September Book Pick: A Separate Peace

Our new book pick is A Separate Peace by John Knowles.  We will meet on Tuesday September 15 at 7:00pm at Debby's house. Hope to see you there!

An American classic and great bestseller for over thirty years, A Separate Peace is timeless in its description of adolescence during a period when the entire country was losing its innocence to the second world war.

Set at a boys’ boarding school in New England during the early years of World War II, A Separate Peace is a harrowing and luminous parable of the dark side of adolescence. Gene is a lonely, introverted intellectual. Phineas is a handsome, taunting, daredevil athlete. What happens between the two friends one summer, like the war itself, banishes the innocence of these boys and their world.

A bestseller for more than thirty years, A Separate Peace is John Knowles’s crowning achievement and an undisputed American classic.

Teaser Tuesday - Teach Like a Pirate

I have been totally enjoying my summer break! I have actually not even been wanting to think about going back to school this year.  A colleague posted on Facebook that she had just finished reading Teach Like A Pirate and I thought, "This could be fun!" 

So I ordered the book and was delighted to find that it is a very quick and easy read.  As a teacher it is always fun to look at things in a new way and think about how to make learning more accessible for my students. 

On the back of the book it says:

CAPTIVATE YOUR CLASS

CREATE OUTRAGEOUSLY ENGAGING LESSONS

REDISCOVER YOUR PASSION FOR TEACHING

TEACH LIKE A PIRATE!

Pirates are daring and adventurous.  They sail into uncharted territories with no guarantee of success. They reject the status quo and refuse to conform to any society that stifles creativity and independence.  They are entrepreneurs who take risks and are willing to travel to the ends of the earth for that which they value.  Pirates don't much care about public perception; they proudly fly their flags in defiance.  And besides, everybody loves a pirate. 

Part 1: Teach Like A Pirate:

Passion

Immersion

Rapport

Ask and Analyze

Transformation

Enthusiasm

Part 2: Crafting Engaging Lessons

Part 3: Building A Better Pirate

I've just read the first couple of chapters, but I am looking forward to finishing the book and to getting back into the classroom with my new group of students!