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On “Booking Through Thursday” this week, a serious topic is posted:

Today is the 7th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. I know that not all of you who read are in the U.S., but still, it’s vital that none of us who are decent people forget the scope of disaster that a few, evil people can cause–anywhere in the world.

It’s not about religion, it’s not about politics, it’s about the acknowledgment that humans should try to work together, not tear each other apart, even when they disagree.

So, feeling my way to a question here …

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Tags: meme // 9 Comments »

Written by the same author of “Madame Doubtfire” (Mrs. Doubtfire movie starring Robin Williams), the book begins with a noisy class of pre-teen boys in the UK on their usual day of traumatising their form teacher, Mr Cartright.

This day, the teacher is reviewing their project options for the Science Fair.

Naturally, the boys all want past projects like “the Soap Factory”, “the Maggot Farm” or “the Exploding Custard Tins”…

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Tags: school stories, young adult // Add Comment »

One of the introductory English courses I taught in a private college was called “English Language & Literature”. In addition to reading comprehension, academic writing and grammar, the students were required to read an abridged version of “The Moonstone” by Wilkie Collins.

Getting a group of 21st century cellphone-crazy, Internet-addicted, text-messaging, MTV-mad teenagers to UNDERSTAND a 19th century Victorian novel is almost impossible, ok!

Even I myself was put off by the dull dust jacket. Nevertheless, I read the book and mulled over it, cracking my brains to figure out HOW am I ever going to spark their interest in this book. After all, I need to help them prepare for the 60% written exam at the end of the semester.

I decided to use the characters to draw them in.

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Tags: teacher's tales // Add Comment »

“But my son or daughter doesn’t want to read!”

As an English-as-a-second-language (ESL) teacher, I hear this common complaint all the time when I ask if their children read at home.

I also hear interesting stories about how parents try to get their children to read by:

buying books and magically wait for their kids to read them

promising them rewards if they read them

threatening them with “unpleasant consequences” IF they don’t read them

lecturing them about the “benefits” of reading the books

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Tags: reading // 4 Comments »