"Library of Souls"

The conclusion of the "Miss Peregrine" novel is fantastic, and well worth the read!

Curriculum packet

"Hollow City"

The second novel in the "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" is just as strong as the first.  I found that creating a timeline to keep track of the story and various loops was very helpful for my students. We started working on it together, and they finished it on their own. 

A character chart also helped students keep track of who was where, when, and what peculiarities each character possessed. 

Curriculum packet

"Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" - creative writing assignment

This novel provides one of the best writing platforms out there! After reading the novel, I assigned students to do exactly what Ransom Riggs did - find some old photos, and work them into a story.  I gave students the choice to either begin with a story, and find pictures to fit, or find pictures first and write a story around them.

I was astounded by so many things - first, at the pictures they found, and second, at their creativity! My students loved the freedom of choice that this assignment provided. Some students stayed fairly realistic, while others delved into science fiction, fantasy, and more. I think this was hands-down the most writing my students have generated thus far!

"Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children"

This book was a definite page-turner, and now it's a movie! I'll be posting ways I used this novel to teach creative writing over the next few days.

Curriculum packet

"Every Day" unit

"Every Day" is about "A," who wakes up in a different body each morning. "A" can be a boy or a girl, but is always someone who is his/her age. This book explores gender roles and expectations, as well as moral rights and wrongs, albeit in a fictional situation. 

Curriculum packet

"Harry Potter and the Cursed Child"

Written in play form, this book is a delightful continuation of the Harry Potter series. This story finds our favorite students grown, with families of their own. Topics for discussion include expectations, personalities, and strengths & weaknesses. 

Curriculum packet

"We Were Liars"

We Were Liars is a twisting novel with an unexpected ending. The novel follows some trust-fund grandchildren, their mothers, and their grandparents as they summer annually on their private island. This novel is a tool for teaching family dynamics, responsibility, expectations, and consequences. 

We Were Liars curriculum packet

"All the Bright Places" project idea

I didn't want to let students cut up tons of perfectly good books, but I liked Decca's idea of removing negativity. I liked expanding that idea to stimuli the students would see daily, so I had them choose something they looked at often. Some students brought in magazines, others printed off pages of their Facebook feed, while others drew from websites. I think it was powerful for them to see the negativity that surrounds them.

"All the Bright Places" project idea

My class made a wall of post-it notes. I left it up to them, but asked that they keep it positive and inspiring. They wrote quotes, song lyrics, phrases; some drew pictures. Some were anonymous, other students volunteered their names with their contribution. 

I also gave students the option of creating their own personal "wall" of post-its on a sheet of blank paper. 

"All The Bright Places"

I just finished the novel, and I'm looking forward to the movie! It is expected to be released sometime in 2018, and at this time is reported to star Elle Fanning.

My curriculum packet

Be prepared to discuss mental illness, true friendship, and telling the truth, among other things. This book invites good conversations about divorce, parents, when to speak up, and when to listen.