Boy by Roald Dahl, Tales of Childhood

Dear Class 621,
Welcome to an exciting new year. I am very happy to be your teacher. I am very impressed by your behavior and dedication. I am sure that together we are going to have a terrific year and what better way to begin than starting reading and studying Roald Dahl delightful memoir Boy. In this book, we are going to read a journey from childhood to manhood. All this with the magic that the author creates with his words. We are going  to laugh with him, share his pains and sorrows, and travel to wonderful places and all this without leaving our classroom.Let's begin our adventure and star reading. As Roald Dahl says of all these events: "Some are funny. Some are funny. Some are painful. Some are unpleasant. I suppose that is why I have always remembered them so vividly. All are true."

Dear Students,

Another activity that we are going to do before we begin reading the book is to find information about the author: John Steinbeck. As a matter of fact, good readers indeed find information about the authors to see how their background, ideas, and opinions are reflected in their work.

So, what can you tell me about the author of the book? Where was he born? What was his background? What connections do you see about his life and knowledge and "Mice and Men"? 

Let's see what your findings are.

The Importance of the Setting

Dear Class,

We are going to see how the setting in this novel is fundamental to understand the story. Therefore, I am going to ask you: Where is the story happening? Which town? Do you think there is a connection between the name of the city and the characters? When is the story happening?

You will see that by understanding the setting and its background you will fully understand this important literary work. As always, I am eager to read your comments.

Your teacher,

S.Namnun-Puigbo

Dear class,
I am very happy to begin our last unit in this wonderful journey that we started in September. We are going to read a truly wonderful novel : "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck. We are going to explore first some of the themes and background of the novel so we can fully understand it. I am sure this is going to be our best unit ever. I am all excited.
Your teacher,
S. Namnun-Puigbo

Test Time

Dear Students,

Tomorrow is a big day for us, we have been working very hard and I know you are all going to do very well on the English Language Arts Exam.

Remember to relax today, sleep well and come to school early. I know how much your reading has improved. I am certain these gains will be reflected tomorrow.

Your teacher,

S. Namnun-Puigbo

Hero or criminal?

Dear Class,

A sign of a good book is when the characters are complex and hard to classify. Johnny certainly is a difficult character to label. We saw him doing a terrible thing on chapter five and now in chapter six he redeems himself. Based on our reading : Do you think Johnny is a hero?

Let me know!

"Nothing Gold Can Stay"

Dear Class,

What a book! I think the more we read the more involved we get into the characters and the plot. After the terrible events in chapter four we see Johnny and Ponny Boy taken refuge in an abandoned church. I think one of the most poignant moments of the book is when Ponny Boy reflecting on the past events recite the Robert Frost Poem "Nothing Gold can Stay".

I want to ask you the following: What do you thing is the meaning of this poem? Why do you think Ponny Boy said it? Let me know your thoughts.

Here is a copy of the poem.

"Nature's first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf's a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay."