50 Best of All Time
Students are used to hearing the best of the best. They can readily identify with 106 and Park's top 10 list and other like it. Unfortunately they are more likely to do something because someone else says its popular or cool. In the teen age years nothing is more important than fitting in. What this list offers is a way for them to feel that they are fitting in with the best of the best.
The list is in chronological order and students often feel that older means irrelevant. This list helps students to see that literature is timeless. The principles. attitudes, ideals, trials, struggles, temptations, and issues. Many of the book are required reading materials in ELA classes and students have to admit that the books were enjoyable. The students are able to connect the events of the book with their current situation.
I can imagine using and encouraging the class to develop a contemporary list of great YA literature works. They would have to base their inclusions of literary work, themes, and ability to stand the test of time. I believe they would discover that many of the cool books only remain that way temporarily and soon lose their adaptability.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Random Acts of Reading
Random Acts of Reading
This is another blog type site that allows the student to navigate through book reviews. The sites in divided into several categories including but not limited to audiobooks, baseball, books in the wild, classics, contests, editor's desk, holiday, inside the book, kid critics, links we love, middle grade novels, picture books and young adult novels.
The most interesting aspect of the site is the seasonal book previews. They offer a short synopsis of books that will be "hot" in the upcoming season. The best form of advertising remains word of mouth. Consumer value to opinion of other consumers over paid advertisement because of the unbiased aspect of peer review. I encourage my students to write a review (on Edmodo) of book that they have read so their classmates can read it.
At the beginning of this year a student challenged me to read Pretty Little Liars after I required them to read Leadership and Self Deception:Getting out of the box. I was reluctant at first but I eventually read it and encouraged her to post a review on our class site. She did so and there was a waiting list for the book in the library. I went to the library today and inquired about the book and there are still 2 people on the wait list. I was able to fulfill two objectives with one assignment; show the power of social media and spark students interest in young adult literature.
Using this site for informational and marketing purposes can be very helpful for students. Students love to explore the web and this resource will allow them to explore for hours. It introduces students to book reviews and pertinent information about YA literature. A great resource for teachers and students alike.
This is another blog type site that allows the student to navigate through book reviews. The sites in divided into several categories including but not limited to audiobooks, baseball, books in the wild, classics, contests, editor's desk, holiday, inside the book, kid critics, links we love, middle grade novels, picture books and young adult novels.
The most interesting aspect of the site is the seasonal book previews. They offer a short synopsis of books that will be "hot" in the upcoming season. The best form of advertising remains word of mouth. Consumer value to opinion of other consumers over paid advertisement because of the unbiased aspect of peer review. I encourage my students to write a review (on Edmodo) of book that they have read so their classmates can read it.
At the beginning of this year a student challenged me to read Pretty Little Liars after I required them to read Leadership and Self Deception:Getting out of the box. I was reluctant at first but I eventually read it and encouraged her to post a review on our class site. She did so and there was a waiting list for the book in the library. I went to the library today and inquired about the book and there are still 2 people on the wait list. I was able to fulfill two objectives with one assignment; show the power of social media and spark students interest in young adult literature.
Using this site for informational and marketing purposes can be very helpful for students. Students love to explore the web and this resource will allow them to explore for hours. It introduces students to book reviews and pertinent information about YA literature. A great resource for teachers and students alike.
YA Literature Review
YA Literature Review
Have you ever considered what it would be like to read reviews of YA literature before you read them? This site is fun creative and full of information. It is easy for students and teachers alike to navigate. Using a simple format the website allows the user to explore book reviews, swap books, get information about contest and discover dates for information on upcoming events in YA literature. The website takes reviews to another level by offering podcasts of some book reviews.
At first glance it may appear that their are limited clickable places on the home screen but a quick scan of the picture unveils relevant hyperlinks. The books on the shelf offer links to library resources, short stories, contest, student submissions, information on affiliates, and an about us page for the website. The cork board behind the desk leads to an index page and a calender of upcoming events. On the desk the telephone also takes you to the contact us page, a folder labeled review leads to a blog of book reviews, the open book leads to library resources, the coffee cup leads to the online coffee shop and the bottom left drawer leads to a page outlining the requirements for submissions to the site.
I think the creativity behind the site makes it appropriate for young adults in their pursuit of literature. I also think it helps that the pages are easy to navigate and appealing. They are free of clutter and appear to be a site designed for YA readers by YA readers.
