I believe educating students on critical lenses is really beneficial for students not only in how they approach literature but also how they approach life and the different perspectives they will encounter throughout their lifetime. Author Deborah Appleman, writes in her book Critical Encounters in Secondary English that, “[r]ather than simply covering literature as cultural … Continue reading The importance of critical lenses in the classroom and outside the classroom →

Thomas King’s short story Tidings of Comfort and Joy uses satire to convey the relationship between European settlers and Indigenous Peoples. As Christmas embarks in the Gold household, Hudson Gold reflects on all he has to be thankful for as the year comes to an end. Indigenous Peoples’ are portrayed in the short story as … Continue reading Tidings of Comfort and Joy: New Historicism critical lens →

In Thomas King’s short story The Color of Walls, the protagonist, Harper Stevenson, was passionate about having his office walls painted white. He refused to accept the council of his secretary and professional painter, who both tried to explain to him why he could not have white walls in his office. As a result, Harper … Continue reading “The Color of Walls” Deconstructionist critique →

The graphic novel, Persepolis written by Marjane Satrapi, recounts the Islamic Revolution, through the eyes of a young girl named Marji. The novel opens with a brief introduction of the politics in Iran that led to the Islamic Revolution (pg. 3).  The introduction explained how Iran was very appealing to many colonizers due to its … Continue reading Persepolis: Colonial Lens →

The graphic novel, Persepolis written by Marjane Satrapi, recounts the overthrow of the Shah regime, which becomes known as the Islamic Revolution. The historical events are observed through Marji, whom at the beginning of the novel is just a child living with her family in Tehran. The novel ends with Marji as a young teenager … Continue reading Persepolis: Gender critique →

I remember picking up To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, in an Indigo bookstore two or three years ago and reading the back of the book. I was taken with the synopsis, wondering what was to come of the teenage girl whose love letters were accidently mailed to all the boys she has loved. … Continue reading “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”- Book Talk Assignment →

In the novel, How Dare the Sun Rise: Memoirs of a War Child, Sandra Uwiringiyimana and her family immigrate as refugees to the United States where they experience the social constructs of western civilization. Interestingly, Sandra’s family could not understand or justify why these social constructs are in place, which I believe says something about … Continue reading Analyzing ‘How Dare the Sun Rise’ Through a Marxist Lens →

The true story, How Dare the Sun Rise: Memoirs of a War Child tells the story of Sandra Uwiringiyimana and her survival of the 2004 massacre at a refugee camp in Gatumba. When Sandra’s family was fleeing for their life, I was six years old with no exposure of violence or unnatural death. Even now, … Continue reading Readers Response: How Dare the Sun Rise →

I am enrolled in education as a second year, however, this was my first school year in education. My first semester was rough as I was in no education classes and was only enrolled in classes that will further my completion of my teaching area creditentials. While I knew my fall semester was going to … Continue reading My First Year in Education: A reflection →

I believe teachers put marks on students, which can stay with them into their adulthood and influence what kind of marks they themselves want to put on society. The question that teachers should ask themselves is what kind of mark they want to leave on their students when they leave their classroom and is that … Continue reading The Beginning of my Teaching Philosophy →