TOM
JORDAN
“Oh, this is going to be good,” Emma said.
“Exactly.” I pointed at her. “So, imagine that these four people all went to our school. Now, let’s judge them.” I grinned.
“Oh, my God!” Lourdes exclaimed.
“Right? Now we’re getting somewhere with these folks,” I said.
We discussed the characters. I’d written every answer each student gave on the board.
“Now that we covered Daisy, Tom, and Jordan, let’s move on to Gatsby.”
Travis raised his hand.
“Travis?” I pointed.
“Gatsby’s weird.”
Jenna, Lourdes, and Gina immediately objected.
“No, he isn’t,” Jenna said.
“He’s romantic,” Gina said.
“No, he isn’t. He’s obsessed,” Lourdes intervened.
This was my favorite part of class. The moment I got all the students to really think. Before I knew it, the class was divided.
“Question.” I walked around the room. If Gatsby were alive today, what would he be doing?”
“Easy, Sam. He’d be checking Daisy’s Instagram,” Beth answered.
“Yeah, like a stalker checking her location.” Jarod laughed.
“Excellent. Your little brains are working overtime.” I smiled. “What have we learned from this book?” I grabbed the jar of gummy candy.
As each student answered, I let them have a piece of candy.
“Your answers are great. Really great. I’m so proud of each and every one of you.”
“Sam.” Jenna raised her hand.
“Yes, Jenna?”
“Tell us whatyoulearned from the book?”
“Okay.” I nodded. “It’s about human flaw,” I paused.
“Explain,” Lourdes said.
“It’s about wanting something from our past so badly that we blind ourselves to the reality of the present. Living in the past creates chaos in our present. Remember that. Let it go and move forward.”
The bell rang, and as the students started to get up from their seats, I stopped them.
“Tomorrow, essays are due, and we’ll be starting something new,” I said, grabbing the basket with the students’ phones in it. “Now, reunite yourself with your BFF.” I smiled.