| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
eljuero
Joined: 11 Aug 2009
|
 Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 5:57 pm Post subject: Novel for summer camp? |
 |
|
Any ideas or experience teaching a novel for summer camp? The group of kids will mostly be "first graders" at a public high school.
I guess I'm looking for a specific novel kids seemed to like!
Thanks for any ideas. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
kimdeal54
Joined: 28 Feb 2008
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 6:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Depending on their level, Diary of a Wimpy Kid could work. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
eljuero
Joined: 11 Aug 2009
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 6:32 pm Post subject: Thanks |
|
|
| kimdeal54 wrote: |
| Depending on their level, Diary of a Wimpy Kid could work. |
Thanks for your idea Kimdeal - presumably I could find it in one of the major bookstores or through what-the-book. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tomato
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: I get so little foreign language experience, I must be in Koreatown, Los Angeles.
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 7:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I've used The Catcher in the Rye.
It's about a teenager.
It is available in Korean translation.
Also, there is plenty of critical commentary written on the novel.
J. D. Salinger went into seclusion and refused to tell us which of the many interpretations was correct, but they provide for good discussion. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Senior
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 8:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
These are 1st graders remember. Unless they are super geniuses for K middle schoolers, anything deeper than a Goosebumps book is going to be miles over their heads.
Whose idea is it to study a novel? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
eljuero
Joined: 11 Aug 2009
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 8:03 pm Post subject: Thanks - |
|
|
| tomato wrote: |
I've used The Catcher in the Rye.
It's about a teenager.
It is available in Korean translation.
Also, there is plenty of critical commentary written on the novel.
J. D. Salinger went into seclusion and refused to tell us which of the many interpretations was correct, but they provide for good discussion. |
Yeah, that crossed my mind as well - nice to know it's available in Korean.
Does anyone remember The Chocolate War?
I remember reading that when I was young...pretty good. Catcher's a good possibility though. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
eljuero
Joined: 11 Aug 2009
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 8:04 pm Post subject: A thought |
|
|
| Senior wrote: |
These are 1st graders remember. Unless they are super geniuses for K middle schoolers, anything deeper than a Goosebumps book is going to be miles over their heads.
Whose idea is it to study a novel? |
It was an idea that got kicked around here at the school.....I hesitate to call these things discussions or well thought out but.....
Is your concern just the level?
Last edited by eljuero on Sun Jun 27, 2010 8:05 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kimdeal54
Joined: 28 Feb 2008
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 8:05 pm Post subject: Re: Thanks |
|
|
| eljuero wrote: |
| kimdeal54 wrote: |
| Depending on their level, Diary of a Wimpy Kid could work. |
Thanks for your idea Kimdeal - presumably I could find it in one of the major bookstores or through what-the-book. |
Yes, it's everywhere at the moment... very popular. I've seen it in Kyobo and Bandi and Luni's. I've asked one of my co-teachers and she said that the students enjoyed it, and that it should be suitable for 1st grade high school.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Senior
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 8:14 pm Post subject: Re: A thought |
|
|
| eljuero wrote: |
| Senior wrote: |
These are 1st graders remember. Unless they are super geniuses for K middle schoolers, anything deeper than a Goosebumps book is going to be miles over their heads.
Whose idea is it to study a novel? |
It was an idea that got kicked around here at the school.....I hesitate to call these things discussions or well thought out but.....
Is your concern just the level? |
I've yet to meet a co-teacher who could handle Catcher In The Rye, let alone a student. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
eljuero
Joined: 11 Aug 2009
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 9:06 pm Post subject: Re: A thought |
|
|
| Senior wrote: |
| eljuero wrote: |
| Senior wrote: |
These are 1st graders remember. Unless they are super geniuses for K middle schoolers, anything deeper than a Goosebumps book is going to be miles over their heads.
Whose idea is it to study a novel? |
It was an idea that got kicked around here at the school.....I hesitate to call these things discussions or well thought out but.....
