I will be crying so hard at graduation

This has been one of my favorite classes I've ever taken. Literature is not one of my strong suits and I do not naturally love it or reading. But after several years of having Mrs.Carnes as my teacher I have grown to love it (or at least appreciate it). All of the competitions and projects make the books come to life and make it more fun. I really enjoyed this year and I cannot express how much I'm going to miss the seniors.

TO THE SENIORS: Many of you have been a part of my life since the third grade and I cannot imagine what life is going to be like at Fideles with out y'all. The guys have become like brothers to me (especially Josh). And if you all don't come visit enough I promise I will hunt you down at your college. Seriously I'm not kidding- come visit! I will be praying for all of you and I am going to miss you guys more then you know.

TO THE JUNIORS: Okay guys this is it, Senior year is coming! This is our time to step up and be leaders. I know we have a lot of stress in our future but we should try to be closer as a class and go out strong with our last year in high school!

TO MRS.CARNES: Thanks you so much for everything you do and for being one of my all time favorite teachers! You really make literature fun and it is a class that I look forward to. I never get bored in your classes. I cant believe I only have one year left and I look forward to being in one more class of yours!

I LOVE ALL OF YOU SO MUCH! THANKS FOR A GREAT YEAR!!!

Favorite moment

Its been a great year with the seniors and juniors in the same class.  This makes it very fun in class and for our group projects for huck finn.  I really liked making our video for the project.  It was really interesting and fun to make the video.  I could have done with not wearing the dress, but everything was fun.

A Year in Review

Wow. This has been a crazy year. I have enjoyed my high school years at Fideles and am going to miss it. One of my yearly highlights year in and year out has been Literature class. As I assume y'all all know, I despise literature and reading. However, Mrs. Carnes has always done a remarkable job of making class fun and keeping it enjoyable. From group projects and competitions to debates and discussion - it's always fun. I really enjoyed our discussions on Calvinism in the early part of the year. I also enjoyed developing the character of Giles Corey who will no longer die with the Crucible. #MoreWeight.

To the Juniors: I have greatly enjoyed your class the last couple years. To be honest, y'all used to be really annoying. I believe the prize for the worst 8th grade class (previously held by mine) can be confidently awarded to you all. However, there was hope for you all. Throughout high school, y'all have been incredible. I have enjoyed getting to know each of you personally and in different fashions. Basketball, ROC, Math Class, Drama, Accounting, Literature, and League have really brought me closer to most of you. I will miss you all (as I hope you miss us). My words of advice/encouragement to you all is this. You will very quickly get used to us not being there and you will begin to own the fact that you all are seniors. Lead the school well. Step up and pick up where we left off. Be involved. Don't just go to school, lead the school. The experience you gain in high school is amazing. As the valedictorian, I will briefly tell you the secret of how I have gotten good grades throughout high school. It is easily attributed to the following: 50% turning in your homework on time, 25% knowing your teacher and what they want/expect, and 25% intelligence. Yes - you have to work to get through high school, but if yall just turn in every bit of work on time, it'll be hard to not have a decent grade. Anyways - Y'all are amazing and a pleasure to get to know. Stay in touch. Oh - and come to graduation.

Same, Mitchell

I really enjoyed reading Huck Finn. It was my second time reading it, but this time was a lot more fun and made me think a lot more about the different elements in the book. The competition was baller. Everyone worked really hard, and the final projects were amazing. I was on Tessy's team and we came out with the W. It was overall just so lit.

Auld Lang Syne

This year in American Lit has definitely been more entertaining than any other English class I can remember taking. Some of my fondest memories include everyone's attempts at accents over the year (Giles Cory and our stab at Italian being at the top of the list), acting out scenes from The Crucible, and Rigg dancing around in Hannah's prom dress singing "Let it Go" (which I'm sure none of us are going to let him live down). It has been wonderful getting to know all of you this year between different competitions and activities in other classes- I am blessed to know all of you. Good luck and constant prayers to the seniors leaving this year! I've only known most of you for a year and I still think I will get emotional at your graduation. It will be sad to see you go. I am thrilled for Modern Lit next year- we talk about it all the time in AP American Lit. I look forward to a next year, with new activities, competitions and memories, with all of my new friends.

Huck Finn

Huck Finn was by far my favorite book we read this year. It was very interesting and the contests made it a lot of fun. The group projects were all really great. Obviously i thought my group should've won but that's just because i wanted to win. I would have to say Dalton's group project was the most fun (I don't remember their team name). Getting to compete against the rest of the class in that jeopardy game was awesome. Between all the yelling and candy stealing it was a good idea (Grangerfords still should've won). As for what i wish we had written, well nothing makes that list. We should just stop writing papers all together that would be great. I really enjoyed this year with everyone. Looking forward to a great year as Seniors next year.

Sign the American Lit Yearbook

We are winding down our year in American Lit, with only the final and The Great Gatsby viewing ahead of us. Use today's post to comment on what we read that you liked (or didn't like) or what you wish we had read or written. You can also use this post to pass on wisdom (seniors) or encouragement (juniors) or to comment on any memorable moments from the 2015-2016 school year--not just from American Lit!

I have loved teaching both classes together, with their mix of humor, responsibility, competition, strong beliefs, articulateness, thoughtfulness, and passion. The Huck Finn contest was a highlight for me, especially the stellar final projects from each group.

I will miss the seniors tremendously, after spending three years with you in English class. Please be like the graduates who come back to visit and not like the graduates who disappear. And I'm excited to get back to teaching my favorite class--Modern Lit--to the class of 2017!

H.A.G.S., y'all!