Day 16: A Classical Moment

 
    A classic is considered to be a work of art that over a period of time can still be considered of the highest quality in its field. While classic literature is by no means everyone's cup of tea, we can learn a lot from the writing styles and thematic choices authors made in the past. While books today might be considered more kid and user-friendly, due to the high action and at times more approachable vocabulary, the classics are a work of art. When these books were first written, authors were the most highly educated of the masses and as such their novels, became something made for the higher class or elites. While these books are still somewhat written for the highly educated, here are a few of my must-reads for anyone interested in this genre of text.

"Don Quixote is a middle-aged gentleman from the region of La Mancha in central Spain. Obsessed with the chivalrous ideals touted in books he has read, he decides to take up his lance and sword to defend the helpless and destroy the wicked."

    "Although convinced that she herself will never marry, Emma Woodhouse, a precocious twenty-year-old resident of the village of Highbury, imagines herself to be naturally gifted in conjuring love matches. After self-declared success at matchmaking between her governess and Mr. Weston, a village widower, Emma takes it upon herself to find an eligible match for her new friend, Harriet Smith."

     "Guy Montag is a fireman. In his world, where television rules and literature is on the brink of extinction, firemen start fires rather than put them out. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden. 

Montag never questions the destruction and ruin his actions produce, returning each day to his bland life and wife, Mildred, who spends all day with her television “family.” But then he meets an eccentric young neighbor, Clarisse, who introduces him to a past where people didn’t live in fear and to a present where one sees the world through the ideas in books instead of the mindless chatter of television. 

When Mildred attempts suicide and Clarisse suddenly disappears, Montag begins to question everything he has ever known. He starts hiding books in his home, and when his pilfering is discovered, the fireman has to run for his life."

"The story of the mysteriously wealthy Jay Gatsby and his love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan, of lavish parties on Long Island at a time when The New York Times noted “gin was the national drink and sex the national obsession,” it is an exquisitely crafted tale of America in the 1920s."

                                                   

     "The Grimms' Fairy Tales, originally known as the Children's and Household Tales, is a collection of fairy tales by the Grimm brothers or "Brothers Grimm", Jakob and Wilhelm, first published on 20 December 1812. The first edition contained 86 stories, and by the seventh edition in 1857, had 211 unique fairy tales"

Day 15: Making a Mess

    If you are anything like me, the writing process is more of a series of rewriting. Writing is not an easy activity. It is messy and gross and usually leaves the writer physically, mentally and emotionally tired. Writers spend hours, upon hours sitting in front of a sheet of paper or computer screen and at times have very little to show for it and that's okay. Too often young or even veteran writers give up, because of how difficult writing can be, but much like any activity, you get better at it over time. That doesn't mean you won't have writer's block come knocking at your door one cold winters day, but it does mean that over time you come to realize that not knowing what to write or what may come next in your story is part of the fun of writing.

   Too often students and other writers are afraid to get messy with their writing. So what if a plot needs to be changed, a theme is lost or a new character is needed to get your story moving in the right direction, it happens. First drafts are made to be messy and to allow the writer to try new things. So whether you're a veteran writer or a first timer, don't give up on writing. It may be hard, it may be at times a little gross, and you might feel like no one out their cares, but in the end, I promise you its worth it.   

Day 14: The Angry Learner

     Anger is a healthy and normal part of life and no one knows this better than teachers. These days young adults, lack healthy outlets to release their pent-up up frustrations and as such express their anger at times in disruptive outbursts that can halt learning for everyone around them. These angry outbursts have less to do with anything in particular and tend to stem from an inability to self-monitor and communicate their thoughts and feelings.  The challenge then when working with students is being able to feel out the situation and control your own actions and feelings, as well as those of the students around you. 

Here are a few things you can try in order to help your students get back on track and gain healthy coping skills:

1. Intervene early on: Suddenly voices are raised or the room falls into still silence. This atmosphere change can be sudden, but usually, you can tell when something is up after being with a class for a bit. This is the time to act before anything can get out out a hand. talk with students you think are at risk of outbursts, maybe switch up activities or have the student go for a walk with an adult. While not every situation will be avoidable there are usually patterns of behaviors that you can pick up on and diffuse. 
2. 1:1 or small group intervention: While not every outburst is due to a frustration towards school work, it is also not uncommon. Try your best to provide additional support or modifications/ accommodations for those students that need it in order to build academic confidence. While that isn't always possible for every situation, make students aware of when you are available or provide guidance when and where appropriate. 
3. Create an action plan with the student: While you will usually get the standard answer of I don't know, some students are willing to work with you when it comes to creating an educational goal system. Start by asking them why they did what they did and try identifying the causes. Once you and more importantly they have an idea of the source of the frustration, try coming up with a student-driven action plan.
4. Have a private discussion: Sometimes the classroom is not the best place to have a discussion. When that is the case try and get the student to meet with you after class or in the hallway when appropriate. These conversations allow students to feel like their thoughts are being heard, but are also important in keeping with classroom expectations
5. Stay calm: The most important and effective way to handle classroom disruption is to self-model calm behavior.  When handling a frustrated student avoid arguing with them or adding fuel to the fire. Be aware of tone and body language that is non-threatening and allow them to speak, while upholding classroom policies.

