Cell phones love English!

This morning I had an epiphany: cell phones love my English class. And if you really stop to think about it, it makes total sense. Often disregarded as just another technological device, a cell phone's sole purpose is to help you communicate with others. They listen to you laugh, cry and tell the stories of your life. They help you reach out and text someone.

Before, I used to get upset when cell phones went off in my class - breaking my train of thought, distracting my students, not to mention breaking school policy- but now I see there's a reason for it: cell phones desperately want to participate in my class. They want to share their opinions and feelings about the characters communicating in the novels. And so, they call out in song, buzzes or beeps. Imagine being so limited all you can do is hum the latest Kanye West song when you want to make a contribution to a discussion? Tragic.

I consider the close to 20 cell phones I've taken from students this year (and placed in my desk until 1:55 when they can be picked up) and realize these cell phones WANT to be in my desk. They WANT to spend the day listening to others discuss and communicate. I mean, let's be honest: who wouldn't?

I think it best, for now, to silence cell phones so that they may listen and learn in quiet - where they can be left, snug in your bag, to ponder whether Holden's life would have been different if he had a cell phone as opposed to going into phonebooths repeatedly.

Or, better yet, at the beginning of the class, give me your cell phone so I can put him (or her) in my desk to enjoy the cadence of my lessons as they roll on throughout the day.

Theme-tastic!

Over the year, one of my main goals is to have my sophomores leave my classroom with a firm grasp of what a theme is (a moral of the story or message from the author). To drive this point home on their last test for The Catcher in the Rye one of the short answers questions was this: Name the theme Salinger is trying to get across, why he thinks it is important, and whether you think that theme is still relevant today. Back in September I would have gotten a lot of answers that sounded like this "Salinger's theme is love because love is an important message and thing to remember in life. Love is important today, too, because people love each other a lot and they are happy." Now, in March, I laugh in the face of that answer (Ha!) as do my students. Check out the themes you all came up with. Incredible stuff:

* Be yourself because you'll never know the amazing people and good life you may lead if you don't.
* Do not be afraid of failure because there's always a way to get back up, or make your situation better.
* The only thing that matters is the present
* Never lose hope
* Money can't buy happiness
* Helping people is good
* Young people do not need to rush away from their innocence
* Just hang in there. Life is going to suck at times, it happens, but if you can ride it out you'll end up a wiser, better person.
* Never give into the pressures of society
* Never give up
* Only you can change your problems
* Everyone has to grow up some time
* Life is unfair and not completely perfect
* Find a purpose and go for it
* Everybody has hard times in their life, but they are what you learn from and they can make you stronger
* If you spend time dwelling on all the bad things your life is going to be miserable
* Fitting in isn't everything
* Don't hold on to your past because you can't change it
* Live life with no regrets
* You are not alone
* Everything happens for a reason
* Don't let your emotions get the best of you
* Hold on to what you have because you never know when it could be gone
* In order to become an adult, a child must go through rough times on their own
* Change is unchangable
* Rely on your friends and family and you will make it through anything
* You need to persevere even when things get tough
* Hold to what you believe in
* Life keeps moving and doesn't wait for you
* Don't be afraid to cope and move on with past struggles in your life
* Do not let society overpower your personality and take control of your life
* All people long for social companionship
*People need someone to talk to
* Be different in a world that tries to be the same

34 different themes total.

Me = Happy teacher :)

Soundtrack for the future Catcher movie

Last year while lesson planning for Catcher and listening to music I realized that "Let Go" by Frou Frou would be the perfect song to have playing during the carousel scene in the movie version of the novel. Now sadly, Mr. Salinger refuses to take interviews let alone sell the movie rights, but that allows us to be creative and consider how we would make the film. This song would be a definite not only for the lyrics but the sound as well. While looking for the music video of "Let Go" to post, I found something even better. Below is a homemade music video that someone has done with a series of drawings. Some are a little depressing (and gory) so I'm giving you a heads up, but the novel is depressing and Holden's imagination can be gory. I like the simple style of the artwork and it makes me feel like I'm going through a lost sketchbook of Holden's. I can see him relating to almost every image that comes up. Now, I doubt that the artist made this video with the intent of putting in Catcher in the Rye references BUT there are a ton of them! We will watch this video in class and I will ask you to find the images that fit the novel. Give yourself a head start and check it out now. We'll discuss the lyrics, too.




Lyrics:

Drink up, baby down
Mmm, are you in or are you out
Leave your things behind 'cause it's all going off without you
Excuse me, too busy you're writing your tragedy
These mishaps
You bubble wrap
When you've no idea what you're like

So let go, so let go, jump in
Oh well, whatcha waiting for
It's alright'cause there's beauty in the breakdown
So let go, let go, just get in
Oh, it's so amazing here
It's alright'cause there's beauty in the breakdown

It gains the more it gives
And then it rises with the fall
So hand me that remote
Can't you see that all that stuff's a sideshow
Such boundless pleasure
We've no time for later now
You can't await your own arrival
You've 20 seconds to comply

So let go, so let go, jump in
Oh well, whatcha waiting for
It's alright'cause there's beauty in the breakdown

The Catcher in the Rye video - Part 2