2. Does your mom still cook all of your meals?  3. Do you know the difference between a savings and checking account?  I chose these questions because sometimes people can overlook the simplest of concepts. There are also sometimes ...
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"Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe"

  I am going to start this off by saying that this is one of the best books I've ever read. From the moment I picked it up I couldn't put it back down. It gave me insight into a world that I had never seen before. What it really made me realize was that what a privilege it is to never have to deal with coming out to the people around you. It's this unsaid rule in our society that being straight is the default sexuality until proven otherwise. Straight people never have to worry about coming out, being accepted based on who you like, and never have to grapple over feeling ashamed or as if there's something wrong with you because of a preference.  After reading this book I wondered to myself if it would have had the same effect for audiences if it would have been centered around two girls. For myself personally, I don't think that this would have had the same effect. This book not only touched on being gay, but something that I think is also very important to discuss,...
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Brainstorming

  PART TWO: Weekly Blog Journal and Brainstorming      I am aiming to teach my unit plan for 5th grade and some of the goals that my lessons may connect with are 5.1.2.2 and 5.1.3.3 which talks about identifying key aspects of a story such as theme, and how characters respond to challenges. The goals also talk about compare and contrast as well.       There are many teaching resources and activities out there for “The Graveyard Book.” What’s really nice is that there’s resources available for many different grade levels as well depending on how much depth you want to get into in the book. Some connections you could make are to witch trials that happened in the history of London. You could also make connections to homeless youth and the struggles they face. Histories of graveyards could also be another connection as well.  Links:  https://www.rif.org/literacy-central/book/graveyard-book http://trinabright.weebly.com/uploads/1/3/2/6/132609...
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Unit Plan (Rough Draft Outline)

  Part Two: BLOG JOURNAL Using either the monthly template or just a regular page begin to brainstorm a rough outline of your unit plan or literary analysis essay. (If you’re writing the essay, narrow your subject down to the two books and the common themes you’ll explore.) You don’t have to have all the details here, but just a rough vision of what you’ll be covering. I will be teaching “The Graveyard Book” by Neil Gaiman.  Week One: Introduce the characters, setting, and the plot, definitions and terms. Read the preview of the book.  Week Two: Read the first half of the book. Make predictions. Make our own headstones for a character of their choice. Week Three: Read the second half of the book. See how accurate our predictions were. Start the final project for the book (creating our own covers for the book with a synopsis in our own words on the back). Week Four: Finnish up the final project and play Jeopardy trivia about questions involving the book.
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Brown Girl Dreaming JJ #2

 When I opened up this book, I wasn't sure what I was going to find. I can say that was surprised. Surprised to find that the book was written in verses, to also seeing how the book took us on a journey of one person's life that I feel like every one can find something to relate to. For this jazzy journal I decided to write a verse in response to this book... Hopes, fears, and dreams I saw reflected back at me. Someone who understood, the struggles, and frustration the wonder and fear of life in this world. Her words spoke volumes that would sometimes fall upon deaf ears, but not mine. Her words gave me solace and understanding Brown to brown  Girl to girl Dreamer to dreamer.
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Brown Girl Dreaming JJ #1

  If this book were adapted into a movie I would make it in black and white. I say this because especially for the time period that seems like all there was. Right and wrong, black man versus the white man, the rich against the poor. In order to capture these rigid lines of segregation I believe making the movie in black and white would be the best choice. I also think that when people of the younger generations look back at the civil rights movement you see the videos and pictures are black and white. To me it just makes sense to keep this theme going for sake of consistency and entertainment purposes. If the movie were to be shot in color it would take away the feeling of the time and make it feel more modern. I do think that many of the issues and topics covered in this book are still present in today's world, but in order to stay true to the book we need to set and focus the movie on the past. You also don't see many movies nowadays that are shown in black and white. I thin...
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