GRAND
OPENING, by Jon Hassler
This wonderfully-told tale involves a boy moving from Minneapolis to a small town.
He is accepted immediately by Dodger, whom the other "good" students don't like.
It is true to life, with an ending you can't forget.
SLOW WALTZ AT CEDAR BEND by Waller was a very good piece, but I enjoyed BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY better. SLOW WALTZ made reference to western SD (Custer, Hot Springs, etc.) but the literary flow of BRIDGES was better.
Garrison Keillor's work lends itself not only to my literature classes, but also serves as a jumping-off point for composition.
His style helps me explain the narrative. Before we look at Keillor's Lake
Wobegon, their self narratives are filled with "I did this, then I did.
. . . " After talking about Keillor's style, much better personal stories come pouring out.
Kandy Punt
I enjoy LORD GRIZZLY and recommend it to students, since the setting isn't too far from us.
I've met Manfred, and I tell students about him.
Doris Ann Chimela, Kimball, SD
I use an essay of Keillor's called "Attitude" in my classroom. I have a cassette recording
of it as well; the students love listening to his voice as he brings the story to life.
The story centers on having the proper "attitude" for a sport. Then the students write about what
they feel is the proper "attitude" in a sport activity they perform in. It is a great stimulator for
writing.
Linda Wegleitner , Florence High School
Kathleen Norris'
DAKOTA: A SPIRITUAL GEOGRAPHY
If you picked up this book and the cover was gone, you would still immediately recognize South
Dakota.
OUTSMARTING IQ: THE EMERGING SCIENCE OF LEARNABLE
INTELLIGENCE,
by David Perkins
(No--this was NOT part of my "fun" reading!!)
The title is formidable, but the content is thought-provoking and the style is quite readable.
The author lays a lot of groundwork about how the brain functions, then goes on to explain how it can
be helped to function more efficiently. He forcefully explains how it can be helped to function
more efficiently. He advocates teaching students strategies, and making them aware of these
strategies. He believes students need to spend more time on thinking about their own learning.
Sharon Olbertson, Beresford High School