Things Are Falling Into Place This Autumn!

As an English teacher how can I resist a play on words! Do forgive me, if you are unamused by the title. Needless to say, this season we have had some great opportunities to mingle and get-to-know each other. Students finished presenting their summer reading posters to their classes. We have officially begun our first book of the year: Dragonwings by Laurence Yep. This week students completed a web-quest on Chinese Immigration and today are watching the TEDTalk "The Danger of a Single Story" in order to develop a deeper understanding of Moon Shadow, the protagonist, in the novel and his experience immigrating to America.

The rigor of the curriculum is picking up speed, and most students are gradually coming along and making progress. The term officially ends November 8th. Make certain to check SIS, take care of any outstanding questions or concerns before the term closes.

Despite the workload, we have also found some time to participate in events offered at school. From hosting Ms. Wilcox, vice president and associate publisher at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, who published Kwame Alexander's The Crossover, to visiting the Boston Museum of Science, we have been busy.

For professional development, I had an opportunity to attend the annual conference of the New England Association of Teachers of English, where I was able to listen to author Jerry Craft talk about his new graphic novel entitled New Kid, and was able to purchase a few more great YA reads for the classroom. Things as you can see, are definitely falling into place.