Teaching Teens in the 21st

Are you participating?  My classes this week will be doing a project on Banned Books week. I will be assigning each group a "banned book" and they will have to preview the book and target specific sections of the book that people may find objectionable. After this task, they must write down why they thought people would want to ban the book (occult, violence, etc...) and if they agree/disagree with it being "banned." I do not tell the students in advance why it is on the list. The usually love this project, and I am excited to see their reactions again this year! check out www.ala.org for resources to use in your classroom or library!

Story Organizers! Use a story organizer to help gather some background knowledge and purpose for reading when preparing to read a short story. Your paper should be divided into three columns: Beginning, Middle, and End Students should follow this checklist when SKIMMING through the story. You are not reading it just yet! Title and author of the story. Write down any background or biographical information about the author. Read the first paragraph or two Names of characters and places Words that are repeated or set off by bold type Words that signal a change in the plot (transition words) Any questions listed at the end of the story (Reader's Handbook, 2002, p. 295). Pictures coming soon!

Book Chat coming soon!

Divergent is a dystopian novel set in Chicago. It is not the Windy City as we know it today, but a place where all of society has been divided into factions. When citizens reach the age of 16, they must choose which faction they will join. The factions represent different virtues: Erudite, Candor, Dauntless, Abnegation, and Amity. Beatrice Prior must choose which faction is right for her, and face being separated from her family forever if she chooses against her own faction. Find out what happens when Beatrice chooses her faction, leading her down a dark and dangerous path. Check it out today!