bethnellvaccaro's review against another edition
5.0
This is an inspiring book that makes me want to try and teach high school. I have only observed high school English classes that are an analysis of texts from the standard canon. This book shows you how a teacher can still teach all of these skills using a social justice curriculum.
elie's review
4.0
This book marks the 10th and final professional development/teacher book I have read in the summer of 2015. So much knowledge!
Throughout college, I was dead set on teaching powerful, relevant curriculum to my students. Then I became a real teacher, was handed less-than-mediocre curriculum, and eventually started to write my own. Teaching for social justice took a back seat as I flailed around at figuring out how to teach and survive.
Reading Christiansen's book reminded me that I absolutely must change my curriculum so that students read and write about what empowers them and to give them a voice. Already, I've made notes on my year-long plan to incorporate ways for students to read, write, and share about their families, traditions, and languages in a school where white kids are in the minority.
I loved how Christiansen didn't just lecture on the importance of such a curriculum. Her book provides unit plans, handouts, and mentor texts from students and experts alike. And with 20+ years in the classroom, she knows what she's talking about.
Unfortunately, I teach middle school where most of my kiddos are Mexican, whereas Christiansen wrote her book focused on (mostly) African American high school students. Her mentor texts and examples almost all speak to a predominately Black audience and are at such a high reading level that my 6th graders would be lost.
While I was disappointed that I couldn't directly apply many of the lessons and units, I think I can take the concepts of her chapters and turn them into something that will cater to the demographic I teach. It'll be a lot of work, but there's nothing quite like a curriculum that excites students.
Throughout college, I was dead set on teaching powerful, relevant curriculum to my students. Then I became a real teacher, was handed less-than-mediocre curriculum, and eventually started to write my own. Teaching for social justice took a back seat as I flailed around at figuring out how to teach and survive.
Reading Christiansen's book reminded me that I absolutely must change my curriculum so that students read and write about what empowers them and to give them a voice. Already, I've made notes on my year-long plan to incorporate ways for students to read, write, and share about their families, traditions, and languages in a school where white kids are in the minority.
I loved how Christiansen didn't just lecture on the importance of such a curriculum. Her book provides unit plans, handouts, and mentor texts from students and experts alike. And with 20+ years in the classroom, she knows what she's talking about.
Unfortunately, I teach middle school where most of my kiddos are Mexican, whereas Christiansen wrote her book focused on (mostly) African American high school students. Her mentor texts and examples almost all speak to a predominately Black audience and are at such a high reading level that my 6th graders would be lost.
While I was disappointed that I couldn't directly apply many of the lessons and units, I think I can take the concepts of her chapters and turn them into something that will cater to the demographic I teach. It'll be a lot of work, but there's nothing quite like a curriculum that excites students.
More...