literature worksheets for high school
Dissatisfied with English Class?
The high school I attend is an all Gifted and Talented school (that is, there aren’t levels of difficulty for classes beyond Pre-AP and AP) that advertises its classes as being discussion-based and encouraging critical thinking. We just got a new English teacher for the juniors and we were all very excited because she had assigned lots of good literature to read over the school year. Now that we’re almost six weeks into the school year, it’s turned out that instead of discussing the books we’re reading in class, we are doing endless grammar worksheets and prep work for the AP test-which is in May. I know the AP is important, but is it really necessary to be working on it so much in September? Also, it seems like a waste to be reading The Color Purple, Dances With Wolves, The Scarlet Letter, Their Eyes Were Watching God, and so many other great novels when all we do with them is read and then take a multiple choice test. Should we approach the teacher about this or let it be?
If there is no discussion within the class, maybe you could ask the teacher if 20 minutes of one or two classes a week could be regulated to break-out discussion groups — where 3-5 students get together to discuss a certain book (so there may be several small groups). — You might suggest that you all turn in discussion questions prior to the discussion or keep a journal of the experience (if the teacher seems skeptical and needs “proof” that you are discussing — though I personally feel that if the teacher floats a bit from group to group then he/she can get a good feel to the quality of discussion.)
If the teacher refuses to do this in class, ask if she will sponsor an after-school discussion group because you feel you won’t be prepared for college courses if you and your peers don’t spend some time thinking and *talking* about the book from different perspectives. You might not have time for an after-school group, but this is to show her that you really want to do this –and if you keep your requests non-threatening, maybe she will get the clue that you want to really experience the literature, not reguritate it.
And you are right, those are all great books to be reading right now….
Hope this helped a little.