Chapter 6 and Reading Strategies

While reading chapter 6, I had to look to see when this book was written because of some of the YA titles they include in the chapter. It is a little bit older, 2006 or so, which helps me understand why they highlight Twilight and not The Hunger Games. It seems like during my generation YA lit has really exploded. I kind of attribute it to the success of the Harry Potter series. Writers seem to get the idea that if a book appeals to a teen audience, then their parents will, in all likelihood, pick it up too. Many of them do, too. YA isn’t just for teens.   

In groups last week, Dana, Katie, and I discussed that in order to get students at the point where they can digest the classics that teachers like to have kids read, they should read YA to build up to the point where they feel more comfortable with classic works. I love the classics. But there is so much YA out there.

I really was able to connect with the reading strategies. Almost all of them have been done in a classroom I was in as a high school or even as a college student. I have thought about starting the week off with an inspirational thought or story (not a devotional) and having the students free write about the story from their own perspective, or work with that theme for the week. I think that SSR is so important to young readers. Our brains are a muscle that must be exercised like every other muscle, and if it isn’t it will decay. Students need to understand this so maybe they put more into the writing/reading exercises we give them.

I do have one question though. I know why I love to read. It takes me to foreign places and helps me cope with life. How do I make my kids understand how important reading is? I will have to try to be a good example and to make my love be transparent. This idea is something I have been struggling with for a long time. Hopefully I can find the answer to that question in this class.