Welcome!

This is our English 9 blog for 3rd hour.  Second hour has one of their own.

Why a blog?  There are a few reasons.

First, I want to get you writing as much as possible.  The more you write, the faster you improve as a writer.  A blog has the advantage potentially providing you with a large audience.  Mrs. Clingerman, for one, is dying to read E9 blogs.  She has an ulterior motive, however, which leads to the second reason we're doing a blog.

This blog is not just any old blog.  It's about your reading.  Some of you love to read, some . . . not so much.  Whatever your interest level, you have to read for English 9.  At least two of the things you read will be of your own choosing.  There's enough stuff in high school that we force you to read whether you want to or not.  You E9 independent reading blog is one of the few times that you pick what you read and get credit for it.  Just like writing helps you become a better writer, reading helps you improve your reading.  The even better news is that you improve almost regardless of what it is you're reading.  Twilight, Chris Crutcher, Percy Jackson, Jodi Picoult, Clive Cussler, you name it!  It's all good.  Mrs. Clingerman and Mrs. Kaldenberg will want to hear about it all.  And so do I.

There is one caveat, though.  One of the two books you read has to be a classic.  Yeah, I know, I'm cramping your style.  Again, I have a reason.  You are amazing people.  When you go off to college, I want everyone else you meet to know this, too.  I want your professors and fellow students to be suitably impressed by you.  Having read a classic book could do that.  At the very least, reading a highly-thought-of book might help you to feel less left out when other students are having discussions.  I remember feeling like the only college student in the world who hadn't read Huckleberry Finn.  I want you to feel well-read and ready to meet any discussion with confidence. 

Now, we just have to figure out the logistics of posting, commenting on others' posts, assessment, and generating conversations outside our class.  It's a big job, but I know we can do this.  Enjoy!