Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All American Boys
But they will also be reading Of Mice and Men

Of Mice & Men is a choice in MP2. And it's super short. Why couldn't they read both of these in MP1?

Totally agree. My HS English class in 1986 probably read twice as many books. I remember we read Great Expectations, catcher in the rye, Frankenstein, a Shakespeare play, the Iliad, and I’m sure there were a couple more I’m forgetting now (maybe Huck Finn?) And I went to public school in a random state so I feel like it’s achievable for McPS.

Sorry to those of you who don't know this, but...these kids DO NOT READ! The vast majority of them, including your precious IB Magnet students, are not doing the reading. They are overwhelmed and/or do not have the stamina to read books the way you think they can.

I teach 9th grade right now. I've also taught AP Lang in the past. Their reading stamina, as previously stated, is in the garbage and has been for some time. I struggle to get them to retain information when we read books together, in class, using an audio book. It takes insane amounts of contextualization to get them to understand any text, so I've come to learn if it's going to to be challenging for them, it better be interesting too.

This year, we will do All American Boys (in Q1 - mind you, we have had significantly fewer instructional days this quarter because of various interruptions and non-instructional days), MARCH Book 3 in Quarter 2, Flowers for Algernon in Quarter 2, A Raisin in the Sun in Quarter 3, The Poet X in Quarter 4, and probably a literature circle book somewhere in there.

For anyone complaining that their kid isn't reading enough or isn't reading any "classics" - get a library card! No one is stopping you! As a matter of fact, it would be great if you and your kid read those "classics" together, and then they can have a discussion with you about the differences between those "classics" and the books they're reading in class

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach 9th grade honors english at a HS. Half my classes are reading The Magic Fish. The other half All American Boys

Is this just because there are too few copies of the book for every student to get the same one?

It may be due to English Learners in their class. If you are just learning English, the Magic Fish would be appropriate. All American Boy isn't honors reading level. Consider that this teacher has to divide their time between two student cohorts in one class.

Do tell - what makes AAB not an honors reading level book? Because it's contemporary and focuses on police brutality against African Americans? Seems pretty finger on the pulse of the nation to me. But I'd love to hear your opinion, PP. Do tell.

DP. Its lexile is 770HL -- high interest book for struggling readers who are below grade level. The 9th grade fall median Lexile level is 1195L. It's not even at grade level -- let alone at honors.

Meant to include this link to the grade-level lexile bands: https://hub.lexile.com/lexile-grade-level-charts/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach 9th grade honors english at a HS. Half my classes are reading The Magic Fish. The other half All American Boys

Is this just because there are too few copies of the book for every student to get the same one?

It may be due to English Learners in their class. If you are just learning English, the Magic Fish would be appropriate. All American Boy isn't honors reading level. Consider that this teacher has to divide their time between two student cohorts in one class.

Do tell - what makes AAB not an honors reading level book? Because it's contemporary and focuses on police brutality against African Americans? Seems pretty finger on the pulse of the nation to me. But I'd love to hear your opinion, PP. Do tell.

DP. Its lexile is 770HL -- high interest book for struggling readers who are below grade level. The 9th grade fall median Lexile level is 1195L. It's not even at grade level -- let alone at honors.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach 9th grade honors english at a HS. Half my classes are reading The Magic Fish. The other half All American Boys

Is this just because there are too few copies of the book for every student to get the same one?

It may be due to English Learners in their class. If you are just learning English, the Magic Fish would be appropriate. All American Boy isn't honors reading level. Consider that this teacher has to divide their time between two student cohorts in one class.

Do tell - what makes AAB not an honors reading level book? Because it's contemporary and focuses on police brutality against African Americans? Seems pretty finger on the pulse of the nation to me. But I'd love to hear your opinion, PP. Do tell.

Anonymous wrote:+1000

I have a deep thinker with a prodigious memory whose real gifts are in the history realm (prefers nonfiction). But as we all know if my kid were really actually bright they would be in multivariable calculus by now and the fact that they are not doing Khan Academy every afternoon means thay have neither intelligence nor ambition. /s

The only 'magnet' option in MCPS that claims to come close to my kid's interests is a journalism/media studies program, which doesn't fit: my kid couldn't care less about making videos. It would be great if there was something out there that focused on history, literature, languages, and writing, but we're not zoned for Poolesville (not even sure that is what that program is for?).

Do better, MCPS. And at least try to push if not challenge the kids who work best with words.

Sounds like a very good IB fit!

Anonymous wrote:I think they do a disservice to the class by not making it two graphic novels to one novel. While I certainly think graphic novels can be well done and teach a lot, kids often don’t sit with the content long enough, so it becomes an easier more enjoyable read as compared to the novels.

They could have done The Magic Fish along with any of these : The Best We Could/Vietnamerica/Such a Lovely Little War.

Frankly I would suggest doing a novel and graphic novel.

We use a graphic novel in Quarter 2. These are choices for quarter 1, for the most part.

