10th Grade English Required Reading: what's your curriculum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at those lists, I wonder what kids in IB high school programs are reading.
Any feedback?

Odyssey
Iliad (part)
Frankenstein
Beowulf
Macbeth
1984

-9th grade IB

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1984
The Hate U Give
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Short Stories/Book TBA
The Kite Runner

Gosh, another bad list. Who doesn’t love Kite Runner, and I thoroughly enjoyed ELIC. But, let’s be honest these are books to read for pleasure. I was under the assumption that high school reading selections are supposed to expose our children to works that they would not read otherwise because of their difficulty, challenging themes or inaccessibility? In fact, English class is supposed to teach high schoolers *how* to read & analyze challenging books. Not read & analyze easy books.

There are challenging themes in each of the above. Kite Runner has the same Lexile range as Catcher in the Rye and is far above The Grapes of Wrath and A Farewell to Arms. THUG is on par with A Farewell to Arms. Just because you would read them for pleasure does not mean that the average or even bright 15 year old would. So, what would be on your list for 10th grader? Obviously it can't be anything that you would read for "pleasure" - it must be "work" and children must not like it for it to be at all worthwhile. I, for one, am thrilled that my child is being exposed to points of view and ways of writing that are not the product of the Dead White Guy canon.

Thank you. I wanted to express a similar sentiment, but you said it better. If the classics are so important to you, work with your child in your own time.

For those who against the inclusion of new viewpoints, you will hate my kids' list, which includes:

The Crucible
The Great Gatsby
Raisin in the Sun
The Poet X
Americanah

Well, I could not slog through this book myself, and I am an educated professional. Say what you will about 'contemporary' literature but books kids study in school -- in their Lit class! - should have some literary value and not just the woke theme.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1984
The Hate U Give
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Short Stories/Book TBA
The Kite Runner

Gosh, another bad list. Who doesn’t love Kite Runner, and I thoroughly enjoyed ELIC. But, let’s be honest these are books to read for pleasure. I was under the assumption that high school reading selections are supposed to expose our children to works that they would not read otherwise because of their difficulty, challenging themes or inaccessibility? In fact, English class is supposed to teach high schoolers *how* to read & analyze challenging books. Not read & analyze easy books.

There are challenging themes in each of the above. Kite Runner has the same Lexile range as Catcher in the Rye and is far above The Grapes of Wrath and A Farewell to Arms. THUG is on par with A Farewell to Arms. Just because you would read them for pleasure does not mean that the average or even bright 15 year old would. So, what would be on your list for 10th grader? Obviously it can't be anything that you would read for "pleasure" - it must be "work" and children must not like it for it to be at all worthwhile. I, for one, am thrilled that my child is being exposed to points of view and ways of writing that are not the product of the Dead White Guy canon.

Thank you. I wanted to express a similar sentiment, but you said it better. If the classics are so important to you, work with your child in your own time.

For those who against the inclusion of new viewpoints, you will hate my kids' list, which includes:

The Crucible
The Great Gatsby
Raisin in the Sun
The Poet X
Americanah

Well, I could not slog through this book myself, and I am an educated professional. Say what you will about 'contemporary' literature but books kids study in school -- in their Lit class! - should have some literary value and not just the woke theme.

I am not sure if you are supporting Americanah or not by your statement. Based on critical reviews and awards, Americanah has literary value.

Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction, 2013
Listed among the New York Times Book Review’s “Ten Best Books of 2013”
Winner of The Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize for Fiction, 2013
An NPR “Great Reads” Book, a Washington Post Notable Book, a Seattle Times Best Book, an Entertainment Weekly Top Fiction Book, a Newsday Top 10 Book, and a Goodreads Best of the Year pick
Winner of the “One Book, One New York” campaign, 2017

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1984
The Hate U Give
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Short Stories/Book TBA
The Kite Runner

Gosh, another bad list. Who doesn’t love Kite Runner, and I thoroughly enjoyed ELIC. But, let’s be honest these are books to read for pleasure. I was under the assumption that high school reading selections are supposed to expose our children to works that they would not read otherwise because of their difficulty, challenging themes or inaccessibility? In fact, English class is supposed to teach high schoolers *how* to read & analyze challenging books. Not read & analyze easy books.

There are challenging themes in each of the above. Kite Runner has the same Lexile range as Catcher in the Rye and is far above The Grapes of Wrath and A Farewell to Arms. THUG is on par with A Farewell to Arms. Just because you would read them for pleasure does not mean that the average or even bright 15 year old would. So, what would be on your list for 10th grader? Obviously it can't be anything that you would read for "pleasure" - it must be "work" and children must not like it for it to be at all worthwhile. I, for one, am thrilled that my child is being exposed to points of view and ways of writing that are not the product of the Dead White Guy canon.

