Whiteboard Ramblings: Summer Reading

For the summer, I took the unprecedented move of assigning my students, who will be returning in September as freshly-minted eighth graders, to read not one, but TWO books from a pre-approved list of thirty-six possible titles. (Nearly all of the titels are historical fiction set during the time just following the American Revolution--very popular among kids [insert laughter here].)In addition to reading the books, I've also "asked" them to write five reflective journal entries for each book. Crazy, you say?

Compared to other students, with other teachers, in both mine and neighboring school districts, this equates to roughly twice the expected work. Who says academic rigor is dead? When I initially gave the assignment during our last class in late June, there were the expected moans and hisses to which I asked them a question: "You are all bright young stars, correct?" to which most responded, "Uh... yes." (In class I'll often refer to my students as "bright young stars.")

"Well," I continued,"if you fancy yourself a star, you need to take on the responsibility of being one, which means you need to go above and beyond what others do... one book is not nearly enough!"

My colleagues have poo-pooed this notion, insisting that most will not do the work. If nothing else, I like to think that I "have my kids' backs" so I remind my colleague's that if you have high expectations, the overwhelming majority of the students will perform... at least, I hope so!

Breathe in, breathe out... YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!