Week 1 at the ALC

I'm one week in at the Alternative Learning Center (otherwise known as Summer School).  It's hard to believe, but this marks my 11th year teaching either one or both summer sessions.  And I have to say in all honesty that this has been my best session.

A number of students - despite it being summer - are eager to learn and willing to work.  That, I'm afraid, has usually been the exception not the rule.  But this summer session is great.

I don't know if it's the change in venue (due to construction we're over at the high school) or students or classes - maybe even a combination - but whatever it is, it's a joy to teach these kids.

As I said previously, that hasn't always been the case.  There have been some classes in the past where simply showing up was difficult, let alone getting students to turn in anything.  I recall classes where some girls simply talked all hour and refused to turn in any work.  Yet, they showed up every day and tormented us.  I recall classes where some guys just terrorized everyone in the class and relished doing so.  I recall others where students showed up and did some work and never missed a day but also didn't do all of the assignments, thus not earning their full 85 hours of required work.

So far, this year, though, it's so far so good.

I'll keep my fingers crossed.

So far in Literature II we've tackled the elements of plot through "The Lottery," "The Storm," and "Lamb to the Slaughter" as well as an episode of The Big Bang Theory.

Next week, we'll move to character and look at "Doe Season," "The Cask of Amontillado," and "The Man in the Black Suit" as well as an episode of The Office.

In Science Fiction we've looked at the initial episode of Ancient Aliens and looked at the aspect of "What is out there?" We've read two short stories "They're Made Out of Meat" and "The Sentinel" and are in the midst of Stargate.

Next week we'll look at two classic examples of the alien invasion theme: we'll read Philip K. Dick's "The Father-Thing" and watch John Carpenter's amazing The Thing.

In MCA Reading Strategies we've worked on strategies for determining main idea and inferences.  Next week, we'll look at facts and sequence.

Let's just hope the second week (as well as the remaining seven weeks) are as good as the first one!