tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post1121835990582485929..comments2023-08-08T05:02:50.109-04:00Comments on Tonja's Musings: If I Were a High School English Teacher...Tonjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652479946102909276noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post-90878501540541833612012-07-14T03:20:25.390-04:002012-07-14T03:20:25.390-04:00I forgot about all the prep that goes into AP cour...I forgot about all the prep that goes into AP courses. The good news is that she may place out of some college courses later. Sorry, I just had summer school on the brain, because my younger son is taking it at a local college. Take care Tonja. JulieEmpty Nest Insiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10074223969046687064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post-18036726292447796742012-07-12T10:36:29.752-04:002012-07-12T10:36:29.752-04:00Will do. Thanks for visiting.Will do. Thanks for visiting.Tonjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08652479946102909276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post-18205178235496999702012-07-12T10:35:58.516-04:002012-07-12T10:35:58.516-04:00The grading and assignments at my daughter's s...The grading and assignments at my daughter's school (which is supposed to be a very good public school compared to others in the area) seem punitive to me. There doesn't seem to be any intention to lift the kids up and give them confidence.Tonjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08652479946102909276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post-49957325291286022532012-07-12T10:33:49.008-04:002012-07-12T10:33:49.008-04:00That is a mess. I think they need continuity espe...That is a mess. I think they need continuity especially with languages.Tonjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08652479946102909276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post-72851891132929022102012-07-12T10:31:38.285-04:002012-07-12T10:31:38.285-04:00We have a stack of books we're going to read t...We have a stack of books we're going to read together.Tonjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08652479946102909276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post-69861291081480928422012-07-12T10:29:54.491-04:002012-07-12T10:29:54.491-04:00You're right, maybe it is good that they have ...You're right, maybe it is good that they have to read harder works. I honestly think this school assigned Crime and Punishment for the summer reading to weed people out. I don't think that's right.Tonjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08652479946102909276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post-5882536724975567692012-07-12T10:27:35.816-04:002012-07-12T10:27:35.816-04:00That is interesting. I always get Tolstoy and Dos...That is interesting. I always get Tolstoy and Dostoevsky mixed up.Tonjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08652479946102909276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post-87736528785403452542012-07-12T07:45:04.931-04:002012-07-12T07:45:04.931-04:00Agreed about Dostoevsky being a bit heavy. Also, I...Agreed about Dostoevsky being a bit heavy. Also, I was never able to appreciate his brilliance. I read The Brothers Karamazov and called it quits on him. I read enough about him to know that he wrote... what was it? Was it Crime and Punishment? Anyway, he wrote one of his 'masterpieces' to pay off some gambling debt. The story I heard was that the publisher was serializing it and so he would hand it in in installments, so he just kept handing them in week after week and would collect his checks. It wasn't until his publisher told him to stop ripping him off and to finish the story that it was complete.<br /><br />Anyway, interesting guy I suppose.<br /><br />Sounds like the world better watch out for your daughter when she's unleashed into it.Rusty Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09887821877521181811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post-50385332355057949342012-07-11T22:07:43.778-04:002012-07-11T22:07:43.778-04:00LOve This Dear! i enjoyed seeing it, Thanks For Po...LOve This Dear! i enjoyed seeing it, Thanks For Posting ♥<br /><br />Mwaks!<br /><br />If you have a minute, please check out my blog and follow me if you liked it. I'll appreciate it so much! Thanks!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://blowarainbow.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Blow a Rainbow</a>Priscillahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16815831192838634113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post-2566236872929000292012-07-11T21:31:40.097-04:002012-07-11T21:31:40.097-04:00I completely agree with your ideas about AP Englis...I completely agree with your ideas about AP English - short stories, essay choice and the critique process beginning over the summer unless the teacher plans on doing peer critique sessions and two rewrites, grading the final package that shows all the improvements from rough draft through final draft . . .that makes more sense to me.Tyrean Martinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15356604721537744361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post-29708512610784672182012-07-11T19:45:46.945-04:002012-07-11T19:45:46.945-04:00My son is on a block schedule which is a nightmare...My son is on a block schedule which is a nightmare. He's working on his AP World History summer work, but there is no reason to work on his honors English (not eligible for AP in ninth grade here) until Christmas break since he doesn't have that class until spring. The worst part is that he was in advanced Spanish in Eighth grade, so he has to move to Spanish II his freshman year. He won't have Spanish for eight months, then he is expected to remember everything. I can't believe some of the things the schools do now. <br />I agree that the kids should at least have some choices for reading. We want them to love literature, not resent