+1000

I have a deep thinker with a prodigious memory whose real gifts are in the history realm (prefers nonfiction). But as we all know if my kid were really actually bright they would be in multivariable calculus by now and the fact that they are not doing Khan Academy every afternoon means thay have neither intelligence nor ambition. /s

The only 'magnet' option in MCPS that claims to come close to my kid's interests is a journalism/media studies program, which doesn't fit: my kid couldn't care less about making videos. It would be great if there was something out there that focused on history, literature, languages, and writing, but we're not zoned for Poolesville (not even sure that is what that program is for?).

Do better, MCPS. And at least try to push if not challenge the kids who work best with words.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I was frustrated when my kid's "Advanced" English 6 class was reading Magic Fish. Now I can wait to be infuriated AGAIN when they get it as a high schooler.

My child went to private MS followed by MCPS HS, let me tell you...

I haven't heard of Magic Fish, but he read All American Boys in MS. Animal Farm was a repeat for him.

What were your child’s thoughts on the parallels between Animal Farm and early 20th century Russia? Was the Russian Revolution studied in Social Studies before or after?

Animal Farm can apply to more than just 20th c Russia, even if this is what inspired the book. You trying to interrogate someone about this shows how shallow your education is.

DP. I’d say it’s very relevant right now.

Really? I see no current applications. Maybe five years ago...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I was frustrated when my kid's "Advanced" English 6 class was reading Magic Fish. Now I can wait to be infuriated AGAIN when they get it as a high schooler.

My child went to private MS followed by MCPS HS, let me tell you...

I haven't heard of Magic Fish, but he read All American Boys in MS. Animal Farm was a repeat for him.

What were your child’s thoughts on the parallels between Animal Farm and early 20th century Russia? Was the Russian Revolution studied in Social Studies before or after?

Animal Farm can apply to more than just 20th c Russia, even if this is what inspired the book. You trying to interrogate someone about this shows how shallow your education is.

DP. I’d say it’s very relevant right now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I was frustrated when my kid's "Advanced" English 6 class was reading Magic Fish. Now I can wait to be infuriated AGAIN when they get it as a high schooler.

My child went to private MS followed by MCPS HS, let me tell you...

I haven't heard of Magic Fish, but he read All American Boys in MS. Animal Farm was a repeat for him.

What were your child’s thoughts on the parallels between Animal Farm and early 20th century Russia? Was the Russian Revolution studied in Social Studies before or after?

Animal Farm can apply to more than just 20th c Russia, even if this is what inspired the book. You trying to interrogate someone about this shows how shallow your education is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: op

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I was frustrated when my kid's "Advanced" English 6 class was reading Magic Fish. Now I can wait to be infuriated AGAIN when they get it as a high schooler.

My child went to private MS followed by MCPS HS, let me tell you...

I haven't heard of Magic Fish, but he read All American Boys in MS. Animal Farm was a repeat for him.

What were your child’s thoughts on the parallels between Animal Farm and early 20th century Russia? Was the Russian Revolution studied in Social Studies before or after?

World History is usually taken in 11th.

Kids study other history in MS. Also English classes usually cover this for context.

Yes, but not about the 20th century.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: op

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I was frustrated when my kid's "Advanced" English 6 class was reading Magic Fish. Now I can wait to be infuriated AGAIN when they get it as a high schooler.

My child went to private MS followed by MCPS HS, let me tell you...

I haven't heard of Magic Fish, but he read All American Boys in MS. Animal Farm was a repeat for him.

What were your child’s thoughts on the parallels between Animal Farm and early 20th century Russia? Was the Russian Revolution studied in Social Studies before or after?

World History is usually taken in 11th.

Kids study other history in MS. Also English classes usually cover this for context.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I was frustrated when my kid's "Advanced" English 6 class was reading Magic Fish. Now I can wait to be infuriated AGAIN when they get it as a high schooler.

My child went to private MS followed by MCPS HS, let me tell you...

I haven't heard of Magic Fish, but he read All American Boys in MS. Animal Farm was a repeat for him.

What were your child’s thoughts on the parallels between Animal Farm and early 20th century Russia? Was the Russian Revolution studied in Social Studies before or after?

World History is usually taken in 11th.

DP. You do not have to get that in history class when reading Animal Farm. You should be getting it in English class by through context readings so that you understand what the allegory and its relevance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I was frustrated when my kid's "Advanced" English 6 class was reading Magic Fish. Now I can wait to be infuriated AGAIN when they get it as a high schooler.

My child went to private MS followed by MCPS HS, let me tell you...

I haven't heard of Magic Fish, but he read All American Boys in MS. Animal Farm was a repeat for him.

What were your child’s thoughts on the parallels between Animal Farm and early 20th century Russia? Was the Russian Revolution studied in Social Studies before or after?

World History is usually taken in 11th.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I was frustrated when my kid's "Advanced" English 6 class was reading Magic Fish. Now I can wait to be infuriated AGAIN when they get it as a high schooler.

My child went to private MS followed by MCPS HS, let me tell you...

I haven't heard of Magic Fish, but he read All American Boys in MS. Animal Farm was a repeat for him.

What were your child’s thoughts on the parallels between Animal Farm and early 20th century Russia? Was the Russian Revolution studied in Social Studies before or after?