How I Lost Reading

I hope that someday soon, I’ll return to my roots of living a life of natural literacy. I also hope that as a teacher, I won’t forsake my students’ existing literary agenda for one of my own making, and allow them to build and conquer that pile of “books-to-read,” outside of the demands from the cannon.

Continue Reading →

I Don’t Believe in Shakespeare

My goal in teaching is that students first gain self-sufficiency and independence through personal growth and self-awareness. In addition, I want students to develop empathy and an understanding of their contribution to society, to see the world with humanitarian eyes. Finally, students need to build strong writing, reading, and speaking skills in order to represent themselves well in a democratic society.

Continue Reading →

Enduring Understandings from “Cathy, Queen of Cats”

I want my class to come out of a study on this chapter realizing how cultural isolation can manifest itself in things like fear, or prejudice. It is important to know that neighborhoods and people groups can gain false reputations because of a cultural gap, and that this is one of the main factors contributing to the importance of studying other cultures.

Continue Reading →