High School Reading

Why study literacy—reading and writing? Whether we open a book for school, work, or pleasure—we hope to get something out of it. Depending on what it is that one is reading, it is something that affects the mind, the heart; and if it is something a person really gets into, the gut. Writing is a way of communicating our thoughts. It is the basis of everything we know and understand. It is the root of language, science, mathematics, technology, symbols, art, philosophy, religion, history, and anything in between. Reading and writing are both activities and abilities—they are complex processes that a person must constantly engage in if he expects to get better at them.

That is what this semester course is about—utilizing and honing the tools one needs in order to become a more effective reader and writer. Ms. Fees wants to get her students to think about what it is that they are reading and writing—about what it means, about what is important, and to think about the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the material being read. The students will explore not only academic reading, but the reading of essays, editorials, articles, primary sources, and novels, too; but they will be writing about them. We need to get the students to develop good habits regarding previewing material, highlighting and underlining, and determining the important points and supporting details that the author is trying to convey, as well as the habit of reflecting on what has been read. Students will be expected to express themselves both in written form and verbally, as this is all a part of literacy and the state standards. It is always important to recognize the power of reading and writing—gaining information adds to one’s strength intellectually; and to be successful in this world, the ability to be an independent thinker and to reason promises to be a step in the right direction.

The course will include the following novels: All Quiet on the Western Front and To Kill a Mockingbird . There might be more if time allows.