Name: Rick Charvet
District: Gilroy Unified School District

 

How do you use Shmoop?

I am always looking for alternative ways to work with my students. I am a fairly decent researcher. Lo and behold, I came upon Shmoop and loved it. I always emphasized "Kid Speak," and Shmoop seemed to be the panacea for some of the oldest and well, to put nicely, not the most exciting stories. I mean, for kids who hate to read, what's the best way to explain a story they have to read in order to get a grade? Yeah, you know, a grade, because we all have to give them. For all the stories that were really beyond their reading level, well, I Shmooped them out. It worked great. I utilized Shmoop to summarize the key concepts of the stories in order for the kids not to be afraid and, well, "get it over with."

Shmoopin' out the scoop.

What's your favorite Shmoop product?

I loved the literature analysis pieces because for kids who quit reading after the first five words and then say, "I don't get it,” man oh man, Shmoop was there. Sort of like Toby Keith's Red Solo Cup. Never let him down, and Shmoop kept it real for the kids and me. I mean, Shmoop is like a friend.

Can we be BFFs for life, Mr. Charvet?

What is the coolest experience you've had using Shmoop?

I liked “Shmooping Shakespeare.” I pleasantly enjoyed Shmoop's literature summarization and the word choice Shmoop used: "So, this is how it all goes down." It made an otherwise boring story come to life. I was delighted with Shmoop's "real talk," and well, dang nabbit, "this is the way it is." Read it and weep fellows. Little did I know, the OTHER high school (yes, I refer to the OTHER high school so my words cannot be held against me, unless they are all warm and fuzzy) had bought school licenses to use Shmoop. Yeah, and that OTHER high school always thought they were the only ones with superior knowledge. Long live my little one room schoolhouse on the other side of town who found out their super cool secret. To the Shmoop naysayers, "Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!" So blaaaaah (hand on nose waving). I fart in your general direction. Whoah, what just happened? I blacked out for a minute, but man what a trip it was. Yeah, so the Shmoop experience was kind of like that.

Um. We're just gonna back away slowly…

What song do you know all the lyrics to?

"Convoy" by CW McCall.

What was the last book that made you laugh out loud?

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson.

Keep doing what you do, keep making people happy, and keep inspiring.

Do you know a Shmooperstar educator who should be featured on Shmoop? Have them apply. Or, you know, nominate yourself.