OP, to answer your question:

My rising 9th grader re-read the Hunger Games this summer (by her own choice).

My rising 12th grader has read zero books this summer as far as I am aware. (He scored a 5 last spring in AP English Literature FWIW and scored 760 on the verbal portion of the SAT.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My rising 9th grader, who is an excellent student, does not read for pleasure. However, he reads the books that are assigned, and even enjoys some of them. Notably, he tends to like classics, so I wouldn't assume kids hate "old" books. They are classics for a reason. I don't think he would like having no guidance. Maybe give them 5 books to choose from or something like that.

I would guess your son is white. White kids don’t mind classics because it centers their stories and experience. Consider how children of color feel about the “classics.” I have to teach and reach all kids. The classics don’t cut it for many of them and contain harmful language and ideas that are difficult for those kids to listen to and discuss in class. At best, they simply ignore entirely the experience of POC. At worst, they’re denigrating and objectifying.

On the other hands (I'm coming new to this thread) the classics contain heavy duty vocabulary words, long paragraphs, and complex sentence structure.

If students read and understand the classics, they will be much better prepared to score well on the SAT and ACT which will help them gain admission to, and financial aid from, colleges.

Just a thought.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While I am no fan of OP's classroom model, my 10th grader who's taking challenge math, science and social studies classes would be thrilled to have a class where he can coast by selecting easy books that he "loves." He'd have more time to engage in his other classes that require more depth. He'd be happy to have OP as a teacher.

Interesting you think I’m a big enough bozo to be like “sure you can read The Boxcar Children” in 10th grade. Again, there is NO WAY for anyone to glean an entire pedagogy from this one thread. Obviously the kids would have to propose a title, why they selected it, and I would have veto power if it were inappropriate (Twilight, 50 Shades of Gray) or way below grade level or like 50 pages long.

The anti teacher sentiment that is replete across the rest of DCUM makes tons of sense now though. You guys really do think we are idiots! It’s a wonder you send your kids to school at all since you can do it so much better.

Well, this thread has increased the likelihood of me homeschooling by several percentage points!

Hope OP isn’t representative of a new wave of teachers...

Yep, one of the newer teachers with all her new age crap.

Don't worry, I am a teacher (I'm 30, so I am still 'young' but have been teaching 9 years). She sounds like a first through third year teacher, and like she probably is really hated by her whole staff. She is the type who speaks up and argues at faculty meetings, who defies the curriculum and the parents and admin, and then feels scorned and like she was treated unfairly. There has been one or two every year. Don't worry, she'll chill out or quit.

Should she get off your lawn too??

I have no problem with new ideas or speaking out. IF there is a reason to not really consider them, and it's not simply a negative reaction to change, what's the harm in proposing new things and ideas? The close-minded one here seems to be you.

LOL. I'm fine with new ideas. But this specific breed of new teachers is adamant that anything we have done, successfully, for the last many years, cannot possibly be of any value. They believe their youth / research outweighs anything that's ever worked in the past.

But, you've just said the same thing a second time. You completely dismiss that there may be a better or new way of doing it. Even if just to freshen it up. Just because something has worked in the past doesn't mean it can't change. I'm not saying to change everything. But, you seem to indicate that it should never change if it works. But, I don't think you and I are going to agree here.

Change sometimes works against complacency, as well. Some of my DC's teachers could have benefited from a bit of change. They were good. But, the younger teachers with more exciting methods for teaching the curriculum were definitely the ones that that engaged the kids and were more beloved. That doesn't mean "old teacher, bad" and "new teacher, good" but it is something I've experienced in our school.

Different PP here. My issue isn't with how she is teaching/selecting books (I've no idea the right way to do that.) My issue is how defensive she became in this thread, almost immediately. She also seems rude and closed minded. Hopefully, that will also improve with age.

DP - above was clearly OP pretending to be her first supporter in the thread

Huh? Are you saying that the bolded was the OP? Because, no. I did post earlier in the thread about whether or not kids should be forced into the classics (I don't). I'm not the OP. I was responding to the idea that we have to stick with the status quo just because . . . OP may have been defensive. But, that has little to do with whether she is right or wrong, imo.

