TKMb - Reading Schedule (Until Christmas Break)

Well folks,
    Here is the reading schedule that is set until Christmas break.  This schedule will be adhered to even in the case of snow days or other delays.  It is expected that you follow the schedule and come to class prepared.  If you forget your book you can always click the image of the book located in the upper right-hand corner of this page.  The image is a link to an online version of the book.

Reading Schedule:

Date             Chapter         # of Pages
12-5               3                     10
12-6               4                      9
12-7               5                      9
          Weekend
12-10             6                      7
12-11          7 & 8                  17
12-12             9                      15
12-13            10                     10
12-14            11                     13
          Weekend
12-17            12                     12
12-18            13                     8
12-19            14                     8
12-20            15                     11
12-21            None
         Christmas Break

The Past Informs the Present

Perhaps the most important thing to remember while preparing to read To Kill a Mockingbird, a classic by Harper Lee (http://tecfaetu.unige.ch/etu-maltt/R2D2/dacostj7/stic-2/ex14/epub/ex14.pdf), is that the past informs the present.  In fact, that is the focus of this unit.  Whether we are first, second, or third generation Americans, or even if our ancestors came over on the Mayflower or were here prior to the Mayflower's arrival, we need to understand our history in order to understand the nature of our world and our place in it.  Reading this novel isn't just about learning to analyze tone, characterization, or any of the myriad of literary elements that we talk about; reading this book is a window to our past as Americans. 

To begin to understand the historical context for this book, and this unit, we must begin to understand what slavery was, when and how the abolition of slavery came about, and what the ramifications were in the former confederate states once slavery was abolished.  We have already taken notes on some of this, and your American history course that you are taking in conjunction with this American literature course has covered other parts.  But, one thing that hasn't been covered yet is the Scottsboro Trial.  This trial highlights the extent to which revenge, hatred, social discontent, and racial conflicts affected our society.  Watch the film, take notes, and we will be discussing this trial's influence on both our culture and To Kill a Mockingbird.  Remember, the past informs the present; as this is our past let us realize how it is informing our present.  There will be a quiz on the content to follow.  Watch, be moved, and think about this content.

I am posting a few very entertaining and beneficial videos on "The Crucible" below.  There are others by this presenter that are for "The Crucible" as well as other books in the cannon.  I would highly recommend you to use her resources and/or search out other resources to help you understand the finer points of our discussions and the narrative of the story.  Enjoy!

What is this?

Hello students, parents, and friends;

Well, the school year has been underway for quite some time now, and as I have thought about ways to stay transparent and accessible to both parents and students, I have decided to build this site.  My plan is simple; I will maintain a blog that does two things: 1. Showcase some exceptional work from students (without names); 2. Create a venue where students and parents can access a calendar of events, read about what we are doing in class, and access beneficial resources.  So, with that said, I hope that you will follow along and parouse the site. 

 If you have any questions about topics of classroom conversations, classroom resources, or anything pertinent to the course, please feel free to email me.  My email address is: ikain@oswego.org

Thank you,
Mr. Kain