I teach a great group of tenth grade students who keep me on my toes every day! My English 10 class is made up of a wide range of learners, but they are joy to teach and are always willing to jump into the activity for the day. I love seeing them bring their own experiences and knowledge to the class, while also fostering an environment that allows them to support and build up their classmates.
Many of the activities and assignments we complete are creative, opinion-based assignments that ask students to think outside the box and bring their own life experiences into their formal learning.
There is nothing like the light bulb moment when a student finally clicks with what you are discussing in class. While many are not "at grade level," my students are bright, engaging, and clever in their own ways, and I love channeling that energy into the right direction so that they can all make their own improvements.
My Project
Students will use the novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson to complete a modern novel unit. This text is a relevant, relatable, and compelling story that centers on issues teenagers face daily. With a strong female protagonist that girls can identify with and that boys can learn from, this novel explores why a young adult might choose silence in the face of great inner turmoil. It explores common experiences that many modern teenagers face: isolation, bullying, peer relationships, parental/adult relationships, traumatic life/emotional experiences, the high school experiences, guilt/blame/self-harm, and the ultimate transformation that is inevitable and so very important for young adult protagonists.
Students will explore how their own personal experiences relate to and are reflected in Melinda's journey of self-discovery and healing.
This text will be paired with the classic novel The Scarlet Letter that contains many of the same themes.
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