This semester, we will be exploring American literature. We will discuss the concept of the American Dream and how it influenced and continues to influence literature. We will cover several pieces of literature, including poems, short stories, a play, and a novella. Each text will enhance your understanding and knowledge of what constitutes American literature. Ask questions. Experiment with new writing styles. Sample a new genre. Establish learning goals. Be weird. Employ divergent thinking. Be creative. Be reflective. Above all, do your best!
many farms high school
This website was initially created for my students. For other individuals visiting the site, this is an overview of my student teaching experience at Many Farms High School in Arizona on the Navajo Reservation. Subsequent pages provide insight into the curriculum that I am covering in the classroom this semester. Additional pages on this website include: Journal Prompts (for daily journaling exercises), an overview of information covered on Literary Movements, a page for Writing References (including MLA format information and other written response expectations), a page for the activities and information covered in the Of Mice and Men unit, a page for our Short Story unit, a page for the A Raisin in the Sun unit, a page for Poetry recommendations, and a page for Everything Else. This is a progressing website. Therefore, it is constantly evolving and changing.
This teaching experience differs from other teaching experiences that I have had in the past. This is my first teaching experience outside of Indiana. It is also my first experience teaching at the high school level. I completed field practicums at three other schools before coming to Many Farms High School. I spent time in Batchelor Middle School (in Bloomington, Indiana), Shawswick Middle School (in Bedford, Indiana), and Saint Charles Catholic School (in Bloomington, Indiana). I am participating in the Global Gateways for Teachers program through Indiana University. I took this opportunity because I wanted to step outside of my comfort zone. I sought an experience in a unique school system to gain knowledge about diverse school systems and educational policies. I wanted to be a part of something that required reciprocity, collaboration, and open-mindedness.
This teaching experience differs from other teaching experiences that I have had in the past. This is my first teaching experience outside of Indiana. It is also my first experience teaching at the high school level. I completed field practicums at three other schools before coming to Many Farms High School. I spent time in Batchelor Middle School (in Bloomington, Indiana), Shawswick Middle School (in Bedford, Indiana), and Saint Charles Catholic School (in Bloomington, Indiana). I am participating in the Global Gateways for Teachers program through Indiana University. I took this opportunity because I wanted to step outside of my comfort zone. I sought an experience in a unique school system to gain knowledge about diverse school systems and educational policies. I wanted to be a part of something that required reciprocity, collaboration, and open-mindedness.
About Ms. Fougerousse
I acknowledge that it is a standard of propriety to tell you a little about me. If you do not care, you are not obligated to read this. However, if you are curious as to whether or not I am another crazy English teacher… I am. If you were to ask me who I am, I would answer: I am a teacher, a writer, a poet, a philosopher, a gardener, a big sister, a daughter, a friend, a psychologist, an astronomer, a scientist, a colleague, a peer, an acquaintance, a scholar, a car-windows-down-backroads-driver, a photographer, a divergent thinker, an old soul, a Beatles and Billy Joel fan, a Bible scholar, an artist, and an inquisitive person.
If you seek to create and understand, if in anyway, from dialogue to poetry, from scholarly discourse to canvas, you express yourself, then you are fulfilling the precedent it takes to be an artist. English language arts is a discipline that bridges many schools of thought together. I believe anything important is worth working for. Reading comprehension, articulating ideas through speech and writing, these are processes worth working for. I read, write, and converse for a number of reasons. Sometimes, I write for peace of mind. Sometimes, I read, because I am searching for something. Sometimes, I converse to re-mold my thoughts or to hear a different perspective. I constantly have a million thoughts circulating through my brain, bouncing off the walls of my mind, striving to be free and in tangible existence.
I fell in love with two career paths- psychology and English. Psychology, for the ability to read people, to understand behavior, and to look through the walls that people build… and English, for different perspectives, for theories in verse or prose, for philosophy, and for the joy of over-analysis. Together, because they gave me the ability to exercise freedom of what I contemplated- the freedom to venture down different avenues of thought, to look through a different perspective, to harness the aesthetics of recognition and exploration, and to ponder the internal contradictions and tangles of ideologies. Education became the perfect balance between psychology and English language arts.
I am the type of person who has to have a purpose. Geoffrey Hartman once wrote, "Poetry, like human life, is an indeterminate middle between over-specified poles, always threatening to collapse it. The poles may be birth and death, father and mother… love and judgment, heaven and earth, first things and last things. Art narrates the middle region… for only if it exists can life exist; only if the imagination presses against the poles are error and life, wisdom and illusion possible." Everything around us is evolving and changing constantly. Binary understandings are incomplete. Trying to make sense of everything and seeking a purpose in the middle ground is what I live for. It is why I love teaching.