Is your concern just the level? |
I've yet to meet a co-teacher who could handle Catcher In The Rye, let alone a student. |
Thanks for your thoughts on this.
I frequently find myself caught in wanting to give the kids something with real meat on it for thought, something to push them to a higher level but overshoot in many cases. I'd like to believe that there's that great novel or piece of writing that really gets them thinking. Despite my pessimism I'm an optimist underneath I suppose!
Again - thanks for contributing to the discussion. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Senior
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 9:18 pm Post subject: Re: A thought |
|
|
| eljuero wrote: |
| Senior wrote: |
| eljuero wrote: |
| Senior wrote: |
These are 1st graders remember. Unless they are super geniuses for K middle schoolers, anything deeper than a Goosebumps book is going to be miles over their heads.
Whose idea is it to study a novel? |
It was an idea that got kicked around here at the school.....I hesitate to call these things discussions or well thought out but.....
Is your concern just the level? |
I've yet to meet a co-teacher who could handle Catcher In The Rye, let alone a student. |
Thanks for your thoughts on this.
I frequently find myself caught in wanting to give the kids something with real meat on it for thought, something to push them to a higher level but overshoot in many cases. I'd like to believe that there's that great novel or piece of writing that really gets them thinking. Despite my pessimism I'm an optimist underneath I suppose!
Again - thanks for contributing to the discussion. |
I did Fahrenheit 451 with a teachers' class. It was a great way of thinning the herd. In the end 3 showed up periodically, but one lady got really into it. She genuinely tried to grapple with the material, but it was simply too much for her. I think she finished the novel, but I'm not sure how much she got out of it.
She had the most trouble with the symbolism and cultural aspects that are obvious to us, but fly straight over the head of someone who wasn't raised in English and western literature and culture. I can remember spending 15 minutes trying to explain the cultural significance of the fireplace/hearth in western culture. Think of the number of times this symbol shows up in western art, literature etc. It simply isn't a thing in Asian society. For us it is a sort of short hand for home, safety, family, comfort, whatever. Probably a million more things.
To her it was a story about some "firemen" (she couldn't quite get that they were real FIRE-men), who burned books some how.
I'm teaching Lipstick Jungle to a dozen or so, I'm hoping young and hot, junior E teachers, but probably, adjumma E teachers, in the summer vacay. Should be a laugh riot.
I'm not trying to discourage you. I hope it works out well, and do tell us how you get on. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
eljuero
Joined: 11 Aug 2009
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 10:17 pm Post subject: Thanks |
|
|
Interesting example of translating cultural concepts.
I had a weird time last week trying to describe "the road" or "road trip" as part of the American inner landscape.......
On a slightly less literary note - good luck with the hotties......we have to keep our dreams right?  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
toadkillerdog
Joined: 11 Nov 2009
Location: Daejeon. ROK
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 11:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Sorry to be negative and I hope I am wrong but I see nothing but failure coming from trying to teach a novel for camp. Good luck. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
chrisblank
Joined: 14 Aug 2009
Location: Incheon
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 4:40 am Post subject: |
|
|
you said first year high school correct?
With my first years I've done A Wrinkle in Time, A single Shard (by linda sue park) and am working on Harry Potter.
There are great resources for all online especially Potter and Wrinkle with comprehension questions, quizzes etc. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Arthur Dent
Joined: 28 Mar 2007
Location: Kochu whirld
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 5:55 am Post subject: |
|
|
You could try the Classic Starts series. Have a look at the different levels and the titles available.
I like Treasure Island. There is a lot of extra stuff you could do with it.
Show them how to make treasure maps.
Get some extra material on pirates and their history.
Do an actual treasure hunt with clues from the book.
Do some geography on the Caribbean and Africa's East coast - Madagascar.
Have a pirate fight and have them learn pirate language from the book.
Dress as a pirate day!
Haaarrhhhh!
http://www.sterlingpublishing.com/kids-catalog?section_key=21-64&limit=10§ion=&offset=0 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
