Student Blog #1 and #2: (For the first one, we will combine two weeks since we got started late. You only have to respond to one.)
Use the links below to view your classmates blogs. Read all of them and decide which question you wish to answer. You only have to respond to ONE! However, if you are intrigued by more than one question or if you wish to be supportive of a classmate, feel free to respond to more. Please be appropriate in your responses. Even if we don't agree, we can discuss issues in a mature and respectful manner. Also remember that spelling and grammar counts!!!
Annie: http://annieliterature.blogspot.com/
Max: http://maxdeutz.blogspot.com/
Hannah: http://hannahbharrison123.blogspot.com/
Jessica: http://jessbakaa9.blogspot.com/
Bo: http://Awesome1inc.blogspot.com/
Friday, March 23, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Week #2: Middle School Journal March 20th
This week we will begin to discuss more closely what it means to be a young adult and the characteristics of adolescent literature. Adolescent literature also known as young adult (YA) fiction is literature geared for audiences in the age range of 12-18 years old. According to the Exeter study, a successful YA novel "deals with emotions that are important to young adults." A strong YA novel should touch kids where they live and help them to maneuver through the difficult decisions that are part of growing up. With this in mind, reflect on your own experiences as a young adult, especially those middle school years that can be trying. What are some of your fondest memories of middle school? What are some of the worst memories? Reflecting back on those memories, what are some of the important themes, topics, concepts that you believe should be addressed in YA literature.
Middle school was more years ago than I care to admit so my memories will be less detailed than yours, but there are some things that do stand out. I remember feeling really scared my first day of 6th grade at the Junior High in Marshall, but I also remember feeling excited and more grown up since my mom let me wear lip gloss. I remember that this was a time for experimenting with hair, makeup and clothes, and trying to figure out who I was. Unfortunately, during the early 90's, some of the styles were not very attractive. Imagine thick teal eyeliner. I remember my friend's father telling us that we looked like we had mold growing on our eyes.
My middle school years were also a time that helped to construct some of the values/morals that I still believe in today. One night during my 8th grade year, my parents came into my room and woke me in the middle of the night. Their faces were angry and I was startled, fearful and unsure of what was going on, but I knew it was going to be bad. They asked me if I had been shop lifting with my friend or knew that my friend was shoplifting. I quickly told them that I wasn't involved, but unfortunately, I did know that it was going on. My friend just that day had told me what they had done and asked if I wanted them to "pick up" anything for me. My parents were fairly strict and saw my knowledge of the events as an implication of guilt so even though I did not participate, I was still in trouble. However, being in trouble wasn't the part that hurt the most. The part that was devastating was the betrayal I experienced. My friend had told her parents that I had given her the idea and told them to go and steal things for me. Basically, when the store caught her she told her parents that I put her up to it so she wouldn't get into as much trouble. To this day, I suspect that her parents still think that I was the one who instigated the stealing. However, my parents supported me and believed I was telling the truth. Of course, they pointed out that if I had told them right away, I never would have been blamed for it in the first place. This was a tough lesson to learn.
Middle school was more years ago than I care to admit so my memories will be less detailed than yours, but there are some things that do stand out. I remember feeling really scared my first day of 6th grade at the Junior High in Marshall, but I also remember feeling excited and more grown up since my mom let me wear lip gloss. I remember that this was a time for experimenting with hair, makeup and clothes, and trying to figure out who I was. Unfortunately, during the early 90's, some of the styles were not very attractive. Imagine thick teal eyeliner. I remember my friend's father telling us that we looked like we had mold growing on our eyes.
My middle school years were also a time that helped to construct some of the values/morals that I still believe in today. One night during my 8th grade year, my parents came into my room and woke me in the middle of the night. Their faces were angry and I was startled, fearful and unsure of what was going on, but I knew it was going to be bad. They asked me if I had been shop lifting with my friend or knew that my friend was shoplifting. I quickly told them that I wasn't involved, but unfortunately, I did know that it was going on. My friend just that day had told me what they had done and asked if I wanted them to "pick up" anything for me. My parents were fairly strict and saw my knowledge of the events as an implication of guilt so even though I did not participate, I was still in trouble. However, being in trouble wasn't the part that hurt the most. The part that was devastating was the betrayal I experienced. My friend had told her parents that I had given her the idea and told them to go and steal things for me. Basically, when the store caught her she told her parents that I put her up to it so she wouldn't get into as much trouble. To this day, I suspect that her parents still think that I was the one who instigated the stealing. However, my parents supported me and believed I was telling the truth. Of course, they pointed out that if I had told them right away, I never would have been blamed for it in the first place. This was a tough lesson to learn.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Week #1: Journal
Journal: What is your favorite book of all time? What impact did it have on you?
I've been asked several times by students "What is your favorite book?". This is never an easy question to answer since I have many favorite books, plus what is my favorite today might change tomorrow depending on my mood or circumstances in my life. However, there are several books that always make my top ten: Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter series, Hunger Games series, 19 minutes, The Kitchen Boy, Janet Evanovich series, The Notebook, The Other Boleyn Sister, etc. so I will choose to write about one of the books that I have read most recently. A book that I have recently recommended to students is the novel Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. (Again the book is better than the movie!) The book is set in the depression era and begins with a flashback of a memory about a violent murder remembered by the main character, Jacob, who is now ninety years old. We are not told who committed the murder. The book returns to the elderly Jacob who is frustrated with being stuck in an "old folks home" with "young folks clucking" around him. He tries to forget the memory of the murder and instead reminisces about the days when he was young and working for a circus. He did not intend to work for the circus, but due to his parents untimely death and lack of money to continue with college, he found himself taking care of the animals, particularly one stubborn elephant, on a circus train full of interesting characters. The novel opens your eyes to a world rarely seen by those outside of the tight familial like circle of circus performers, and its plot twists and action make it difficult to put down. With romance, action, conflict, and more, this book appeals to a wide audience.
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