DP. The pp said she objects to teachers who dismiss anything "old" as lacking in value. That is not mutually exclusive with being open to new ideas. Nowhere did she say she wasn't open to new ideas. No where did she say you need to stick to the status quo just because. OP, has rejected out of hand basically every suggestions posted on pages of comments. She asserts, based on her research, that the level of difficulty of the books is irrelevant. Other teachers, parents and college professors chimed in to say why that might not be true for many students. Her response was to double down. I think that's the app teacher's concern.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While I am no fan of OP's classroom model, my 10th grader who's taking challenge math, science and social studies classes would be thrilled to have a class where he can coast by selecting easy books that he "loves." He'd have more time to engage in his other classes that require more depth. He'd be happy to have OP as a teacher.

Interesting you think I’m a big enough bozo to be like “sure you can read The Boxcar Children” in 10th grade. Again, there is NO WAY for anyone to glean an entire pedagogy from this one thread. Obviously the kids would have to propose a title, why they selected it, and I would have veto power if it were inappropriate (Twilight, 50 Shades of Gray) or way below grade level or like 50 pages long.

The anti teacher sentiment that is replete across the rest of DCUM makes tons of sense now though. You guys really do think we are idiots! It’s a wonder you send your kids to school at all since you can do it so much better.

Well, this thread has increased the likelihood of me homeschooling by several percentage points!

Hope OP isn’t representative of a new wave of teachers...

Yep, one of the newer teachers with all her new age crap.

Don't worry, I am a teacher (I'm 30, so I am still 'young' but have been teaching 9 years). She sounds like a first through third year teacher, and like she probably is really hated by her whole staff. She is the type who speaks up and argues at faculty meetings, who defies the curriculum and the parents and admin, and then feels scorned and like she was treated unfairly. There has been one or two every year. Don't worry, she'll chill out or quit.

Should she get off your lawn too??

I have no problem with new ideas or speaking out. IF there is a reason to not really consider them, and it's not simply a negative reaction to change, what's the harm in proposing new things and ideas? The close-minded one here seems to be you.

LOL. I'm fine with new ideas. But this specific breed of new teachers is adamant that anything we have done, successfully, for the last many years, cannot possibly be of any value. They believe their youth / research outweighs anything that's ever worked in the past.

But, you've just said the same thing a second time. You completely dismiss that there may be a better or new way of doing it. Even if just to freshen it up. Just because something has worked in the past doesn't mean it can't change. I'm not saying to change everything. But, you seem to indicate that it should never change if it works. But, I don't think you and I are going to agree here.

Change sometimes works against complacency, as well. Some of my DC's teachers could have benefited from a bit of change. They were good. But, the younger teachers with more exciting methods for teaching the curriculum were definitely the ones that that engaged the kids and were more beloved. That doesn't mean "old teacher, bad" and "new teacher, good" but it is something I've experienced in our school.

Different PP here. My issue isn't with how she is teaching/selecting books (I've no idea the right way to do that.) My issue is how defensive she became in this thread, almost immediately. She also seems rude and closed minded. Hopefully, that will also improve with age.

DP - above was clearly OP pretending to be her first supporter in the thread

Huh? Are you saying that the bolded was the OP? Because, no. I did post earlier in the thread about whether or not kids should be forced into the classics (I don't). I'm not the OP. I was responding to the idea that we have to stick with the status quo just because . . . OP may have been defensive. But, that has little to do with whether she is right or wrong, imo.

My kids read nothing but politically correct books all through public school. It’s a topic well covered at this point.

OP if you want your students to read books about the plight of minorities you need to assign them. Otherwise they won’t read them. And keep Your politics at home or you will be looking for another job.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 7th and 4th grade daughters read a ton for pleasure and relaxation. Examples of 7th graders books - Homecoming, Dicey’s Song, Akata Witch, Akata Warrior, Satellite, some biographies

I loved Akata Witch!

Akata witch is her #1 book of summer. Apparently Akata Warrior was not as good

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While I am no fan of OP's classroom model, my 10th grader who's taking challenge math, science and social studies classes would be thrilled to have a class where he can coast by selecting easy books that he "loves." He'd have more time to engage in his other classes that require more depth. He'd be happy to have OP as a teacher.

