1. I am searching for books to pair with The Odyssey. They can be YA books, or short novels. Generally, I'm looking for novels that might have a character on a journey of self-discovery. So far, I have Manuel Luis Martinez's Drift, and Margaret Atwood's Penelopiad. 9th graders will be reading them in book circles.
2. I am seeking a program where students can "blog" about a book, or have a conversation about it. I'd like to use blogger, but it is blocked at school. Any thoughts? A discussion board of some sort?
Do Mascots Need Modernizing? Ctd
-
A reader writes: I find the whole controversy about mascots and team names
to be a little ridiculous. While I can understand the hurt feelings, as a
white ...
18 minutes ago
17 comments:
Does BCPSS still make blackboard available to teachers and students?
edublogs.org is a free blogging tool
Yes, but I've never really used it. Does that have discussion board software on it? It's worth a shot. I've found it pretty un-user friendly, though. Should I give it more chances?
http://www.nicenet.org/
i have used this to prepare for an NCTE presentation. it may not have all the features you need though.
been thinking about you!
life is busy here too--but the teaching is good! four new classes tomorrow. my 6th and 7th graders switch every seven weeks. can't believe it's mid-october already!
mandy :)
So I teach middle school, so this may be a little too low-level, but "The Giver" is a journey of self-discovery and I wish I could force my kids to read it!
1. Cynthia Voigt's Homecoming works well with the Odyssey. There'a a great article (I think in Children's Literature, maybe from the late 90s) that draws parallels between the two.
2. When we couldn't log onto Blogger, I used http://www.bravenet.com/ for my sophomore's blogs. If your school's filter allows for that, I recommend it. If not, http://www.gaggle.net allows for "safe" classroom blogs and school (or teacher) control (though my school allows-- and I use and prefer-- Blogger). I found edublogs worthless.
I use edublogs, but I have my kids leave comments instead of going through a board.
Wikispaces.com has discussion boards.
Blackboard does have a discussion board function. Drop me an email if you need information.
This may be a little on the young side, but have you considered The Phantom Tollbooth?
Well, I just made a class page with nicenet.org. It's not pretty, but it was easy to use.
http://www.4teachers.org/ has some good resources -
I recommend rubistar and pbl checklists if you're looking for simpler ways to create project rubrics.
The webposter website is kind of cool and easy to use...has some nice English stuff in there too.
Looks like a great website....
thanks everyone for their selections.
Slake's Limbo by Felice Holman is one I remember from 15 or so years ago when I read it... it popped right to mind...
Might be a little long but the first time I read Watership Down it was in 8th grade. There's a great "journey" novel for you.
It you want to throw something really different in the mix, try The Eye, The Ear, and The Arm by Nancy Farmer. A bit of sci-fi but also the story of siblings leaving home and then struggling to find their way back. Set in Zimbabwe about 200 years in the future...how's that for cool.
"The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho.
Edisto by Padgett Powell is a great combo with the Odyssey.
From my wife and I: "Matameo" of the Redwall series..."TLOTR" would a bit long and Bilbo (in The Hobbit) was a relatively unwilling adventurer in contrast to Odesseus..."Also The Incredible Journey".
Moggee's Brother had us use Blackboard for one of our mandated reading courses in the manner you mentioned to fairly good effect.
-T.C.
Post a Comment