Research Abounds in 9th Grade English

The week before mid-terms is always a busy time. Students are using the library for study groups, finishing up projects and preparing for the mid-term week! We spend our time helping students with their research projects, calming nerves regarding mid-terms and providing a place where students can study, relax and prepare.
In addition I was able to work on one of my favorite projects. Ms. Percheski brought some of her English classes to the library to work on their first research project related to the book: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Students compare and contrast three different formats of research; blogs, databases, and videos. I spend the time teaching what each one is, how it is used in academic research and how to determine which format will best serve their needs based on their research question. Students then create a five minute presentation using their research. This is a great introduction to research and prepares them for their bigger research project for third term!

Mr. Voldman's Holocaust & Genocide class have been in the library all week presenting their group projects. Students have created displays on a topic related to the Holocaust.

The displays consist of both a physical product as well as a technology component. All of his classes come to the library to observe and comment on each project. The library looks like a mini museum!!! Great to see students observing and commenting on each others work!

 Blog Book of the Week: Persepolis / Marjane Satrapi

Mr. Wong calls this book: "insanely good" A graphic novel and one of the first to take hold in main stream, this is a memoir of a little girl and her experience growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. The following summary from the publisher really says it best:

Persepolis paints an unforgettable portrait of daily life in Iran: of the bewildering contradictions between home life and public life and of the enormous toll repressive regimes exact on the individual spirit. Marjane’s child's-eye-view of dethroned emperors, state-sanctioned whippings, and heroes of the revolution allows us to learn as she does the history of this fascinating country and of her own extraordinary family. Intensely personal, profoundly political, and wholly original, Persepolis is at once a story of growing up and a stunning reminder of the human cost of war and political repression. It shows how we carry on, through laughter and tears, in the face of absurdity. And, finally, it introduces us to an irresistible little girl with whom we cannot help but fall in love.