Interesting you think I’m a big enough bozo to be like “sure you can read The Boxcar Children” in 10th grade. Again, there is NO WAY for anyone to glean an entire pedagogy from this one thread. Obviously the kids would have to propose a title, why they selected it, and I would have veto power if it were inappropriate (Twilight, 50 Shades of Gray) or way below grade level or like 50 pages long.

The anti teacher sentiment that is replete across the rest of DCUM makes tons of sense now though. You guys really do think we are idiots! It’s a wonder you send your kids to school at all since you can do it so much better.

Well, this thread has increased the likelihood of me homeschooling by several percentage points!

Hope OP isn’t representative of a new wave of teachers...

Yep, one of the newer teachers with all her new age crap.

Don't worry, I am a teacher (I'm 30, so I am still 'young' but have been teaching 9 years). She sounds like a first through third year teacher, and like she probably is really hated by her whole staff. She is the type who speaks up and argues at faculty meetings, who defies the curriculum and the parents and admin, and then feels scorned and like she was treated unfairly. There has been one or two every year. Don't worry, she'll chill out or quit.

Should she get off your lawn too??

I have no problem with new ideas or speaking out. IF there is a reason to not really consider them, and it's not simply a negative reaction to change, what's the harm in proposing new things and ideas? The close-minded one here seems to be you.

LOL. I'm fine with new ideas. But this specific breed of new teachers is adamant that anything we have done, successfully, for the last many years, cannot possibly be of any value. They believe their youth / research outweighs anything that's ever worked in the past.

But, you've just said the same thing a second time. You completely dismiss that there may be a better or new way of doing it. Even if just to freshen it up. Just because something has worked in the past doesn't mean it can't change. I'm not saying to change everything. But, you seem to indicate that it should never change if it works. But, I don't think you and I are going to agree here.

Change sometimes works against complacency, as well. Some of my DC's teachers could have benefited from a bit of change. They were good. But, the younger teachers with more exciting methods for teaching the curriculum were definitely the ones that that engaged the kids and were more beloved. That doesn't mean "old teacher, bad" and "new teacher, good" but it is something I've experienced in our school.

Different PP here. My issue isn't with how she is teaching/selecting books (I've no idea the right way to do that.) My issue is how defensive she became in this thread, almost immediately. She also seems rude and closed minded. Hopefully, that will also improve with age.

DP - above was clearly OP pretending to be her first supporter in the thread

Teacher here: You better have a list unless you want to review a comic book.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While I am no fan of OP's classroom model, my 10th grader who's taking challenge math, science and social studies classes would be thrilled to have a class where he can coast by selecting easy books that he "loves." He'd have more time to engage in his other classes that require more depth. He'd be happy to have OP as a teacher.

Interesting you think I’m a big enough bozo to be like “sure you can read The Boxcar Children” in 10th grade. Again, there is NO WAY for anyone to glean an entire pedagogy from this one thread. Obviously the kids would have to propose a title, why they selected it, and I would have veto power if it were inappropriate (Twilight, 50 Shades of Gray) or way below grade level or like 50 pages long.

The anti teacher sentiment that is replete across the rest of DCUM makes tons of sense now though. You guys really do think we are idiots! It’s a wonder you send your kids to school at all since you can do it so much better.

Well, this thread has increased the likelihood of me homeschooling by several percentage points!

Hope OP isn’t representative of a new wave of teachers...

Yep, one of the newer teachers with all her new age crap.

Don't worry, I am a teacher (I'm 30, so I am still 'young' but have been teaching 9 years). She sounds like a first through third year teacher, and like she probably is really hated by her whole staff. She is the type who speaks up and argues at faculty meetings, who defies the curriculum and the parents and admin, and then feels scorned and like she was treated unfairly. There has been one or two every year. Don't worry, she'll chill out or quit.

Should she get off your lawn too??

I have no problem with new ideas or speaking out. IF there is a reason to not really consider them, and it's not simply a negative reaction to change, what's the harm in proposing new things and ideas? The close-minded one here seems to be you.

LOL. I'm fine with new ideas. But this specific breed of new teachers is adamant that anything we have done, successfully, for the last many years, cannot possibly be of any value. They believe their youth / research outweighs anything that's ever worked in the past.

