Back to School Challenge ~ Day 2

I've been a bad student; missed the first day, was late to class, but filling in for the second one. Hope I don't get too many marks off for this so soon! School started so soon it just...well, slipped by me. ;)

No more excuses, it's time to go "back to school..."

Parajunkee has hosted another fun-filled challenge for book bloggers everywhere, with the outline in an adorable chalkboard graphic on her page - great, isn't she??

Day 2's topic is: 

If you were/are an English teacher, share with us your dream lesson plan as for reading assignments.

Now, it's kind of funny, but I've thought of stuff like this before. I'm sure many admit that, as readers and book enthusiasts, you yourself have as well. It's even come up sometimes as a topic on forums like Goodreads. My answers change when the moment hits, but I do know I wouldn't teach Shakespeare since I can't seem to grasp it enough.

If I were a teacher, I'd like to be a college professor. Elementary kids are adorable, but I don't think my personality would complement theirs all day. Middle schools and awesome age, too, but still not quite where my head lies when it comes to reading. High school would be tempting, my I think my heart would like with those embracing their adulthood and venturing through the university doors.

 I could list books endlessly, but to be realistic, if I would to come  up with reading assignments and keep them school and classic appropriate, I'd grab the following classics --

Of Mice and Men

Catcher and the Rye

Animal Farm

Flowers for Algernon

Dracula 

These are all relatively short books that are completely different from each other. Of Mice and Men would discuss the unusual viewpoint of the American dream not always being possible and the stereotypes pressed on people. Also viewpoints on the ending. Catcher and the Rye would bring up the controversial history of the book and people's thoughts on that - I would guess half the class would dislike it, some enjoy it . Animal Farm would be a great short book to finish in a week on metaphors and control on society. Flowers for Algernon would be a serious angle on the science and if people can be improved, and how far  man should go. Dracula would be a different type of tale focusing on horror and building atmosphere, and how cultures change the same story to fit their themes. Vampires have changed such an astonishing degree.

If I were doing a class during the winter months, I would throw in the short but invaluable:

A Christmas Carol

I would mainly concentrate on reading fiction, but would discuss the greats and some poetry/short stories from:

Edgar Allan Poe

Robert Frost

Walt Whitman

John Keats

 

I'm sure these would be recycled out - so tempted to fit in more. Of course these all could never be covered - and that would be a shame!