My students do often ask questions or point out details that I had not noticed in previous readings of a book. For instance, my sophomores read A Separate Peace. Students many times will dismiss the book because, they're, like, so gay. That had not even occurred to me when I read it. (Truthfully, some of them may not have thought of it either if Cliffs Notes hadn't said so. On rereading, it is very possible.) So we have discussions about that possibility and how that might affect the other themes. And then I try to steer them to look at some of the other aspects of the novel. You know, so I don't get fired, or get parents sicked on me. :) This was a book I didn't particularly like at first and these discussions actually made me appreciate it more. Thanks, kids!

posted by emaestra at 11:17 pm (EST) on Jul 23, 2008