     While these five classroom management tricks are by no means effective 100% of the time, they can make a difference to your classroom's atmosphere. If you have any additional tips or trick, please share a comment below and I hope everyone has a safe and productive school year. 

Day 13: Spine-Tingling Topics

   Well, it is that time of year again and so I want to introduce my spooky list of haunted tales for reluctant readers. As we move ever closer to Haloween, many of us begin to gravitate towards the horror side of our DVD collections. However, this holiday season why don't you try on one of these spine-tingling tales that are sure to have you greeting the holiday season in style.
     Horror, as we all know is the genre of fiction that is made to startle, frighten or at the worst of times disgust the viewer. I for one am not huge on the blood and guts brand of horror and thus will not be including them in this must-read selection. That being said, parents and teachers feel free to browse these novels ahead of time if you are afraid they might not be a good fit for your child or students.

Without further ado, let us see what books might interest those reluctant holiday goblins and like always leave a comment if you have any books you would like to add to this list:

     "In the summer of 1982, five friends discover an ancient stone box hidden deep in the woods. They seal inside of it treasured objects from their childhoods, and they make a vow:

Never come to the box alone. 
Never open it after dark. 
Never take back your sacrifice. 

     Four years later, a series of strange and terrifying events begin to unfold: mirrors inexplicably shattering, inanimate beings coming to life, otherworldly crows thirsting for blood. Someone broke the rules of the box, and now everyone has to pay.

    But how much are they willing to sacrifice?"

     "A secret Arctic experiment becomes a frozen nightmare, when a team of scientists are set adrift on an iceberg--with a murderer in their midst, and a massive explosive charge only hours away from detonation."

    "When Poison's baby sister is stolen by phaeries, Poison sets off on an incredible and dangerous journey to get her sister back from the Phaerie Lord. But as Poison travels to the Realm of Phaerie, she discovers that her story - and her destiny - is not in her control and that she will need all her wits about her to survive. A fantasy where the power of story maybe the only thing that will save you, and where imagination knows no bounds."

     "Elizabeth Lavenza hasn't had a proper meal in weeks. Her thin arms are covered with bruises from her "caregiver," and she is on the verge of being thrown into the streets . . . until she is brought to the home of Victor Frankenstein, an unsmiling, solitary boy who has everything--except a friend.

     Victor is her escape from misery. Elizabeth does everything she can to make herself indispensable--and it works. She is taken in by the Frankenstein family and rewarded with a warm bed, delicious food, and dresses of the finest silk. Soon she and Victor are inseparable. 

     But her new life comes at a price. As the years pass, Elizabeth's survival depends on managing Victor's dangerous temper and entertaining his every whim, no matter how depraved. Behind her blue eyes and sweet smile lies the calculating heart of a girl determined to stay alive no matter the cost . . . as the world she knows is consumed by darkness. "

     "When Reggie finds an old journal and reads about the Vours, supernatural creatures who feast on fear and attack on the eve of the winter solstice, she assumes they are just the musings of some lunatic author. But soon, they become a terrifying reality when she begins to suspect that her timid younger brother might be one of their victims.

     Risking her life and her sanity, Reggie enters a living nightmare to save the people she loves. Can she devour own her fears before they devour her?"

Day 12: The Line Game

     One of my favorite down-time activities to do with students is a modified version of Erin
Gruwell's Line Game. Mrs. Gruwell worked with some of the most diverse and volatile students and over time was able to bring them together through commonality and caring. While I cannot say my teaching experiences even comes close to what she had to go through, I have modified many of her lessons
in order to help bring my students closer together and speak up about topics that they are passionate about.

     The line game is a simple lesson that pits students opinions and backgrounds against each other and reveals what they have in common. All you will need to do is either create a line (using tape) down the center of your room or I personally create stations around the room that say agree, disagree or I don't know and some questions. It is better to start out with easier questions and build up to harder topics as the groups get more comfortable, so start with things like: "Should school require you to take a fruit or a vegetable or simply have those options available for those that want them." As students move about the room to their respected spots I usually ask them why they chose to go where they did, especially those students that moved to the, "I don't know," category.  Students seem to love this modified version, because it tends to create mini-debates about the topics and most importantly there are no right or wrong answers.

    Now I do cation teachers to think before asking certain questions. In my experience this activity has brought my classrooms closer together, but that is because I think carefully about which questions I can and cannot ask and always bounce my ideas off of others prior to doing this day. Some students are more sensitive than others, some parents and schools frown upon certain topics, so use your best judgment when implementing an activity such as this. But like Hilary Swank says in the movie, Freedom Writers, "we can either sit at our desks and read through those work books or we can play a game. Either way we are here till the bell rings." So if your class is struggling to come together due to differences or if you simply want a fun and informative activity to get students excited about learning, I recommend implementing your own version of the line game.

