November’s Teaching Idea

The winner for November is Dawn Brown, of the Rockefeller Alternative High School Program in Iowa. Dawn writes:

“Students in the Rockefeller Alternative High School Program have discovered my Contemporary Novels course, which consists of reading their choice of eight Orca books and completing work from the accompanying study guides. When they are done reading those books, they must then choose any two additional books to read. More often than not, they choose two more of the popular Orca books. They have the choice to complete the study guides I have provided or to develop their own. This course works! Students are reading willingly and relating to what they read. They identify life lessons. I and my classroom associate find out a lot about the students through their responses to the reading—what they have gone through, what they are thinking, and where they are headed. I am one of Orca Books biggest fans and promote these books among my alternative educator colleagues in Iowa. Thanks, Orca!”

Thanks, Dawn!

Check out the teaching idea contest here. And if you’re a teacher who uses Orca Soundings in a unique way, why not enter?