Welcome to Mrs. Canfield's Teacher Page
Seaholm English Team
Welcome!
- About Me
I have been teaching at Seaholm for 16 years, and I love the Maples! I teach English courses and two Leadership courses. See the other links for helpful resources.
Class Books
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
A heart-pulling story about the growth and love of two young boys. The novel is a touching buildingsroman that characterizes the oft-ignored and crucial emotional experience of teenagehood. The book goes over the inexplicably wonderful hardship of growing up, all while depicting intense subject matters such as violence, shifting family relationships, and trauma.
I am Malala
I am Malala is a book about the story of Malala Yousafzai, an Afghani girl who, despite the religious ideals of others, stands for her education against the perils she faces from the Taliban and social pressures in her own community. The book is very meaningful to modern society, portraying not only the terror of religious extremism but also the even more troubling apathy or support it sometimes receives. Seeing the danger posed to Malala and her community teaches the importance of deeply reavaluating the cause and consequence of one's own beliefs. The book doesn't just help readers learn about Malala's struggle in Afghanistan, but one we all face personally and in our communities. And of course, it professes the importance of education, an important theme in all societies.
Kindred
Kindred helps create a distinct image of racism and slavery in the pre-civil war U.S. It's placement of the horrors of slavery upon the main character, Dana, serves to exemplify the perverseness and cruelty faced in this time period. The character of Rufus forces one to reanalyze their outlook on relationships and a person's development, as the readers not only see Rufus' development at various crucial life stages, but also see the uncanny relationships that surround him.
March
A personal and detailed account of the civil rights movement by John Lewis
Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a characteristic and humorous novel that uses the bitter dislike and dull humour of the protagonist, Junior, to emphasize the situation he faces as an Indian. However, throughout the novel he goes from bitter, abject distaste for the world to an understanding, fuller outlook on life.
The Book Thief
When Death has a story to tell, you listen. It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still. Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement. In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak, author of I Am the Messenger, has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.
The Catcher in the Rye
Through circumstances that tend to preclude adult, secondhand description, he leaves his prep school in Pennsylvania and goes underground in New York City for three days. The boy himself is at once too simple and too complex for us to make any final comment about him or his story. Perhaps the safest thing we can say about Holden is that he was born in the world not just strongly attracted to beauty but, almost, hopelessly impaled on it. There are many voices in this novel: children's voices, adult voices, underground voices-but Holden's voice is the most eloquent of all. Transcending his own vernacular, yet remaining marvelously faithful to it, he issues a perfectly articulated cry of mixed pain and pleasure. However, like most lovers and clowns and poets of the higher orders, he keeps most of the pain to, and for, himself.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
A heart-pulling story about the growth and love of two young boys. The novel is a touching buildingsroman that characterizes the oft-ignored and crucial emotional experience of teenagehood. The book goes over the inexplicably wonderful hardship of growing up, all while depicting intense subject matters such as violence, shifting family relationships, and trauma.
I am Malala
I am Malala is a book about the story of Malala Yousafzai, an Afghani girl who, despite the religious ideals of others, stands for her education against the perils she faces from the Taliban and social pressures in her own community. The book is very meaningful to modern society, portraying not only the terror of religious extremism but also the even more troubling apathy or support it sometimes receives. Seeing the danger posed to Malala and her community teaches the importance of deeply reavaluating the cause and consequence of one's own beliefs. The book doesn't just help readers learn about Malala's struggle in Afghanistan, but one we all face personally and in our communities. And of course, it professes the importance of education, an important theme in all societies.
Kindred
Kindred helps create a distinct image of racism and slavery in the pre-civil war U.S. It's placement of the horrors of slavery upon the main character, Dana, serves to exemplify the perverseness and cruelty faced in this time period. The character of Rufus forces one to reanalyze their outlook on relationships and a person's development, as the readers not only see Rufus' development at various crucial life stages, but also see the uncanny relationships that surround him.
March
A personal and detailed account of the civil rights movement by John Lewis
Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a characteristic and humorous novel that uses the bitter dislike and dull humour of the protagonist, Junior, to emphasize the situation he faces as an Indian. However, throughout the novel he goes from bitter, abject distaste for the world to an understanding, fuller outlook on life.
Student Resources
Baldwin Public Library
Go get your next book!
https://www.baldwinlib.org/Good Reads
Not sure if that book is any good? Looking for some inspiration?
https://www.goodreads.com/What Should I Read Next?
Not sure what to read? Use this website to find your next book!
https://www.whatshouldireadnext.com/Citation Machine
Use this website to find citations!
https://www.citationmachine.net/Classes
Honors English 9
Honors English 9 provides students opportunities for study of literary forms, development of a reading habit, and improvement of language and composition skills. A diverse study of novels, drama, films, essays, and poetry provides the basis for discussion and critical thinking. This course offers the foundation for reading and writing expectations at the high-school honors level. Emphasis is placed on the emerging writer through the writing process and research techniques.
Honors English 10
This course is designed to provide sophomores with the opportunity to examine works of classic and contemporary American and world authors while improving their reading, writing and speaking skills. Students will journey to become ready for the demands of college and career. The class format provides a workshop approach, including substantial time for both reading and writing daily, as well as significant choice in selection of their readings.
Leadership
Designed to improve the overall character and leadership skills of Seaholm students, Leadership immerses juniors and seniors in the study of various character and leadership traits to foster their emotional, cognitive, and behavioral development. In addition to learning about the core traits, student leaders also commit to service learning within our school community, engage in ethical discussions, and hear from successful community leaders who will pass on their life lessons. The class provides diverse opportunities to apply the concepts of the course to their personal lives, academic competencies and future goals.