If you seek to create and understand, if in anyway, from dialogue to poetry, from scholarly discourse to canvas, you express yourself, then you are fulfilling the precedent it takes to be an artist. English language arts is a discipline that bridges many schools of thought together. I believe anything important is worth working for. Reading comprehension, articulating ideas through speech and writing, these are processes worth working for. I read, write, and converse for a number of reasons. Sometimes, I write for peace of mind. Sometimes, I read, because I am searching for something. Sometimes, I converse to re-mold my thoughts or to hear a different perspective. I constantly have a million thoughts circulating through my brain, bouncing off the walls of my mind, striving to be free and in tangible existence.
I fell in love with two career paths- psychology and English. Psychology, for the ability to read people, to understand behavior, and to look through the walls that people build… and English, for different perspectives, for theories in verse or prose, for philosophy, and for the joy of over-analysis. Together, because they gave me the ability to exercise freedom of what I contemplated- the freedom to venture down different avenues of thought, to look through a different perspective, to harness the aesthetics of recognition and exploration, and to ponder the internal contradictions and tangles of ideologies. Education became the perfect balance between psychology and English language arts.
I am the type of person who has to have a purpose. Geoffrey Hartman once wrote, "Poetry, like human life, is an indeterminate middle between over-specified poles, always threatening to collapse it. The poles may be birth and death, father and mother… love and judgment, heaven and earth, first things and last things. Art narrates the middle region… for only if it exists can life exist; only if the imagination presses against the poles are error and life, wisdom and illusion possible." Everything around us is evolving and changing constantly. Binary understandings are incomplete. Trying to make sense of everything and seeking a purpose in the middle ground is what I live for. It is why I love teaching.
Interest inventories: Now Tell me about you
Class Syllabus
Classroom Binder for Reference
American Literature
Absent: Find Make Up Work Here
I keep the make-up work in a binder on top of the bookshelf. Reference this if you are absent. However, I still expect you to come talk to me so that we are on the same page and I can clearly explain the assignment to you. Asking questions is important when you are absent. Stay caught up. It will be hard to catch up once you fall behind. Do not let that happen. However, I know things come up. Just communicate the situation to me and I will work with you to get you back on track.
Seating Chart
You may sit in any seat you choose. However, I reserve the right to change your seating selection or create a seating chart if you prove to be irresponsible with this freedom.
Class Survival guide
No. 1 Think Outside of the Fence- Do NOT Limit Yourself.
Rationale: Creativity is one of the most important skill sets to master. It sets you apart from everyone else and yet, ties you together with other brilliant minds. Sometimes, it is a matter of seeing something from another perspective. Consider all options. Then, exercise your choice when deciding which to run with.
No. 2 Find a Focal Point- What Intrinsically Motivates You?
Rationale: You can have more than one focal point, but find at least one. Find something that you love- a writing style, a particular author, a recurrent theme, a vocabulary word, etc. Whatever it is- make sure that you invest in it.
No. 3 Discover 2 Favorite Books- 1 From Class- 1 From Elsewhere.
Rationale: Even if you do not like any of the books we read (and you have to read them in order to claim that), then which was your less least-liked book. If you don't like to read, well, humor me. If you were teaching this class, what book would you want others to read?
No. 4 Develop the Ability to Talk Extensively About Three Authors.
Rationale: One day you might be on a date and there will be an awkward moment when you don't know what to say and the conversation lulls. Then, you will remember this ridiculous demand that your English teacher persisted that you develop in high school… and you will be saved. You will instantly become more attractive and maybe intellectually intimidating- which could be to your advantage. Be wise.
No. 5 Take Handwritten Notes.
Rationale: Yes, this is because I am an old soul at heart. I would even encourage cursive. However, in addition to my nostalgic views on handwriting, there are neuro-scientific studies that reveal: one retains information better if they take notes by hand versus typing (or not taking notes at all). Food for thought.
No. 6 Write Letters… Old School… Mail Them.
Rationale: Save the post office. Letters are a great way to quickly reflect on something. They have a predictable format and help you get into the habit of organizing your ideas. Plus, people love snail mail. Nostalgic factor again.
No. 7 Photograph Things That Remind You of What You're Reading.
