Finishing the year strong!

Summer is almost here, but all the high school English classes still have a lot to do before it's time for lazy days at the lake.  Some classes are starting new pieces of literature, and others are working finishing long units.

English 9 students are thoroughly enjoying the book!

English 9 has been spending the entirety of the fourth quarter reading the book The Book Thief.  This book takes place during the World War II era in Nazi Germany.  It is told from the perspective of a very unique narrator.  While this is the first year that this book has been taught in this class, older students might remember writing a persuasive research paper
their freshman year.  In addition to their reading, students are working on putting together a three page paper on topics of their choice.  Topics range from abortion, marriage equality, and the drinking age, to college athletes, bullying, and school lunches.

Looking at the next grade up, English 10 is finishing up their unit on poetry.  Once they turn in their projects and take their quizzes, they will be moving on to a play called Death of a Salesman.  Yes, the play is about as depressing as the title suggests.  The play will be, for the most part, read as a class.  And, of course, we can't forget that quarterly responses are due on May 8.

Some students wonder what's they'll read in years to come

The Juniors will also be reading a play, and by the same author, no less.  This play is called The Crucible, and it is a story about the Salem Witch Trials.  Actually, that's only half correct.  Those who remember learning what the term "allegory" means will understand what I mean when I say that it is a story that uses the Salem Witch Trials to talk about the United States around the 1950's.

Finally the Seniors, who are even closer to summer than the rest of us, are also reading an allegory.  The name of this one will probably be familiar to all of you:  Animal Farm.  They will be finishing up this week and then doing projects next week, leading up to a grand debate between barn animals.

High school kids--you are are so close and yet so far.  You can see the finish line, but you are not quite done with the race.  So, I leave you with this countdown clock, not to encourage you to put your mind in summer mode early, but rather to remind us all that time is ticking and we should use it to its fullest before it runs out!


Countdown Clocks