I'm feeling really good about my nonfiction offerings ... but, I'm up in the air still about my literature offerings ... What title do you suggest for a novel for 12th graders who are reluctant readers and probably not college bound? I only have 8 students (6 girls, 2 boys) in my non-college class ... so, I could afford to buy a class set of novels. In the past I've tried: Angela's Ashes A River Runs Through It Sunrise Over Fallujah The Hound of the Baskervilles Frankenstein In previous classes, they have already read (I can't remember everything): Night Of Mice and Men The Great Gatsby To Kill a Mockingbird Tears of a Tiger Anyone know a title that just really captures this age group?
I did The Hunger Games with my low level senior class this past year, and they loved it. (My school has eliminated this class, so I was happy I had the chance to teach the book once.) I taught The Kite Runner with my college prep classes, and that was a big hit.
12th grade is British Lit here... How about The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins? It's one of the first mystery novels.
This is one of the earlier titles I forgot ... they read this earlier in HS. But, I appreciate your reply!
From this site: http://voices.yahoo.com/recommended-high-school-reading-list-grade-12-6470590.html?cat=4 Here's a list: A List of 25 Most Often Taught Literary Works at Grade 12 (English IV) in North Carolina Hamlet by William Shakespeare (Drama, British)* Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (Novel, British)* Macbeth by William Shakespeare (Drama, British)* Lord of the Flies by William Golding (Novel, British)* Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (Novel, British)* Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (Novel, British)* The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer (Poetry, British)* Beowulf (Epic poetry) Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw (Drama, British)* Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (Novel, British)* Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy (Novel, British)* Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (Novel, British)* Animal Farm by George Orwell (Novel, British)* Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (Novel, British)* 1984 by George Orwell (Novel, British) The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy (Novel, British) A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (Novel, British)* The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (Drama, British) Othello by William Shakespeare (Drama, British) LeMorte d'Arthur by Thomas Malory A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare (Drama, British)* Everyman (Drama, Morality Play, British) King Lear by William Shakespeare (Drama, British) Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare (Drama, British) Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard Surprised to see Lord of the Flies for Grade 12. Here in California, I believe it's read in an earlier grade.
This year with my seniors, I'm doing a book club/literature circle unit. I'm pulling 6 titles from our "book closet" and having students choose a book from those. We'll take a few minutes and pass the books around (and read the synopsis of each), and they'll write down their top 3 choices. Looks like people gave you some great options: I just wanted to tell you about my plan just in case you can't make up your mind, ha ha. I've never done this book club "thing" before, but because we do SSR for a few minutes everyday, I think it will work out well. I plan to make generic assignments based on common literary elements and the students will have weekly meetings during class with the others who are reading the same book. I've been reading The Help with my juniors. It's a great book, and we watch the movie afterwards. It may be an option for seniors as well.
Thanks for the list, Ted! ListLady - I've considered the book club idea but always run into a hiccup of sorts. We have 46 minute classes (I'm jealous of your 90 minutes!) But, this idea stays in the back of my mind each year.
I've heard good things about this. I've also heard Sherman Alexie's "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" is very good. It's on my list of "to read books."
ATTWN is one of my favorite books. You never see the end coming! We kept a "casebook" on the board. They were basically investigators.
Native Son by Richard Wright is excellent. I read it along with others when I was a senior and I had a hard time putting it down. Also, it leads to great discussions.
What about I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings? Their Eyes Were Watching God? I love L'etranger and Jane Eyre but they're probably too difficult/not engaging enough for this particular group.
I would also consider letting the students decide, with your guidance of course. You could pick maybe 3 books you approve of. During a class period, you could tell them about the plot of each. Then, they could vote. It's always fun for the students to have some say in what they're doing, especially if they're reluctant.
I read Curious Incident... with a low level 11/12 mix last year. It did not go well. Personally, I love the book. But, the narration by the very intelligent, analytical, detailed main character wasn't engaging for many of my students. They were really bored reading about his explainations. They also didn't seem to "get" a lot of the parts of the book that really make it enjoyable. I would definitely read it ahead of time and decide how well you think it would fit with your particular group.
Also, The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. I found it more interesting/engaging than The Woman in White. TWIW just had a super slow start.
How about a great graphic novel? There's a new one out called March about the March on Washington in the 60s. Another great one (especially with such a girl heavy class) is Persepolis. It's the story of a girl who grew up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. http://www.amazon.com/March-Book-1-...qid=1378779109&sr=1-1&keywords=march+book+one http://www.amazon.com/Persepolis-Story-Childhood-Marjane-Satrapi/dp/037571457X
My Sr English teacher did last semester of Shakespeare. The last week Srs were there we had a mideval dinner. We all had a role and did a knighting!!! So much fun!!! I remember reading Of mice and Men as well!!!
I've done "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" by Ken Kesey and shown the film with Jack Nicholson with my general senior classes and they've enjoyed it.
Come spring, keeping their interest will really be a challenge. Johnny Got a Gun Where the Red Fern Grows (probably a reread) The Help Harry Potter (reread too)
I gave my last class of seniors a choice between Frankenstein and Pride and Prejudice (It's Brit Lit here in 12th grade). They chose Pride and Prejudice and actually enjoyed it. I would do like someone else already suggested - choose a few titles (preferably ones with corresponding movies! and let them pick. Then if they complain, they picked it bwhaha.
