As the year winds down...

At the end of the year, I always try to take some time to get a bit of feedback from my classes on their reaction to the course. Instead of having my AP kids do this in an informal, open discussion or through a course evaluation form, I decided to ask them what they would post as a hypothetical blog in regards to this class. I told them, "Give me the good, the bad and the ugly!" (Either my students are still fishing for good grades, or they are genuinely great kids who have a heart for learning, as you'll see in some of their posts below.)
So many teachers, like myself, wonder if what they are doing is actually effective, actually worth it. And although I have many moments when I'm discouraged by students who refuse to learn or put up a fight, I must remember that many of them do get it. So this post is really to encourage every teacher who has those moments of questioning; don't forget that many lives are being impacted by our work!

"The best part of AP is our intense discussions. We all bring our desks together and grapple with the content of each literary work...I felt very prepared for the AP exam. I was very confident after completing the multiple choice."-JT

"Although not an easy class, this AP class has challenged me in many ways. Books such as, Brave New World, Crime and Punishment, and Macbeth have opened my eyes to new and complex literature and have allowed me to analyze major characters and themes. I have been encourage to take on 'more difficult' works of literature and to dissect the worldviews and opinions of the author." -LM

"Some subjects come alive through the medium of a teacher and when the teacher thoroughly enjoys the subject it becomes a joy to learn. Although I do not always love the subject or literary work, I always come aways with a sense of appreciation." -ME

"The best thing about AP has to be the breakfast every Thursday morning!" -MM

""Poetry even proved to be interesting as we investigated a poem both individually and then as a class. A sense of self-satisfaction came with that, as well as the same passion felt by the teacher." -HM

"AP English has helped me become a better reader and writer. I have enjoyed our group discussions and hearing everyone's views...I have learned so many things that will apply to the rest of my life." -KP

"AP English- hardest class ever, but totally worth every second of hard work...Everyone's opinion was heard and everyone had a different take. AP English is a fantastic class that teachers us about people and world views and keeps us hungry to learn more." -AM

Mini-Lesson

1. Connection

· Consider the following question: What does a spouse owe their husband or wife? …Loyalty? Respect? Faithfulness? Financial support? Comfort? Quality time? Being a good parent? Etc.

· Where do you get your ideas on this: from contemporary music, TV, movies, books? The people around you: your own parents, grandparents, etc.?

· Is your response to this question in alignment with what you see around you or are your ideas the opposite of what you see/experience?

2. Teach (Explicitly telling & showing an example or inquiry)

1) As a class we will reread a section of The Painted Veil, where Charlie comments that he doesn’t owe his wonderful wife and mother of his children anything, not even his loyalty. Kitty is disgusted by his response, but is still seduced into a second affair with him anyhow.

2) Have students write a brief reflection essay for next class discussion (turned into a blog post afterward) in which they establish the characters’ views on marriage, comment on what Maugham’s view (the author’s) might be, and then agree or disagree with the prior and define their own opinion, using at least two points of defense for their viewpoints.

3. Active Engagement

1) After brief reflection essay is written, students will have a brief discussion of what this passage says about each character’s idea of marriage and how they are to treat their spouses. Also discuss what Maugham might be conveying in terms of his own view of marriage.

4. Link

Throughout reading The Painted Veil, students have been continuously studying the mindset of modern men and women of the 1920’s and also been analyzing the author’s worldview. This topic of marriage and relationships is a major theme that will be further explored and defined in the writing of this essay/blog post.

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5. Writing & Conferencing

After the brief class discussion, students will be required to post their reflection essays onto the class’ blog and spend a about a week responding to (critiquing and questioning) each others’ pieces & view points on the topic. With this feedback and sights from their classmates, students will write a formal critical essay that they will submit for a grade.

6. Sharing

Once essays have been written, students will reflect (in informal class discussion and possibly blog posts, as well) on the writing task and what it forced them to think about, what they realized maybe for the first time, and also their own intentions for their future marriages/relationships. We may even take it a step further and discuss how it connects to other works we’ve read in regards to this topic (i.e. The Great Gatsby).

Proud Moment

Over the weekend, one of my AP students was honored at a reception and poetry reading as he won first place in the high school division of the National Pen Women Poetry Award in our region. His poem is so moving, probably because it's so autobiographical and relevent for many graduating seniors. But I was so proud to be able to be part of the audience and witness this amazing achievent in his life. By the way, he wants to become an English teacher!

Packing Childhood

I knew not until I left, how difficult it would be

To live apart, out on my own.

The only thing that remains is (memories)

A tousled, musty orange, forlorn

Blanket hung upon my bedpost and fallen to the floor.

It shivered slightly in the breeze from the open door,

Waving, beckoning me back to childhood (wear it as a cape,

Build a fort, forget your chores, create a magic trick).

I take it and, folding, clutch it tight.

(The receiving Christmas, the first tear, stitch, and mend)

Still feeling her warm embrace, the scent of jasmine and sage,

(The smile upon her face during the summer dates)

With these, I am not alone.

I inhale, and am home.

The Painted Veil

Now that my AP students have taken their AP exam, they have the opportunity to decide what we do with the remainder of the school year. While they are still expected to functuion at a college level, they get to determine how we spend the last few weeks of school together, I'm so excited by their motivation to learn, as they decided to read a novel and then anayze the movie version. They chose The Painted Veil by W. S. Maugham which I had never read before but have seen the film of. They definitely chose the perfect book to movie comparision, as the book and film are miles apart in terms of the character developement and the outcome of the novel. I'm now sitting, waiting in anticipation for them to finish the book this week and begin veiwing the film next week. I anticipate some very good discussion and movie reviews as a result!