Rationale: I want you all to be photographers… This is just another way to reinforce learning and help you retain textual details more effectively.
No. 8 Keep a Reflective Journal.
Rationale: Cognitive Neuroscience. Better Retention. These are informal. Just write. Don't worry about grammar, spelling, or advanced word choice. Teaching is the highest form of learning. If you can teach it to someone else, you have a pretty good grasp of the content. Prepare entries as if you were explaining your thoughts to other people. Draw, sketch, take pictures, write poems, write songs, essays, etc. Be Creative. Be Free. Express.
No. 9 Do NOT Limit Expression.
Rationale: Books are not the only form of expression. Movies, music, advertisements, visual/fine arts, theatre, dance, television, media, commercials, websites, etc. are all literacies. Critique them, agree with them, hate them, whatever- just justify your answer thoroughly.
No. 10 Try to Think Holistically.
Rationale: Start to put the pieces together. How does everything situate itself in relation to the texts and literacies covered in class? Think 360.
Rationale: Creativity is one of the most important skill sets to master. It sets you apart from everyone else and yet, ties you together with other brilliant minds. Sometimes, it is a matter of seeing something from another perspective. Consider all options. Then, exercise your choice when deciding which to run with.
No. 2 Find a Focal Point- What Intrinsically Motivates You?
Rationale: You can have more than one focal point, but find at least one. Find something that you love- a writing style, a particular author, a recurrent theme, a vocabulary word, etc. Whatever it is- make sure that you invest in it.
No. 3 Discover 2 Favorite Books- 1 From Class- 1 From Elsewhere.
Rationale: Even if you do not like any of the books we read (and you have to read them in order to claim that), then which was your less least-liked book. If you don't like to read, well, humor me. If you were teaching this class, what book would you want others to read?
No. 4 Develop the Ability to Talk Extensively About Three Authors.
Rationale: One day you might be on a date and there will be an awkward moment when you don't know what to say and the conversation lulls. Then, you will remember this ridiculous demand that your English teacher persisted that you develop in high school… and you will be saved. You will instantly become more attractive and maybe intellectually intimidating- which could be to your advantage. Be wise.
No. 5 Take Handwritten Notes.
Rationale: Yes, this is because I am an old soul at heart. I would even encourage cursive. However, in addition to my nostalgic views on handwriting, there are neuro-scientific studies that reveal: one retains information better if they take notes by hand versus typing (or not taking notes at all). Food for thought.
No. 6 Write Letters… Old School… Mail Them.
Rationale: Save the post office. Letters are a great way to quickly reflect on something. They have a predictable format and help you get into the habit of organizing your ideas. Plus, people love snail mail. Nostalgic factor again.
No. 7 Photograph Things That Remind You of What You're Reading.
Rationale: I want you all to be photographers… This is just another way to reinforce learning and help you retain textual details more effectively.
No. 8 Keep a Reflective Journal.
Rationale: Cognitive Neuroscience. Better Retention. These are informal. Just write. Don't worry about grammar, spelling, or advanced word choice. Teaching is the highest form of learning. If you can teach it to someone else, you have a pretty good grasp of the content. Prepare entries as if you were explaining your thoughts to other people. Draw, sketch, take pictures, write poems, write songs, essays, etc. Be Creative. Be Free. Express.
No. 9 Do NOT Limit Expression.
Rationale: Books are not the only form of expression. Movies, music, advertisements, visual/fine arts, theatre, dance, television, media, commercials, websites, etc. are all literacies. Critique them, agree with them, hate them, whatever- just justify your answer thoroughly.
No. 10 Try to Think Holistically.
Rationale: Start to put the pieces together. How does everything situate itself in relation to the texts and literacies covered in class? Think 360.
What I am Reading & What I suggest
I am currently reading Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan. I read Esperanza Rising when I was in middle school. Therefore, I am familiar with the author. So far, I like the fairy tale spin on the text. She cleverly integrates a frame story.
Feed by M.T. Anderson is a great text. Though it is science fiction, there is a level of plausibility that engages the reader. If you love to analyze ideologies, you will enjoys this text. It is a futuristic novel.
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Earlier this semester, I read Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers. In school, I minored in psychology. Therefore, this was a perfect text that I would recommend to anyone who derives joy from overanalyzing information.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is probably one of my favorite books for its paradoxical balance between depth and simplicity. The novel is an easy read, but the message is deep. Filled with omens and allusions, this text focuses on the importance of the journey in all that we do.
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