it.Ciarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15628488753277495111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post-30724251156165161092012-07-11T19:04:20.874-04:002012-07-11T19:04:20.874-04:00That's really too bad about your daughter. So...That's really too bad about your daughter. Sounds like you'd do great as her substitute teacher though! :)DL Hammonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02007260062331783715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post-60344112853923406292012-07-11T17:42:18.434-04:002012-07-11T17:42:18.434-04:00My daughter's Honors English classes allow for...My daughter's Honors English classes allow for some choice, and while they still have to read classics like East of Eden, there are more modern books on the list, too. Of course, none of them are books she would've chosen herself, which I guess is kind of the point.Dianne K. Salernihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16459839567235304842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post-3320591557786551302012-07-11T16:09:20.873-04:002012-07-11T16:09:20.873-04:00I think the best book we read was To Kill a Mockin...I think the best book we read was To Kill a Mockingbird. I loved, loved, loved Waiting for Godot. Still do.Tonjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08652479946102909276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post-65542392646865922162012-07-11T16:08:01.412-04:002012-07-11T16:08:01.412-04:00I agree.I agree.Tonjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08652479946102909276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post-35979495276940589682012-07-11T16:07:30.974-04:002012-07-11T16:07:30.974-04:00My idea is twelve stories, one essay. :) The summ...My idea is twelve stories, one essay. :) The summer reading last year was not good for my daughter. The reading would have been fine, but the detail in which the teacher wanted notes on every chapter was too much.Tonjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08652479946102909276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post-5671384447095281382012-07-11T15:58:47.236-04:002012-07-11T15:58:47.236-04:00Twelve essays sounds a bit much to do over the sum...Twelve essays sounds a bit much to do over the summer. My sister (she's 17) would throw a fit if she had to write that much for AP English. Right now, they have to do journal entries and answer some questions on two books, and she's hating that too (hasn't even started). I do think giving kids a choice would be much better than saying "read these books."Cherie Reichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post-10972398810851639412012-07-11T15:18:15.099-04:002012-07-11T15:18:15.099-04:00There's nothing worse when you witness kid'...There's nothing worse when you witness kid's imaginations and passion being killed off by over-focus on curriculum, test scores and grades.Johanna Garthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15515478890074610814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post-77523458421794747912012-07-11T13:49:28.405-04:002012-07-11T13:49:28.405-04:00Tonja, I totally agree. Give a list and let them c...Tonja, I totally agree. Give a list and let them choose, write their essay and send it in. It keeps the kid's interest and gives them needed feedback to improve. Grading isn't the necessary part, the feedback for improvement is.<br /><br />I'm not a fan of Slaughterhouse Five. I do remember having to read it. I've read and enjoyed quite a few classics. I enjoyed reading period. Summers were long, company short, and so tended to read whatever I got my hands on. <br /><br />Sounds like a good mom to counterbalance a not so imaginative teacher. <br />:-)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.siamckye.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Sia McKye OVER COFFEE</a>~Sia McKye~https://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post-59226009998779061802012-07-11T13:16:41.514-04:002012-07-11T13:16:41.514-04:00I actually loved reading the classics, still do. C...I actually loved reading the classics, still do. Can't get enough. I suddenly feel like reading some Milton.Tonjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08652479946102909276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post-57490699646546184652012-07-11T13:14:23.615-04:002012-07-11T13:14:23.615-04:00It's not summer school...it's homework for...It's not summer school...it's homework for next fall. Awesome,huh?Tonjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08652479946102909276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post-66532423743594303332012-07-11T13:13:50.096-04:002012-07-11T13:13:50.096-04:00I spent one of my teenage summers reading Tolstoy,...I spent one of my teenage summers reading Tolstoy, Kafka, and Nietzsche. :)Tonjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08652479946102909276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post-31880449985951240832012-07-11T13:11:40.218-04:002012-07-11T13:11:40.218-04:00I agree. I love reading too. We weren't given ...I agree. I love reading too. We weren't given summer reading. I just read on my own.Tonjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08652479946102909276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post-4901604157836510392012-07-11T13:07:32.103-04:002012-07-11T13:07:32.103-04:00You missed your calling! That sounds better than s...You missed your calling! That sounds better than some of the books I had to read for English class.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598482777681428179.post-33399863241079943062012-07-11T12:40:47.203-04:002012-07-11T12:40:47.203-04:00I like your ideas Tonja! Summer school should be ...I like your ideas Tonja! Summer school should be less stressful, and the right to choose option is a good one. Good luck to your daughter with her tough load. JulieEmpty Nest Insiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10074223969046687064noreply@blogger.com