The Alchemist! Have you read it? If you haven't, I highly recommend it; two thumbs up. I first learned of it from a TV interview of Will Smith, years ago, in which Will said that it was his favorite book. If you're not a reader, you could certainly request the audio book from your library, or get it via your favorite eBook/ audiobook platform. It is the epic tale of a boy named Santiago. The journey starts where Santiago lives in Andalusia, in Southern Spain. He's a poor shepherd boy who finds the courage to follow his dreams, which takes him to North Africa. The author, Paulo Coelho, does a fantastic job of telling this very interesting story, one that keeps your attention, and makes you want to know what's coming next. He reveals an old North African world, with its unique sights, sounds and smells, from a bustling Moroccan bazaar, to the dry, hot beauty of the desert. The story inspires the reader as it reveals, or reminds one of some of the secrets to the universe; such as how to live your best life, hopefully in pursuit of your own unique purpose. I read The Alchemist years ago, and remembered how wonderful it is. I'm happy to be able to teach it this year to my advanced class: ELL Literature, with Mr. Chiocca. The Alchemist is truly a treasure. [book tour post, day 8, 1/8/21]
I'm happy to say that this year was my best yet. Combined with having more time to plan and prep for great units and lessons (now being post-Master's time), and with all the new knowledge and skills I learned from my M.A.T., it was a great year! You know... having those 4 years of teaching experience before doing my M.A.T., also, I think, really helped me to grow as an educator. We did some really exciting units this year. For example, building on some lessons I found in some Adult-ESL texts, I created a 3-week unit titled "Helping Your Family to Buy a Home!" Yes - so, we made "dream homes" out of cardboard boxes and materials. Students learned "Mr. Chiocca's 11 Steps to Buying a Home," and they made YouTube videos and Audio Recordings for the Final Project. The kids learned about mortgages, down payments, PITI - Principal, Interest, Taxes and Insurance; and how to work with real estate agents and brokers. In addition, students learned ...
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