Thank you. I wanted to express a similar sentiment, but you said it better. If the classics are so important to you, work with your child in your own time.

For those who against the inclusion of new viewpoints, you will hate my kids' list, which includes:

The Crucible
The Great Gatsby
Raisin in the Sun
The Poet X
Americanah

Well, I could not slog through this book myself, and I am an educated professional. Say what you will about 'contemporary' literature but books kids study in school -- in their Lit class! - should have some literary value and not just the woke theme.

i've never picked up Americanah, but your bolded quote suggests that your assessment of the book says little about the book and a lot about you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1984
The Hate U Give
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Short Stories/Book TBA
The Kite Runner

Gosh, another bad list. Who doesn’t love Kite Runner, and I thoroughly enjoyed ELIC. But, let’s be honest these are books to read for pleasure. I was under the assumption that high school reading selections are supposed to expose our children to works that they would not read otherwise because of their difficulty, challenging themes or inaccessibility? In fact, English class is supposed to teach high schoolers *how* to read & analyze challenging books. Not read & analyze easy books.

No, it’s not. HS English is supposed to get to kids to want to read novels and encourage engagement . It doesn’t have to be Beowulf. How boring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1984
The Hate U Give
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Short Stories/Book TBA
The Kite Runner

Gosh, another bad list. Who doesn’t love Kite Runner, and I thoroughly enjoyed ELIC. But, let’s be honest these are books to read for pleasure. I was under the assumption that high school reading selections are supposed to expose our children to works that they would not read otherwise because of their difficulty, challenging themes or inaccessibility? In fact, English class is supposed to teach high schoolers *how* to read & analyze challenging books. Not read & analyze easy books.

No, it’s not. HS English is supposed to get to kids to want to read novels and encourage engagement . It doesn’t have to be Beowulf. How boring.

From my perspective as a parent, I want them to read, be engaged, and improve their writing. Engaging, relatable text is far more likely to elicit engagement in the writing process than many of the classics.

[Anonymous]

Joy luck club

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1984
The Hate U Give
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Short Stories/Book TBA
The Kite Runner

Gosh, another bad list. Who doesn’t love Kite Runner, and I thoroughly enjoyed ELIC. But, let’s be honest these are books to read for pleasure. I was under the assumption that high school reading selections are supposed to expose our children to works that they would not read otherwise because of their difficulty, challenging themes or inaccessibility? In fact, English class is supposed to teach high schoolers *how* to read & analyze challenging books. Not read & analyze easy books.

No, it’s not. HS English is supposed to get to kids to want to read novels and encourage engagement . It doesn’t have to be Beowulf. How boring.

This is an interesting observation. If that is indeed the purpose of HS English, then the reading list would be different from a class whose purpose it is to introduce students to methods of literary analysis, timeless themes, and rich and complex writing, for example. Not all of the texts the the PP considered "woke" would necessarily be excluded by the second set of purposes, btw. Just a different curriculum goal.

[Anonymous]

Macbeth - Shakespeare
Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
Metamorphosis - Franz Kafka
Chronicle of a Death Foretold - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Night - Elie Wiesel
Purple Hibiscus - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
a short story anthology with stories from Asia, Africa, and Latin America
a poetry anthology

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1984
The Hate U Give
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Short Stories/Book TBA
The Kite Runner

Gosh, another bad list. Who doesn’t love Kite Runner, and I thoroughly enjoyed ELIC. But, let’s be honest these are books to read for pleasure. I was under the assumption that high school reading selections are supposed to expose our children to works that they would not read otherwise because of their difficulty, challenging themes or inaccessibility? In fact, English class is supposed to teach high schoolers *how* to read & analyze challenging books. Not read & analyze easy books.

There are challenging themes in each of the above. Kite Runner has the same Lexile range as Catcher in the Rye and is far above The Grapes of Wrath and A Farewell to Arms. THUG is on par with A Farewell to Arms. Just because you would read them for pleasure does not mean that the average or even bright 15 year old would. So, what would be on your list for 10th grader? Obviously it can't be anything that you would read for "pleasure" - it must be "work" and children must not like it for it to be at all worthwhile. I, for one, am thrilled that my child is being exposed to points of view and ways of writing that are not the product of the Dead White Guy canon.

Thank you. I wanted to express a similar sentiment, but you said it better. If the classics are so important to you, work with your child in your own time.

For those who against the inclusion of new viewpoints, you will hate my kids' list, which includes:

The Crucible
The Great Gatsby
Raisin in the Sun
The Poet X
Americanah

I'm the one who disliked the reading list with Kite Runner. Oh believe me, it wasn't because I'm against inclusion of other viewpoints. Whatever you're imagining in your head, you have me wrong. Your list is good, minus Americanah and PoetX.

