Nightjohn

Book Cover

During the next few weeks our class will be doing a unit of study on Black History and the Civil Rights Movement. As part of our study we will be reading the book Nightjohn by Gary Paulsen, one of our favorite authors. I will be showing the class the movie Nightjohn based on the book of the same title. I have shown this outstanding Disney/Hallmark television movie to my class for many years, but it was brought to my attention recently that the movie is rated PG-13 for some scenes of racial oppression and abuse.

School board policy requires written parent permission for your child to view this film during class. Permission slips were sent home with students on Friday. Please return the signed permission slip by Monday, February 25. Students who do not return the permission slip will be given an alternative assignment. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me at 757-9400 ex. 306 or email me at roland.blount@sdhc.k12.fl.us.

DVD Cover

Focus Title: Woodsong by Gary Paulsen

Our latest focus title, Woodsong by Gary Paulsen, is a memoir of his adventures with a dog team. The first section of the book gives an account of how both domestic and wild animals taught him about nature. The second section is a daily log of the first time he ran the Iditarod, an 1122 mile dog sled race across Alaska, in 1983. Gary Paulsen is the author of the modern young adult classic Hatchet and many other fine books for both children and adults.

Click here for Gary Paulsen's 2008 Iditarod profile and links to other official Iditarod information. Another link is Gary Paulsen at Random House.

An older Woodsong cover

The newest Woodsong cover

The original Woodsong cover

Adult readers who enjoy adventurous nonfiction may enjoy Gary Paulsen's Winterdance. This book tells the same story as Woodsong, but it is written for a more mature audience. I read the book years ago and loved it!