American Born Chinese

American Born Chinese

            American Born Chinese is an important book for many reasons. The first and most important reason is because it both gives an accurate portrayal of a person who is trying to adjust to a new culture while both blasting and accepting certain stereotypes. This book is important to read in schools because many students will never know what it is like to be part of a minority, at least of a cultural or ethnic nature. Using this novel in class can show students how hard it can be to adapt but also provides a very fun read.

            Another reason that this novel is important to teach in schools is because it is unique, one of only a handful of graphic novel style books that have been approved for reading in the classroom. The graphic novel style of this work opens up a lot of options for activities, discussion, and entertainment during reading. Additionally, students that are not inclined to be reading the novels that have been previously assigned might find this novel to be easier, or more accepting. They might not even view it as reading. Graphic novels can go a long way in encouraging students that are struggling or reluctant readers to begin to enjoy reading.

            As with any material that is taught in the classroom there are likely to be some objectors to this material. In this case I think it will come largely from people that will say that graphic novels are not a valid form of literature and that students should be doing other tasks besides reading comics in school. However, this novel can be very easily defended with a strong rationale and unit outline that could be sent home to parents.

Night Response

Night Response

            Eli Wiesel’s Night is one of the most important books a secondary teacher can be familiar with. Teaching Holocaust related materials is a requirement in several different years of English classes in secondary education and will also be touched on in Social Studies Classes. Night is so important because it is a very easily accessible novel for many students. It is written strictly as a narrative without the sort of psychological analysis that comes with other works about the Holocaust such as Primo Levi’s If This Is a Man. Wiesel’s narrative tells the story of a journey that no one who hasn’t lived it will ever fully understand, but Wiesel does his best to make the story readable.

            One of the most important things to remember when teaching this text is that it is a very sensitive and monstrous subject to teach. As a teacher it can be difficult to breach such a sensitive topic like this so the students must be adequately prepared. Before teaching this book, even in an English class, I would recommend at least some historical background on the Holocaust: what it is, how it happened, and the aftermath. This can be taught separately from World War II, and probably should be taught separately for maximum impact.

            Dangers in this book include depictions of violent deaths, terrible conditions, and many depictions of the brutality that is possible by man. I think it is likely that there could be parents that wont want their students reading this material so having an alternate piece of curriculum prepared may be a good backup plan even though, hopefully, you wouldn’t have to use it. Because of the sensitivity of the issue teachers should make sure that they include this work in their syllabus so that parents are aware of the unit well in advance.

Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet

            First of all, Romeo and Juliet is an important play to have read multiple times and understand very well because it is required reading in many school systems. Shakespeare is taught, in Washington, usually once a year from middle school on, so knowing his plays is one of the most important things any English teachers should know about.

            Furthermore being able to read dated English will help us as teachers as we prepare to look at old English works such as “Beowulf” or Canterbury Tales. These works are very tricky for students to read and equally difficult for teachers. The best way to combat this difficulty is through as much practice as possible. Only through rereading difficult texts, taking great notes, and truly putting in the time to understand them can a teacher hope to pass on that knowledge to students. Simply put, unlike some other works that might be taught in the schools, Romeo and Juliet will probably need to be reread every year to stay fresh and useful as a guide to the students. But if you are opposed to reading books multiple times, being an English teacher might not be for you.

            The other reason that Shakespeare’s works, and Romeo and Juliet in particular, are so important is because of the plots. The plots have been adapted and readapted many times throughout history and are actually very prevalent in many modern texts, films, TV shows, plays, and stories. Being familiar with these plots can help you to incorporate popular culture into the classroom, which will engage and ultimately benefit students. Incorporating popular culture into the classroom is very important because it provides students with a sense of relevance that is too often lacking in the modern secondary setting.

Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian

Diary of a Part Time Indian

            Sherman Alexie has never had any problem breaching controversial topics, which may be one of the reasons Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian is such a well loved and approachable book. Alexie seems to be able to lend a certain air of excitement to controversy, which is maybe something that students will really grab on to if this book is ever taught in a classroom.

            I am a pretty big fan of Sherman Alexie, and really respect his work. Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian is no exception. I would love to teach this work in a class, however, it has many very controversial aspects that could make it pretty hard to teach in a typical high school classroom.

            Perhaps one of the biggest controversies in the United States today is how to address homosexuality from a legal and social perspective. As a controversial issue that many people stand in direct opposition to recognizing, it can be a very controversial issue to address in the classroom. Furthermore, schools already struggle with a lot of bullying issues because of sexual preference and so it could lead into a very negative discussion if brought up in class. Teachers will also have to be aware of the dangers of students calling out inappropriate names or referencing other students at the school in this discussion.

            Another issue that would likely have to be addressed would be the alcohol abuse that is portrayed in the novel. Many parents will take issue with novels that deal with alcohol or substance abuse in society today and will feel very uncomfortable with the notion of their children reading about it.

Things Fall Apart

Things Fall Apart

            Achebe’s Things Fall Apart is an important text to have read, understand, and be able to integrate into the classroom. One of the most important reasons to be familiar with this text is to be able to include it to help students understand how different the African culture is from the culture that most students will encounter in the schools in the United States. This text breaches several difficult topics including the purchasing of humans, or the giving of humans as prizes, and domestic violence. While these things are socially acceptable in some parts of Africa, most students in the United States would be abhorred to read about these things taking place. Furthermore, the ideas of pride and place in the African culture are highly emphasized, with oracles giving instructions, village leaders being disappointed in their subjects, and the idea of barter and trade rather than a standardized currency that can buy everything. These social constructs are typically not present in the day to day life of a student in the United States, and if they are, those constructs are not nearly as important as they are to the African way of life.

            Because of some of the things that are described in the text, teachers must be aware of things that are happening in the text in order to keep the classroom adequately managed. Some students will be very frustrated, outraged, and shocked at some of the events so classroom discussion will have to be closely monitored to make sure that it doesn’t get out of hang. Also, students and parents both should be prepared for the reading, so a unit outline sent home or attached to the initial syllabus would be a very good idea.