Advanced 10

I have dislexia.

I was in classes that helped me with reading from 2nd to 5th grade. I tested out of RSP when I went to middle school but still struggled with reading. My 8th grade English teacher refused to let me go into advanced English or Spanish when I went on to high school.

Now I teach advanced English. This is insane to me. Don't get me wrong - I LOVE it. I've had advanced 11 for a few years now and l.o.v.e. it.

This year in my mail box I got the memo that I would be teaching Advanced 10. I was a little shocked and then progressively excited.

I found out what the books are and now I'm interested in adding two more supplemental books to the list. We have four books for supplemental reading and I would like to be able to let students choose four - these are the four that are already on the list

Joy Luck Club
Native Son
All Quiet on the Western Front
Things Fall Apart

Core Lit:
Of Mice and Men
Night
Julius Caesar
Animal Farm

If you were going to add two titles what would they be?

It's world lit - I was kinda hoping for a good piece with a latino/a background.

Thoughts?

Imagery assignment

if you get the chance to teach Shakespeare's Julius Caesar - you have to rock this assignment.

The kids had a blast. i let them use a whole hour to finish. there was part of me that thought i should be doing something more "academic" but they were really looking deeply into the text and having a good ol' time. so we kept working.

So here is what you do.

Begin by reading Act II scene ii and address the fact that Calpurnia has this crazy dream - really it's a nightmare - about Caesar dying. She begs him to stay in the house and not go to the senate. so he tells her to calm down and deal with it. This does not go so well for Caesar. Very important lesson - Men: Listen to your wife!

So my kids go bonkers talking about what a wicked dream that must have been. So i had them pick a line from her little warning and draw it. Most of them picked the line about fierce fiery warriors fighting in the clouds and their blood falling like rain on the capitol. The boys were loving this!

Here is the speech for a little reminder

CALPURNIA Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies,
Yet now they fright me. There is one within,
Besides the things that we have heard and seen,
Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch.
A lioness hath whelped in the streets;
And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead;
Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds,
In ranks and squadrons and right form of war,
Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol;
The noise of battle hurtled in the air,
Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan,
And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets.
O Caesar! these things are beyond all use,
And I do fear them.

we had a great time. i'm trying to pick the best ones to go up on the wall. what little wall space i have left. :)