2009
One School / One Book
Everyone at AMHS is reading Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High by Melba Pattillo Beals,
What is the Book About?
School Library Journal says,
"“Beals, one of the nine black students who integrated Central High School in Little Rock, AR, in 1957, tells an incredible story of faith, family love, friendships, and strong personal commitment. Drawing from the diaries she kept, the author easily puts readers in her saddle oxfords as she struggles against those people in both the white and black communities who would have segregation continue. Her prose does not play on the sympathy of readers; it simply tells it like it happened. She shares the physical, mental, and emotional torture and abuse she suffered at the hands of teenagers and adults. She also shares the support, the encouragement, and the help she received from both whites and blacks.”
Find the Book:
A book preview (some pages are omitted) of this inspiring story can be found here
Books are on sale for $5 in the school library until 6/22. Beginning 6/23 you can purchase them in the school office.
You can borrow the book from the Avon Public Library. (Or if all copies are circulating and you don't want to wait, the Avon Public Library also has a limited number of copies on sale for $5)
Read the Book:
Be a thoughtful reader. Here are some Discussion questions to think about for “Warrior Day” in September. (You do not have to complete this booklet, however some folks may find that the booklet helps them to focus) Be prepared to discuss concepts mentioned in the booklet on "Warrior Day" in September. (Could someone please come up with a better name?)
When we return to school we will celebrate Warrior Day! (More information to follow!)Complete the Warriors Don't Cry Worksheet
(Due the first day of school)Click below to watch an interview with Mr. Ernest Green, of the original Little Rock 9.
There are additional requirements for the following grades:
Middle School: Read all the directions below carefully before beginning!
This Summer Reading project will help us find out which are the most popular books to read in Middle School!
1. In addition to reading Warriors Don’t Cry, please choose TWO Books to read from this list:
100 Books to Read in Middle School
A major goal of this project is to get you to visit your public library this summer. Need to borrow a book rom the Avon Public library? Click Here
Two rules:
A. Choose books you have not already read.
B. Your two books can't be by the same author.You should be familiar enough with the books to be able to give a short book talk and to discuss the books with your classmates.
2. Read Your Books & Complete this worksheet
3. Complete this online activity.Rate Your Book using the numbers 1-5
(1= Worst Book I've read this year ) (5= Best Book I've read this year.)
4. Please support your opinion. Type your brief book review in the comment section. (You may wish to type the review first in Microsoft word first to prevent "spellos." Remember, you'll be posting this for the entire world to see. Do your best work.Please explain WHY you think your book is a good book (or a terrible book.) Your review should be at least 5-7 sentences long.
Use this format, "Enders game is a great book because ......." Mary S. T.
Please sign your comment with your first name, middle initial & last initial
* You won't be able to hit submit until you copy the combination of letters and numbers at the bottom of the page (this is to prevent spam) ***If you are having trouble posting your comment, please just email the comment to Mrs. London by clicking here and she will post it for you.
*Click the + sign in the right hand corner of the box below to rate your book and add your comment. Don't forget to begin your review with the title of your book.
Just for Fun! You're doing summer reading, imagine doing summer writing?
Author Barbara Larmon Failing is writing a young adult novel online this summer. It's called : Loulane Lambert's Lists for Life and is about fourteen-year-old Loulane Lambert who lives on Cape Cod. You can follow Loulane's adventures at http://loulanelambertslistsforlife.blogspot.com
Did you miss the beginning of Loulane's stoy? You can find it online here . Come be part of this Online Teen Summer Reading Project.
High School:
Incoming Freshmen
Incoming SophomoresIncoming Juniors Junior Huckleberry Finn Assignment
Incoming Seniors - British Literature
Incoming Seniors - Applied Communication
Academic Decathlon (assignment found under Marie Antoinette )
***Questionnaire for Warrior Day***
Websites of Interest for Warrior's Don't Cry
Primary Source: (you know how much Mrs. London loves
primary sources!)
Executive Order 10730: Desegregation of Central High School
Executive order of September 23, 1957,
signed by President Dwight Eisenhower, sent Federal troops to maintain
order and peace while the integration of Central High School in Little
Rock, AR, took place.
More Central High Primary Sources
Letter from Daisy Bates to Roy Wilkins, December 17, 1957, on the
treatment of the Little Rock Nine.
Every Person Has A Story of Courage: the Little Rock Nine
from the National Register of Historic Places
Background on the Integration of Central High from the National Register of Historic Places
Melba Beals 1998 Interview with Scholastic
Read an interview with Melba Patillo Beals
Some videos and other historic information from the central High 40th anniversary.
"They Just Wanted An Education: The Little Rock Nine" from an Arkansas History page
Warriors Page from San Diego State
Take the Voices of Civil Rights Quiz to test your knowledge—and learn something new
Warriors don't cry vocabulary games
Why read during the summer?
? Researchers have proven that reading increases vocabulary and that reading and writing skills are inextricably connected to each other. (If you're not sure what inextricably means, you should read more)
? Good writers are good readers. Written and oral communication is most effective when you have a command of language and a broad vocabulary; reading gives you exposure to descriptive and rich vocabulary used in well-written and powerful phrases and sentences.
? The accuracy and effectiveness of your communication is determined by your ability to read critically.
? Reading can be one of the most satisfying and personal life-long habits you will ever develop.
? Reading gives you knowledge and knowledge is power.
Want to see what other schools are reading this summer? click here
Need to Borrow the Book from the Avon Public library?
Click Here
Don't Forget - You can LISTEN to books as well as read them!
Download free mp3 of Huckleberry Finn
Use your Avon Public (or Brockton card) to download books for free from the Old Colony Library Network
Download from the Boston Public Library Collection as well.
Don't have a BPL card? Register for a Library Card Online!
Please contact us if you find a nonworking link.