But, you've just said the same thing a second time. You completely dismiss that there may be a better or new way of doing it. Even if just to freshen it up. Just because something has worked in the past doesn't mean it can't change. I'm not saying to change everything. But, you seem to indicate that it should never change if it works. But, I don't think you and I are going to agree here.

Change sometimes works against complacency, as well. Some of my DC's teachers could have benefited from a bit of change. They were good. But, the younger teachers with more exciting methods for teaching the curriculum were definitely the ones that that engaged the kids and were more beloved. That doesn't mean "old teacher, bad" and "new teacher, good" but it is something I've experienced in our school.

Different PP here. My issue isn't with how she is teaching/selecting books (I've no idea the right way to do that.) My issue is how defensive she became in this thread, almost immediately. She also seems rude and closed minded. Hopefully, that will also improve with age.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While I am no fan of OP's classroom model, my 10th grader who's taking challenge math, science and social studies classes would be thrilled to have a class where he can coast by selecting easy books that he "loves." He'd have more time to engage in his other classes that require more depth. He'd be happy to have OP as a teacher.

Interesting you think I’m a big enough bozo to be like “sure you can read The Boxcar Children” in 10th grade. Again, there is NO WAY for anyone to glean an entire pedagogy from this one thread. Obviously the kids would have to propose a title, why they selected it, and I would have veto power if it were inappropriate (Twilight, 50 Shades of Gray) or way below grade level or like 50 pages long.

The anti teacher sentiment that is replete across the rest of DCUM makes tons of sense now though. You guys really do think we are idiots! It’s a wonder you send your kids to school at all since you can do it so much better.

Well, this thread has increased the likelihood of me homeschooling by several percentage points!

Hope OP isn’t representative of a new wave of teachers...

Yep, one of the newer teachers with all her new age crap.

Don't worry, I am a teacher (I'm 30, so I am still 'young' but have been teaching 9 years). She sounds like a first through third year teacher, and like she probably is really hated by her whole staff. She is the type who speaks up and argues at faculty meetings, who defies the curriculum and the parents and admin, and then feels scorned and like she was treated unfairly. There has been one or two every year. Don't worry, she'll chill out or quit.

Should she get off your lawn too??

I have no problem with new ideas or speaking out. IF there is a reason to not really consider them, and it's not simply a negative reaction to change, what's the harm in proposing new things and ideas? The close-minded one here seems to be you.

LOL. I'm fine with new ideas. But this specific breed of new teachers is adamant that anything we have done, successfully, for the last many years, cannot possibly be of any value. They believe their youth / research outweighs anything that's ever worked in the past.

But, you've just said the same thing a second time. You completely dismiss that there may be a better or new way of doing it. Even if just to freshen it up. Just because something has worked in the past doesn't mean it can't change. I'm not saying to change everything. But, you seem to indicate that it should never change if it works. But, I don't think you and I are going to agree here.

Change sometimes works against complacency, as well. Some of my DC's teachers could have benefited from a bit of change. They were good. But, the younger teachers with more exciting methods for teaching the curriculum were definitely the ones that that engaged the kids and were more beloved. That doesn't mean "old teacher, bad" and "new teacher, good" but it is something I've experienced in our school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't their be a suggested list to choose from BUT if the kid wants to deviate from that, they have to propose a) the book, b) how it meets the teaching objective for the unit/assignment? This would seem to meet the needs of people who are demanding required reading and kids who have strong preferences as to what they want to read.

I'm a voracious reader. Even i had a LOT of trouble with "assigned" reading in school. It had nothing with comprehension but I just hated the books - i couldn't relate to them, they weren't interesting . . . and it makes it hard to like a class and to like reading in that instance.

I'm no teacher. So this may not be a good "method" but it seems reasonable. Plus, it give control to the student and forces them to really think about a book that deviates from the list.


My two cents.

I wonder if these parents asked their kids how they felt about this what they would hear. The PARENTS want “classic” required reading. But I teach kids and the kids... usually don’t.

