Jonathan Z Blum
Data based on 3 reviews.
What kind of test questions does this teacher use most often (choose one):
Multiple ChoiceIs the teacher available for extra help during study halls, lunchtime, before or after school, etc.?
Almost AlwaysThe teacher responds to emails promptly. Do you...
Strongly AgreeThe teacher posts in-class materials online for reference (slides, etc.):
Almost AlwaysThe teacher lets us know at the beginning of the course and along the way how much each part of the class (homework, papers, quizzes and tests) counts towards our total grade:
Strongly AgreeHow much homework does this teacher assign?
Way too muchThe amount of writing required in this class is:
Very HighThe teacher allows us to use technology in class (e.g. laptop, calculator, smart pen, etc.)
Almost AlwaysHow much memorization is required to do well in this teacher’s course?
Very HighWhat advice would you give yourself if you were just starting the class now?
Class of 2025
Grading: A large portion of this class is based on in-class essays. His preferred writing style is completely different to the other English teachers at East. To be completely transparent, his grading standards are higher(though not by a lot) from other teachers. If you did not get an A in AP Lang, it may be better for you to consider another teacher. Otherwise, if you want to succeed in his class, pay attention during his lectures and read his sample essays, you'll see what I mean about his unique writing style. He cares way more about textual analysis of specific passages than writing broadly about the themes. Take this class if you want to prepare yourself for essays in college. Workload: There is barely any homework for this class besides assigned readings(he only requires 3 annotations per chapter, for some books none at all). Honestly you can get by with LitCharts or Sparknotes. I was taking this class alongside 4 other APs and it was totally manageable. Just make sure you have a clear idea of the plot, characters, themes and a few important scenes memorized for his essays, and practice writing under pressure. Additionally, he spends a few classes going over college essays, and I strongly recommend you to have him look over your essay. He'll give you actual, specific advice on how to improve your essay(he doesn't sugarcoat), and actually wants you to succeed. He is extremely accessible outside of class, just email him and he'll respond asap. And finally, PARTICIPATE!!! I cannot stress this enough! He pays attention to who participates during his classes and he happily bumped my grade from an 89 to a 90 because I was one of the more active participants in his class.
Class of 2021
Give yourself much more time than you think you might think you need on assignments for Mr. Blum's class, because everything is graded by accuracy. Reading checks and tests aren't the most frequent thing (as of the pandemic) but you should be strongly familiar with the reading material to come prepared in class. Be prepared for working with online forums, which are more or less shorter and more informal essays that require responses to other people.
Additional Comments
Class of 2025
I took AP Lit with Mr. Blum. He is an eccentric individual and he made AP Lit a class I actually looked forward to. Sometimes he goes a little too deep into specific wordings of a book in my opinion, but he's just really passionate about literature. (One time, he went off on a tangent about the homosexual subtext in 'Candide'). I promise, he's a really fun and chill guy. He's one of those teachers that you don't have to walk on eggshells around. Mr. Blum is the goat of AP Lit🐐