For my I-search paper, I've chosen to research methods of teaching the nove Animal Farm by George Orwell. When I was in high school, I read the novel 1984 by the same author and connected immediately with it. Being a high school student in the aftermath of the Columbine High School massacre meant that many students around the U.S. were under surveillence and high schools were under lock down. Everywhere I looked I saw school cops and surveillence cameras set up in the halls. When I read George Orwell's dystopia about a society that was under surveillence and under complete authoitarian control I immediately connected to it. To me, I was Winston Smith constantly looking over my shoulder while I tried to get away with having an indeppendent thought. That is why I have chosen to research an Orwell book that I haven't read. Animal Farm is listed in the Springfield schools curriculum and I respect Orwell's ability to connect to many kinds of reader.
It is my hope that I will discover a way to connect the allegory to the lives of my students. Sop far I have found a variety of sources on the subject. It is my hope that while reading this novel, my students will become interested in the actual history of the rise of communism. Since I know that Orwell is an extraordinarily entertaining writer, I know that many students will probably connect to his style in the way i did with 1984. I think that I will offer 1984 as an optional text in my class and find students who feel like I did when I was in high school.
3 comments:
Hi, Kevin,
Can you explain what you mean by optional texts? How do you see it fitting in your classroom?
While you connected with Columbine, how have things changed for the students who will be in your classes?
In my class I will be requiring at least one outside reading project that will involve a novel that the student will be allowed to choose. This will be a seperate assignment that doesn't have to be connected to the assigned readings. It is my hope that I have a few students who will appreciate Orwell the way I did when i was in High School.
That's great, Kevin. I love your thinking strategies connected to your lesson ideas. I can totally relate to your feelings about Columbine and relating it to the novel seemed right on. Since the recent Ill. shooting, I've been thinking about Columbine again. Seems it's starting to happen a lot. It makes me feel that I have to be prepared for it at anytime, sometimes.
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