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finale

 1. The arguments against children's and young adult literature go as follows: We don't know, we don't respect, we don't understand, we can't afford, so we don't teach. It's hard to even take these arguments seriously as genuine educational concerns. Children and YA literature opens up vast doorways that lead to things like creative freedom, open mindedness, knowledge of the self and much more. As humans we often revile parts of our past and praise parts of our past, this category of literature gives students an opportunity to reflect in an unbiased constructive way. In the case for  Brown Girl Dreaming  by Jacquelin Woodson, we have a book that follow the life of a young girl with a brown complexion growing up in the 1960s told via a collection of poems. The book speaks on family matters, social issues, African American history, coming of age, and more. It teaches about poetry and novel story telling simultaneously. If one of the concerns is only teaching t...
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Persepolis Jazz Journal

  9. “In spite of everything, kids were trying to look hip, even under risk of arrest.” (p. 112) How did they do this? What do you think you would have done had you been a child in this environment? What acts of rebellion did you do as a teen? In way ways is Satrapi just a normal kid? In the novel Marjane goes to a party wearing a knit sweater with holes in it and a chain necklace with nails. She says punk rock was the trending fashion. I really liked this part of the story and I can really relate, I always wanted haircuts that my hairdresser could never  understand. "Shave the side and leave the rest", id usually get a confused look and a normal cut I wasn't happy with. Eventually I started cutting my own hair, for a couple years I would dye it all sorts of vibrant yellows, reds, blues, green, my mom did not approve. I also had a number of shirts that I ripped holes in and painted on. Eventually I realized Johnny Rot...
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Letter for Benjamin Alire Saenz

 Dear Benjamin,     I recently finished your novel, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. I felt it was an incredibly rich and lively coming of age story that depicts two boys rarely represented in American young adult literature. I want to first off congratulate you on your achievement with this book. And second tell you how this book helped me to further discover myself. While I'm not entirely like any of the character in. the book, their lifelike quality still helped me to learn about other people views and understand the world a little bit better. My Biggest question for you having finished the book is while Aristotle and Dante? Do their personalities have something to do with the philosophers Dante and Aristotle? Could the names just have likely been flipped around Ari being named Dante? I noticed that with on of your children's books your main character was named Octa...
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2nd Unit Plan Draft and Brainstorm

 Unit Author: Markus Zusak reception@curtisbrown.com.au LanesLit2022 Unit Overview: Learning from The Book Thief  In 1 month students will have read the entirety of Markus Zusak's novel The Book Thief, learned about world history, as well as important core lessons within the book. Subject Area Grade Level: 9-12 Student Objectives and Learning Outcomes: Students will learn about the history associated with WWII, develop an understanding for the horrors inflicted by the Nazis of the time. Students will learn about the author Markus Zusak, and his motivations and inspirations for writing The Book Thief. Students will learn about symbology used in flags across the world, and teach the class about a flag of their choosing. Students will be left with a deeper understanding of WWII, government belief system, and lessons taught in The Book Thief. Minnesota State Academic Standards:   Daily Planner: Before reading begins students will watch a short documentary on WWII. Students wi...
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Unit plan rough draft

      For my unit plan Ive chosen The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. This is a book I've read twice now, and with it being a book centered around the holocaust I think there are a boat load of different things that can be taught along side this book. Its conveniently split up into 88 chapters, so with a 4 week unit plan each week will have 22 chapters of required  reading Week 1: Chapters 1-22 Pre-reading: Watch a short documentary about the holocaust Post: Students discuss feelings towards the book so far Learn about Auschwitz camp Week 2: Chapters 22-44 Activity that teaches about Axis and Allied forces In WWII Week 3: Chapters 44-66 Discuss the history behind the Nazi flag Create your own flag project Week 4: Chapters 66-88 Finish book discussion Learn about Adolf Hitler along with other world leaders both negative and positive Present flags
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About Week Ten Discussion Three

 Children of The Holocaust     It was fascinating writing a letter having learning the story of a young girl who died in the Auschwitz camp. Part of it was so tragic that writing as if i'm her proved to be a challenge and made me feel a little bit uneasy. I was lucky and got to read two letters that happened to be directly from her immediate family. Bertha Adler was my person, I heard from my older sister and father. Both of them survived with what seemed like a stroke of luck. They ended up moving to America after the war.
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For Jacqueline Woodson

 Dear Jacquelin,     I recently had the pleasure of reading Brown Girl Dreaming, and am blown away by what's captured in this book. Such a great story so wonderfully told, i'm curious what made you decide to write in entirely in poem? Also how late does some of the writing date back in your life?      I really enjoyed the piece on page 262 titled music. When you referenced Funky Worm by Ohio Players, its a song I love and so I laughed out loud at this. It's crazy how the sounds on this record are still being emulated in modern popular music of the 21st century. Thats over thirty years of influence, so I don't think theirs any arguing that worm sure is funky.     I thought your book embraced the love of life's journey, as well as self acceptance. Found a strong understanding of peace in this book and for that I thank you. "Each day a new world opens itself up to you" powerful closing words. Thank you for...
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