Day 11: Lets Talk History

     I have never been big on American history. So when offered up a choice of historical fiction books as a young adult, I wasn't very impressed with my options. As a student, teachers only ever provided three types of historical fiction: Holocaust./War, Dust Bowl or Civil Rights. Little did I know as a young adult, that there are a vast variety of historical fictions out there. This ignorance stemmed more from my own personal laziness and less to do with my teachers not providing me with a choice (though it surly would have helped). 

      Today I see the importance of historical fiction as both a reading material and as a form of writing. It provides the reader and writer with the chance to see the world from another's point of view and learn about a time through lenses that fiction and fantasy simply cannot provide. But, most importantly its very, very difficult. Students already struggle stepping outside of themselves and putting themselves in another shoes without providing the restraints of time and setting. It simply stumps them, when shown how others lived and survived in the past, but provides them with information that they otherwise see has boring or useless.

So here are my top historical fiction books for the struggling YA reader. 

       Throughout World War II, in the conflict fought against Japan, Navajo code talkers were a crucial part of the U.S. effort, sending messages back and forth in an unbreakable code that used their native language. They braved some of the heaviest fighting of the war, and with their code, they saved countless American lives. Yet their story remained classified for more than twenty years.
But now Joseph Bruchac brings their stories to life for young adults through the riveting fictional tale of Ned Begay, a sixteen-year-old Navajo boy who becomes a code talker. His grueling journey is eye-opening and inspiring. This deeply affecting novel honors all of those young men, like Ned, who dared to serve, and it honors the culture and language of the Navajo Indians.

     Crisscross America — on dogsleds and ships, stagecoaches and trains — from pirate ships off the coast of the Carolinas to the peace, love, and protests of 1960s Chicago. Join fifteen of today’s most talented writers of young adult literature on a thrill ride through history with American girls charting their own course. They are monsters and mediums, bodyguards and barkeeps, screenwriters and schoolteachers, heiresses and hobos. They're making their own way in often-hostile lands, using every weapon in their arsenals, facing down murderers and marriage proposals. And they all have a story to tell.

     It's the summer of 1970. Seventeen-year-old Jean has cerebral palsy, but she's always believed she's just the same as everyone else. She's never really known another disabled person before she arrives at Camp Courage. As Jean joins a community unlike any she has ever imagined, she comes to question her old beliefs and look at the world in a new light. The camp session is only ten days long, but that may be all it takes to change a life forever.

     Set during the year preceding the Easter Uprising of 1916—Ireland’s brave but fractured revolt against British rule—At Swim, Two Boys is a tender, tragic love story and a brilliant depiction of people caught in the tide of history. Powerful and artful, and ten years in the writing, it is a masterwork from Jamie O’Neill.

     Jim Mack is a naïve young scholar and the son of a foolish, aspiring shopkeeper. Doyler Doyle is the rough-diamond son—revolutionary and blasphemous—of Mr. Mack’s old army pal. Out at the Forty Foot, that great jut of rock where gentlemen bathe in the nude, the two boys make a pact: Doyler will teach Jim to swim, and in a year, on Easter of 1916, they will swim to the distant beacon of Muglins Rock and claim that island for themselves. All the while Mr. Mack, who has grand plans for a corner shop empire, remains unaware of the depth of the boys’ burgeoning friendship and of the changing landscape of a nation.

       Life as a ship's boy aboard HMS Dolphin is a dream come true for Jacky Faber. Gone are the days of scavenging for food and fighting for survival on the streets of eighteenth-century London. Instead, Jacky is becoming a skilled and respected sailor as the crew pursues pirates on the high seas.

There's only one problem: Jacky is a girl. And she will have to use every bit of her spirit, wit, and courage to keep the crew from discovering her secret. This could be the adventure of her life--if only she doesn't get caught. . .

  

Day 10: A Stressful Time of Year

     So we made it. The first month and a half have gone by and for many of us that means a bit of breathing room before the holiday season begins. By now classroom expectations have been decided and the first few tests have came and went. Students and teachers are now in the swing of things and the school year is looking pretty good.
    As we move forward into the more hectic time of year, it is important to remember to stay positive and give praise to the little things that students do each and everyday. That is why I would like to start a Positive Notes Jar, in as many classrooms as we can. A Positive Notes Jar, for me is a place for students to share positive interactions they have seen around the school and presents those individuals with either a reward or recognition for those acts.
    This simple and effective way of supporting classroom culture can be done in many different ways, but is sure to have a positive impact and bring a little bit of light to the upcoming darker days (Where did the sunshine go). All you need is a jar or a box and some slips of papers for students to fill out with what positive acts they are seeing around the school. For a more localized Positive Notes Jar, you can use marbles or pom poms and simply keep track of when your class does something positive.

 So come on and lets bring a little positiveness to this stressful time of year