Back to English Class

Posted by Laura L. Johnson Sep 2, 2008

Many schools were in session for the year starting today, though the school at which I teach is starting the third week of class. Of course you all have a lot of important classes: math, science, history, computers, etc. But let's be honest - I'm biased towards English.

As I think on my first days as a high schooler and the last 3 years of "first days" as a teacher, I realize that sometimes, as teachers, we miss great opportunities to get you high schoolers excited about books and reading.

I remember my first class of English with my junior English teacher - she was so excited. I've always loved to read, but I wasn't really passionate about English. But my teacher was just SO excited - she was obviously loved every moment of what she was doing. It was then that I started to realize maybe there was more to this reading thing than just being entertained by a great plot or an addicting character. Maybe, just maybe, these authors and these books were letting us into great secrets of life - truths throughout the centuries. Maybe, just maybe there's something that could apply to our lives.

Challenge your English teachers this year - respectfully - to open up new possibilities in literature. Dare to ask the tough questions.