I don't like contemporary fiction in English lit classes. I think they should be used sparingly. Classics CAN BE pleasurable and that is one of the great discoveries of high school english class. I like using the books above for summer reading or other assignments. Regarding Shakespeare - I agree that we should stop including them to the degree we do. They are extremely hard to teach, tedious and require unusual reader maturity.

Yet they were popular theater plays attended by people of all classes in England. If your teacher makes Shakespeare boring, they are not skilled, at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1984
The Hate U Give
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Short Stories/Book TBA
The Kite Runner

Gosh, another bad list. Who doesn’t love Kite Runner, and I thoroughly enjoyed ELIC. But, let’s be honest these are books to read for pleasure. I was under the assumption that high school reading selections are supposed to expose our children to works that they would not read otherwise because of their difficulty, challenging themes or inaccessibility? In fact, English class is supposed to teach high schoolers *how* to read & analyze challenging books. Not read & analyze easy books.

No, it’s not. HS English is supposed to get to kids to want to read novels and encourage engagement . It doesn’t have to be Beowulf. How boring.

From my perspective as a parent, I want them to read, be engaged, and improve their writing. Engaging, relatable text is far more likely to elicit engagement in the writing process than many of the classics.

Did your kids read "Captain Underpants" in elementary school as well? What you read is just as important is that you read (especially for writing). School should be the place to engage the kids, we agree on that. But reading and discussing in school should be focused on exposing kids to the beautiful, true and deep. Things that have been valued as the basis of our shared discourse, not the "Book of the Month Club." The kids have a teacher to help them see how to make these books exciting and relevant to them. If that isn't happening, it is either poor teaching, the fact that they are reading books far above their reading and cultural literacy or the fact that kids have not been taught to develop their attention span. All of these speak poorly of both our educational system and our parenting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1984
The Hate U Give
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Short Stories/Book TBA
The Kite Runner

Gosh, another bad list. Who doesn’t love Kite Runner, and I thoroughly enjoyed ELIC. But, let’s be honest these are books to read for pleasure. I was under the assumption that high school reading selections are supposed to expose our children to works that they would not read otherwise because of their difficulty, challenging themes or inaccessibility? In fact, English class is supposed to teach high schoolers *how* to read & analyze challenging books. Not read & analyze easy books.

No, it’s not. HS English is supposed to get to kids to want to read novels and encourage engagement . It doesn’t have to be Beowulf. How boring.

Beowulf is 6th grade now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1984
The Hate U Give
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Short Stories/Book TBA
The Kite Runner

Gosh, another bad list. Who doesn’t love Kite Runner, and I thoroughly enjoyed ELIC. But, let’s be honest these are books to read for pleasure. I was under the assumption that high school reading selections are supposed to expose our children to works that they would not read otherwise because of their difficulty, challenging themes or inaccessibility? In fact, English class is supposed to teach high schoolers *how* to read & analyze challenging books. Not read & analyze easy books.

There are challenging themes in each of the above. Kite Runner has the same Lexile range as Catcher in the Rye and is far above The Grapes of Wrath and A Farewell to Arms. THUG is on par with A Farewell to Arms. Just because you would read them for pleasure does not mean that the average or even bright 15 year old would. So, what would be on your list for 10th grader? Obviously it can't be anything that you would read for "pleasure" - it must be "work" and children must not like it for it to be at all worthwhile. I, for one, am thrilled that my child is being exposed to points of view and ways of writing that are not the product of the Dead White Guy canon.

Thank you. I wanted to express a similar sentiment, but you said it better. If the classics are so important to you, work with your child in your own time.

For those who against the inclusion of new viewpoints, you will hate my kids' list, which includes:

The Crucible
The Great Gatsby
Raisin in the Sun
The Poet X
Americanah

Well, I could not slog through this book myself, and I am an educated professional. Say what you will about 'contemporary' literature but books kids study in school -- in their Lit class! - should have some literary value and not just the woke theme.

Interesting how people react to different books. I'm an English major and I think Americanah is a well written novel that would be sufficiently challenging for a 10th grade English class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

First one is a "graphic novel", aka comic book. Not really on board with that. Also doesn't seem like a lot to me. Ditto THe Hate U give, which has a very low lexile level.

Hmmm, my 7th graders class is doing the Jekyll and Hyde book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Persepolis is an amazing graphic memoir about a woman's experiences growing up in Iran. It has won numerous accolades. Just because it's not Moby Dick doesn't mean it's not worthwhile.

Ohh, I’ll look it up, it sounds fantastic for my 11 year old. She loves graphic novels.

Persepolis is extremely good, but I would not recommend it for an eleven year old. The content is a little mature, and if your kid reads/watches news at all, it's also maybe a little scary for an 11 yo.