Literacy Autobiography; Sharon Anderson
Storyboard Text
- For the FutureThe articles examine the importance of engaging students with YA books. According to the articles, YA books have captured the literary market and have enriched the reading experiences of both teens and adults. Not only do the articles discuss how YA books have transformed the ELA classrooms, but how teachers of different disciplines should consider adapting the practice of using YA books to connect academic learning to real-life to support students' content learning. Furthermore, when teachers consider adding YA books to their instruction, they are creating a space for discussion, open-dialogues, trust, vulnerabilities and authentic learning. Teens and young adults are interested in how the classroom can impact their lives with all its uncertainties, challenges and risks. Therefore, two ideas that I believe would develop my skills as an educator is understanding that using YA novels in the class comes with risks. First, knowing and dealing with those "risks" is a crucial part of building trust between student and teacher. As Don Gallo, author of Ice Cream/I Scream for YA Books writes, “A teenager’s life is fraught with risks. YA literature is risky. YA writers…need to get the language and the feeling right; they need to provide room for readers to consider alternative actions for the characters; they need to weigh the effect of every detail, every word.” In thinking about this statement, YA books can be a lifeline for most teenagers. Being a teenager these days is risky. And depending on the environment a teenager is growing up in, it can be a matter of life vs death, isolation vs peer pressure, empathy vs apathy, love vs hate. Life can be viewed as just getting by one day at a time. Knowing this, I can implement the use of YA books to show that they are not alone. YA books validate the feelings and experiences of the readers, and the teacher has to be completely cognizant and careful of how his or her words are perceived and internalized. Second, this where Literature Circles can then complement YA books in the classroom. It is during Literature Circles students hear others' voices and stories and begin to build connection not only to the literature, but to the classroom and hopefully with peers while building literacy and metacognitive skills. According to the article, Literature Circles for Adolescent Developmental Readers, “...this social interaction and collaboration can motivate students and can develop discussion skills around text, enabling them to become active participants as they search for meaning, strengthen their comprehension, and communicate effectively.” The authors further state, “...students will foster positive relationships and promote respectful, responsible group dynamics.” In thinking about my practice as an educator, building a community of learners in which YA books are examined, discussed, critiqued and argued, will support students in developing the literacy skills they need to think critically inside and outside the classroom. And isn’t that the goal of education…to create learners who ask questions, not just answer them. Providing time once a week dedicated to reading a YA novel of choice and discussing the big ideas and themes with peers can enhance not only the importance of reading, but developing skills to write and talk about what is being read.
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