American Literature

Update 7.21.2008

“Oh, give me a home…”

Take a look at what I saw last week at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Unit.

Photo courtesy Joy Franklin of Duncan, OK.

Greetings from Fargo!

I am busy reading, writing, and discussing literature of the Great Plains with 14 other very talented teachers from across America. We have just finished week one’s author, Walter P. Webb and his book The Great Plains.

We are at North Dakota State University, Fargo, which was just moved up to division I for athletics! Go Bisons!

It is a beautiful campus and weather, except for rain on Saturday, has been magnificent!

Tomorrow we begin discussing Willa Cather’s classic novel, My Antonia.

This is a favorite of mine and one we will be reading together in 2008-2009.

I hope you are well into your summer reading as well. The Color of Water by James McBride is required.

One additional book from the list is also required. I will want to see your composition books on the first day of class which is August 26th, I do believe. Don’t delay!! Get reading now!

I’ve already met a Grammy award-winning musician (Keith Bear of the Mandan and Hidasta tribes of North Dakota) and will be meeting an author next week.

Feel free to email me with questions about my trip or your summer reading. I’ll check this site at least once a week, since I am in class everyday, Monday to Saturday through July.

I’ll make a page for photos. The photo in this blog is one I took on the Missouri Coteau in Streeter, ND.

Find a dictionary and an atlas to reference these terms.

I am having so much fun and learning at the same time. I hope you are doing the same.

Check back at this site for updates to my journey on the road this summer.

Be safe, learn much, do good!

Ms. Martin