You can read other books aside from classics. There are challenging modern books and texts from other cultures. My concern is having each individual select a different book. I see that OP says they will discuss how literary devices are used, etc. I think that is virtually impossible to do effectively with 20 (or whatever number) different books. Also, unless the kids are very advanced, they may have a hard time identifying the use of literary devices without class discussion/guidance. The OP would have to read all 20 books to know what devices were used in which book. It may work for one part of the course, but I don't see how would work for each book they study during the year

My child's school doesn't read all "classics" but the books are challenging. They choose texts from other cultures, etc. not just Anglo American classics. If a book doesn't resonate with students for a year or two, they will look for something else that the students may enjoy better that teaches the same lessons. There are ways to do the sorts of things OP wants while maintaining academic integrity, but the approach OP proposes does not sound like one of those ways.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While I am no fan of OP's classroom model, my 10th grader who's taking challenge math, science and social studies classes would be thrilled to have a class where he can coast by selecting easy books that he "loves." He'd have more time to engage in his other classes that require more depth. He'd be happy to have OP as a teacher.

Interesting you think I’m a big enough bozo to be like “sure you can read The Boxcar Children” in 10th grade. Again, there is NO WAY for anyone to glean an entire pedagogy from this one thread. Obviously the kids would have to propose a title, why they selected it, and I would have veto power if it were inappropriate (Twilight, 50 Shades of Gray) or way below grade level or like 50 pages long.

The anti teacher sentiment that is replete across the rest of DCUM makes tons of sense now though. You guys really do think we are idiots! It’s a wonder you send your kids to school at all since you can do it so much better.

Well, this thread has increased the likelihood of me homeschooling by several percentage points!

Hope OP isn’t representative of a new wave of teachers...

Yep, one of the newer teachers with all her new age crap.

Don't worry, I am a teacher (I'm 30, so I am still 'young' but have been teaching 9 years). She sounds like a first through third year teacher, and like she probably is really hated by her whole staff. She is the type who speaks up and argues at faculty meetings, who defies the curriculum and the parents and admin, and then feels scorned and like she was treated unfairly. There has been one or two every year. Don't worry, she'll chill out or quit.

Should she get off your lawn too??

I have no problem with new ideas or speaking out. IF there is a reason to not really consider them, and it's not simply a negative reaction to change, what's the harm in proposing new things and ideas? The close-minded one here seems to be you.

LOL. I'm fine with new ideas. But this specific breed of new teachers is adamant that anything we have done, successfully, for the last many years, cannot possibly be of any value. They believe their youth / research outweighs anything that's ever worked in the past.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While I am no fan of OP's classroom model, my 10th grader who's taking challenge math, science and social studies classes would be thrilled to have a class where he can coast by selecting easy books that he "loves." He'd have more time to engage in his other classes that require more depth. He'd be happy to have OP as a teacher.

Interesting you think I’m a big enough bozo to be like “sure you can read The Boxcar Children” in 10th grade. Again, there is NO WAY for anyone to glean an entire pedagogy from this one thread. Obviously the kids would have to propose a title, why they selected it, and I would have veto power if it were inappropriate (Twilight, 50 Shades of Gray) or way below grade level or like 50 pages long.

The anti teacher sentiment that is replete across the rest of DCUM makes tons of sense now though. You guys really do think we are idiots! It’s a wonder you send your kids to school at all since you can do it so much better.

Well, this thread has increased the likelihood of me homeschooling by several percentage points!

Hope OP isn’t representative of a new wave of teachers...

Yep, one of the newer teachers with all her new age crap.

Don't worry, I am a teacher (I'm 30, so I am still 'young' but have been teaching 9 years). She sounds like a first through third year teacher, and like she probably is really hated by her whole staff. She is the type who speaks up and argues at faculty meetings, who defies the curriculum and the parents and admin, and then feels scorned and like she was treated unfairly. There has been one or two every year. Don't worry, she'll chill out or quit.

Should she get off your lawn too??

I have no problem with new ideas or speaking out. IF there is a reason to not really consider them, and it's not simply a negative reaction to change, what's the harm in proposing new things and ideas? The close-minded one here seems to be you.

I also have a question. Why do teachers give so many writing tasks to students? I have read numerous reviews like https://www.essayservicesreviewsclub.com/superiorpapers-com-review/ just to find a reliable helper with it!