Chapter 1-Why Do We Share Books?
I've always believed in the power of sharing a book. A mom reading to a child and a teacher to her students. I am thrilled to be learning about sharing books from a librarian's point of view. I could have easily guessed the first reason why we share books is because it is fun. There is nothing better than sharing your favorite book with a child or a friend. I could read Stephanie's Ponytail by Robert Munsch a million times and still think it is fun! When a librarian thinks it is fun, students will want to read and come back to the library for more. Then second reason is it helps children acquire language. The more books children read and listen to, the more words they are exposed to. That is why as a future librarian at a Title 1 school with many ELL students it will be my job to make sure that students are bathed in the English language with books. The next reason is books help develop children develop empathy. Students learn lessons in books and become kinder people. Every year, I read Don't Laugh At Me! Another reason we share books is to develop lifelong readers. I can help do this by getting children hooked on series and serial reading. I know personally, I was hooked on Little House on the Prairie, Nancy Drew, Beverly Cleary, and Judy Blume. I can acknowledge that students will find delight in books. Also, books can help students see themselves and they can have vicarious experience. Furthermore, books can help develop imagination. As we encourage our students with science and engineering, we need students to think, "What if..." I have been teaching in a program called the New Arrival Center in which all my students are new to the United States and are beginner English language learners. I have students from all around the world. It is important for children to read books that transmit culture. As a librarian, I will make sure that my collection has award winner multicultural books and we will celebrate all year, not just during one month. I am looking forward to spreading my love of reading and sharing books with not just my one class as a classroom teacher, but a whole school of children!
Chapter 2- Divisions of Young People's Literature
There are a four categories of literature-one more that I thought! The first category is children from ages 0-8 years old. This includes wordless, picture, easy readers, chapter books, early chapter books, and books like Ramona Quimby. The next division is Middle Readers, ages 8-12. The books in this age group include Roller Girl and George. This is the confusing part. One can't confuse these Middle Readers with Middle School. Middle School is ages 11-13. Students in Middle School are old enough to read Drama which includes romance and Lily and Dunkin which deals with transgender issues.The problem is middle school students often want to read books that have subject matter that is too advanced for them. This leads them having a hard time finding a book to read when they visit the library. The third category is Young Adult, ages 13-18. For a librarian to see if the book belongs in a high school library, she needs to look at the subject matter. For example, Grasshopper Jungle has inappropriate language and Firsts has sexual content so both books would need to be placed in a high school library. The last category if New Adult, ages 18-30. This division was first started in 2009 with a writing contest. These New Adult books after deal with college experiences or first relationships. Two good examples of New Adult books are Sweet Home and November 9. It is good to know these divisions of young people's literature so you can help direct readers to the best book for them.
Chapter 3- Genres & Formats
There are two main genres: fiction and nonfiction. Fiction is divided into "Realism" and "Fantasy." Under "Realism," you will find Realistic Modern and Historical. There are many divisions under Fantasy. Under "Traditional Fantasy," there are Fairy tales, Myths, Legends, Fables, and Folk tales. Under "Modern Fantasy," there is Hard Science Fiction, Hard Science Fiction, Low Fantasy (talking animals, fairies), High Fantasy (Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones). Non-fiction is information. Informational's first category is biography, autobiography, and memoir. Informational's second category is narrative fiction. The third category is expository nonfiction like Tornadoes by Seymour Simon.
It is important for us to teach our students that genre is not the same as categories or formats. Formats are poetry, drama, novels, chapter books, short stories, picture books, graphic novels.
For example, Drowned City is a narrative nonfiction in a graphic novel format. Meet the Dullards is a low fantasy in a picture book format. It is a low fantasy because of the dog doing human things. Slasher Girls and Monster Boys is low fantasy in a short story format. Ender's Game is soft science fiction in novel format. The reason it is soft science fiction is because the importance the character has in the story.
It is important to think about whether or not you as a librarian what to genrify your library. A pro is that some people report an increase in circulation. A definite con is that you are categorizing people as well as books. If you put a book on the "Chick Lit" shelf, will a boy want to read it?
Chapter 4-What Is YA Literature?
Young adult literature has a young protagonist. It has an adolescent's point of view and there is a major change in the main character's life. The protagonist is very independent. You will also see contemporary issues. The main character will have to face the consequences of his or her actions. In young adult literature, there will be a short time period, brief setting, few characters will develop.
Chapter 5-How Do Adolescents Develop?
It is important to know how adolescents develop so we as librarians know how to match books to readers. We need to think of how they develop in these ways: intellectually, morally, developmentally, and physically.
Adolescents are changing physically. They are going through puberty and they are thinking "Am I normal?" During this big time of physical change, look for books that help them see that they will survive.
Adolescents are also changing intellectually. Piaget says at this time they are able to change from "concrete" to "abstract" thinking. It is now thought that this happens around the age of 14 years of age. It is important to provide students scaffolding so they can understand abstract material in books. "Themes" can be an abstract concept for this age group.
Havighurst discusses the developmental stages from childhood to adolescence. Adolescents have a different relationship with their peers, the opposite sex, and their parents. They want to work for money and are interested in what job they want to have when they grow up. They are developing morals and are adapting to their changing physical bodies.
Kohlberg's Theory discusses morals for adolescents. There are three stages: Pre-conventional, Conventional, and Post-conventional. The Pre-conventional stage has to do with reward and punishment. The Conventional stage is when you follow rules. The Post Conventional stage is when you recognize laws but you understand that life is more important, which is civil disobedience.
A librarian can help students by looking for books at higher level.
Maslow put needs in a hierarchy chart. From top to bottom: physiological (food, shelter), safety, love/belonging, esteem, self-actualization. Schools help with the physiological by having free breakfast/lunch programs. Librarians can help with safety by making sure that there is not bullying, can show belonging by showing interest in each student and calling students by name, show esteem by demonstrating respect and asking for opinions, and self actualization by making sure all students feel they can be anything they want to be. There should be books that reflect this.
There is a Birthday Cake diagram that shows development as readers. There is reading for "unconscious delight". This is serial reading, like Junie B. Jones, 1 author, or mysteries. The next layer is "Reading Autobiographically." This is reading about people like me, which is considered like a mirror. If you are from a single parent home, reading Dear Mr. Henshaw. It is important that librarians make sure they have books that reflect their student's lives in their collection.
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