You know about you. Everyone has a story.

Well, again it's been awhile, but I think my posts will be much more frequent now that we have constant Internet access here at school. Of course now I need to create pointless activities for the kids so that I can blog every day. Sample class period:
"Okay kids, take out a dictionary and copy everything from 'a' to 'and'. No talking."
"But Mrs. Carter, what does this have to do with anything? Can't we just read a story or something?"
"Didn’t you hear the no talking part?"
"I'm sorry... but, um, Mrs. Carter? I don't think we've learned anything this week..."
"Listen, kid, I need a little me time right now. So shut your filthy little mouth and open your dictionary."

The job is superb. It really is my dream teaching position, and it has opened the magical world of juvenile literature for me. There is some really great stuff out there. Stargirl was just fabulous. I also read The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Maniac Magee, and The Bad Beginning. I think what makes this type of literature so good is the fact that at this level, authors aren't all pretentious about being "literary". They aren't afraid to use archetypal stories and characters. They are also OK using simple morality tales as the basis for their stories, whereas "legitimate" authors (especially the postmodern ones) are trying to distance themselves from traditionalism so that they can be different and quirky. I don't care if a story is incredibly unique or if it is groundbreaking; I just want it to be done WELL. And I think that is what so many of these juvenile writers do. They focus on creating a poignant, universal story, and the rest just sort of follows. So while I enjoy the literary cannon and artsy-fartsy contemporary authors, I don't think it would hurt Rushdie or Rys to read a little Sachar or Avi once in awhile. Unh.
Currently playing: "Completely Known"- Don Chaffer
Reading: To Kill A Mockingbird- Harper Lee