About Angela Kus Expertise I can answer questions pertaining to English Literature and Grammar. I can also help in the areas of Communications, Radio/Media, Journalism, Yearbook, and Drama. I have many innovative teaching ideas and am excited to be able to share them.
Experience I have taught English Literature, Grammar, Communications, Radio/Media, Journalism, Yearbook, and Drama in some capacity since 2000. I have taught for the past 3 years in the Chicago Public School system at underserved schools in inner city neighborhoods. Prior to this, I was a TA at my university and was a primary instructor in a class which helped education majors develop an online portfolio. Prior to that, I worked at a TA in a Chicago elementary school in grades pre-K, Kdg, and 6-8.
Education/Credentials B.A. English/Secondary Education with an unfinished minor in Mass Communications/Radio Broadcast from St. Xavier University
I have over 200 University credit hours accumulated from UIC and SXU in the areas of English, Secondary Education, Communications, Mass Communications/Radio Broadcast, Drama, Journalism, Philosophy, History, and Political Science.
I read part of your profile and decided you were the best person to ask.
I'm a first year teacher and teach Juniors and Seniors. I'm currently reading a good novel with my Juniors but my Seniors are yet to read something. Now, since the Seniors think they own the world since they're graduating soon, I want them to really focus in the few months that they still have in school. I really want to engage them in a good novel that they'll remember years after they graduate. For some reason, the Juniors are easier to engage, but I've noticed it's totally different with the Seniors. Would you have any advice on a good novel to read with high school Seniors? It doesn't have to be a specific novel either. Maybe some type of topic will give me an idea on choosing a novel. I appreaciate it. Thanks in advance!
~Gail
Answer My seniors are reading Joy Luck Club right now and are loving it. It doesn't matter what the novel is, as long as you make it different... for example, break the novel up into chunks and break your class into groups. Each group reads an assigned chunk and then "teaches" it to the rest of the class using overhead, power point, handouts, etc. I have a copy of my assignment sheet for this method at work if you'd like me to forward it to you...
I hope that helped a little, please feel free to let me know if you need more suggestions.
