Topic
reading
Description
Who says students won’t read?! High school students claim they “hate to read” simply because they don’t like the choices given to them. This fast-talking, highly animated alternative high school librarian booktalks novels that teens WILL read. Walk away with your own list of “must reads” to share with students.
Audience
High School Teachers, Librarians, Staff
Grade
High School
Location
Ruffner 116
Start Date
7-22-2016 1:30 PM
End Date
7-22-2016 2:30 PM
What's "Hot" in YA Fiction for "I Don’t Read!" High School Students
Ruffner 116
Who says students won’t read?! High school students claim they “hate to read” simply because they don’t like the choices given to them. This fast-talking, highly animated alternative high school librarian booktalks novels that teens WILL read. Walk away with your own list of “must reads” to share with students.
Additional Information
Proposal Content
Too many high school students say they “hate to read” simply because they do not like the choices given to them. Begin to change that mindset and work to improve personal relationships by introducing to them high-interest, young adult fiction books to which they can relate. Though Shakespeare must never be eliminated from the curriculum, learning plans should not necessarily begin with the classics. The themes in Macbeth are the themes in many contemporary young adult realistic fiction books – books that feature teenagers dealing with life on their own terms as best they can. Teens are portrayed as capable, multi-dimensional good decision-makers, and teen readers appreciate that. Until students can make a personal connection with the literature they read, they will continue to fight the system, disregard textbooks and generic reading material assigned to the entire class, and falter academically.
Teens are often hesitant to talk to adults about personal troubles and issues. However, discussing a fictional character’s situation or how he handled it or what he could have done differently to produce a more favorable outcome is not so threatening. Using books as vehicles to jumpstart those conversations to share personal concerns, frustrations, and fears in a caring, supportive, non-threatening atmosphere is vital! Students begin to appreciate that reading can be used not only for pleasure but also as a tool to open doors for self-exploration on their journey for personal growth and understanding.
At-risk students, in particular, come to us with a heavy load of behaviors and emotional issues. Many students do not have a structured, stable home life; too many of their homes do not include books or a daily newspaper. They have not learned to read for reasons other than “the teacher says I have to.” Recommending and providing books targeting specific themes that affect or impact at-risk students - books that “hook” readers in a personal, meaningful way - will give teens an outlet. Exposing students to “their kind of drama,” has proved successful in increasing personal reading, and that success has spilled over and produced an improvement in SOL scores and academic achievement. Even professed non-readers find much of the current young adult fiction engaging. Reading will become an activity where students find they can relax, seek answers, and just step back from their complicated lives.
Proposal Process
Participants will be encouraged to offer suggestions, give testimonials of titles they recognize, and ask questions of the books presented. Attendees are guaranteed to get caught up in the magic of titles they may have never considered for their classroom. Participants will walk away with an annotated bibliography of 100 of the presenter’s “favorites.” (Caution! The handout attached to this proposal will change! I am constantly finding “new favorite books” and adding titles that students tell me are their favorites.)
Participant Outcomes
Teaching professionals with whom I interact on a daily basis do not have the time to read professional literature on books for kids, annotated bibliographies, journal articles – let alone the books themselves. They are vastly unaware of the plethora of novels available to supplement WWII lessons, psychology classes, even driver’s ed.
My book talk will introduce them to hundreds of books – or as many as I can cover in 45 minutes! All titles will be on a handout received at the beginning of the presentation so that participants can easily keep track of titles that peak their interest. I hope to leave participants out of breath and eager to return to their schools and local libraries to read selections on the annotated handout but – more importantly – anxious to get relevant, high-interest book into the hands of students.
Note: The Power Point will also change as titles are added/deleted. Additional research may be presented as well.