My school requires that all English classes have an Accelerated Reader component. How I feel about that is a complicated rant, but I go along, because that's what we do. In my AP classes, I try to make it a little more college level by requiring that the students read at least two "classics" each semester, in addition to their choice books. They're busy students! If you could get away with reading Twilight, a book that could be read in 24 hours, wouldn't you?
The "classic" would be defined as something in the Western Canon. Other regions are acceptable, but they have to be cleared by me - they really have no clue about what makes good literature. Just yesterday, I had to tell someone that while Where the Red Fern Grows is a much believe childrens' classic, it doesn't count for AP. We are preparing for the AP test, not just reading for giggles all the time.
It's interesting to see what books gain popularity every year. As one students finishes it, they tend to pass it along to others. One year, Pygmalion was read by about half the class. It's short, it's a play and can be read rather quickly. Another year, Hemingway was on the hit list. Catcher in the Rye was a real favorite last year. Surprisingly, this year it seems to be Huck Finn. Not only is it a fairly long book, but it's not a book I would have thought my nearly all female classes would have chosen. It will be interesting to see if it's still a hit as the semester comes to an end and all the procrastinators start to panic.
The "classic" would be defined as something in the Western Canon. Other regions are acceptable, but they have to be cleared by me - they really have no clue about what makes good literature. Just yesterday, I had to tell someone that while Where the Red Fern Grows is a much believe childrens' classic, it doesn't count for AP. We are preparing for the AP test, not just reading for giggles all the time.
It's interesting to see what books gain popularity every year. As one students finishes it, they tend to pass it along to others. One year, Pygmalion was read by about half the class. It's short, it's a play and can be read rather quickly. Another year, Hemingway was on the hit list. Catcher in the Rye was a real favorite last year. Surprisingly, this year it seems to be Huck Finn. Not only is it a fairly long book, but it's not a book I would have thought my nearly all female classes would have chosen. It will be interesting to see if it's still a hit as the semester comes to an end and all the procrastinators start to panic.
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