This site can be used in the classroom to encourage students to blog about their own YA literature experiences. As a business teacher I can see the benefits of an online scavenger hunt on the site. Scavenger hunts require students to search for information throughout the web site and offers them the opportunity to read most of the site and gain meaningful knowledge.
Have you ever considered what it would be like to read reviews of YA literature before you read them? This site is fun creative and full of information. It is easy for students and teachers alike to navigate. Using a simple format the website allows the user to explore book reviews, swap books, get information about contest and discover dates for information on upcoming events in YA literature. The website takes reviews to another level by offering podcasts of some book reviews.
At first glance it may appear that their are limited clickable places on the home screen but a quick scan of the picture unveils relevant hyperlinks. The books on the shelf offer links to library resources, short stories, contest, student submissions, information on affiliates, and an about us page for the website. The cork board behind the desk leads to an index page and a calender of upcoming events. On the desk the telephone also takes you to the contact us page, a folder labeled review leads to a blog of book reviews, the open book leads to library resources, the coffee cup leads to the online coffee shop and the bottom left drawer leads to a page outlining the requirements for submissions to the site.
I think the creativity behind the site makes it appropriate for young adults in their pursuit of literature. I also think it helps that the pages are easy to navigate and appealing. They are free of clutter and appear to be a site designed for YA readers by YA readers.
This site can be used in the classroom to encourage students to blog about their own YA literature experiences. As a business teacher I can see the benefits of an online scavenger hunt on the site. Scavenger hunts require students to search for information throughout the web site and offers them the opportunity to read most of the site and gain meaningful knowledge.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Who Moved My Cheese
Title: Who Moved My Cheese?: For Teens
Arthur: Dr. Spencer Johnson
Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons
Genre: Informational Books
Summary: As a business education teacher namely marketing I am challenged with incorporating relevant novels into the course. I have selected 2 books that illustrate skills necessary for their continued success. There are few things in life that are constant. As a matter of fact I have heard that there is but one thing that’s constant and that is change. As teens a part of life that can make or break them is how well they deal with change. I introduce this book once I rearrange the room and I hear the murmuring and complaining from the students. I then tell them they have their next assignment is a book assignment. They of course complain and but want to read the book to determine what I am referring to.
The book starts with a group of teens gathered at lunch in the cafeteria and a student begins to tell the parable of two mice Sniff and Scurry and two little people Hem and Haw and their adventures in a maze. While in the maze both groups are in pursuit of cheese. Cheese leads to happiness for both groups. The problem comes in when the cheese is “moved” and they have to decide what to do since it is gone. In summary they run around daily looking for cheese. Both groups find cheese at Station “C” and they assume there will always be cheese there. Once the supply is gone Hem and Haw complain and return daily to the place where cheese once was seeking cheese. Change had happened and they were not able to change with it and find themselves wasting away because they didn’t want to change. On the other hand sniff and scurry sought out a new supply of cheese and found it.
By the end of the story they are more than excited to come up with their own parable about change and how they handle change. The most amazing thing is that they can always identify with change and find that one of the characters identifies closely with their response to change. This is a great book for young adult readers.
Reaction: It has been said that the only constant is change. The ability of students to adapt to change will be the difference in how students handle the changes in their lives. There is no one can accurately predict what will happen in life but it has been said that life is less what happens to us and more how we handle what happens to us. Learning to embrace and adapt to change can give my students a advantage over similar students in the same situation.
Application: This book can be used in almost every classroom. It is written specifically for teenagers and the theme can be translated to several subject areas. In science they can delve into how the scientific method could be used to solve the dilemma of having no more cheese. In English it lacks the literary techniques of some works but allows the students to use foreshadowing and the use of parables in literature. In math they can use formulas to predict the supply of cheese and when it would run out. In social studies they can use it to explore supply and demand.
Who might use this book: middle and high school students
The Hunger Games
Title: The Hunger Games
Arthur: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic Books
Genre: Adventure
Summary: Have you considered what the World will look like in the future? When in the future? Well that’s one of the detail left to the readers’ imagination. The World as we know has changed and everything pertaining to it. Imagine a futurist World called Panem where everyone has been reduced to survival of the fittest. There are only 12 districts and each one produces something different and their living conditions differ. There is a capitol that lies in the middle of the district that controls the district. There once was a 13th district insurrection rose up and they were defeated. In order to keep the other 12 districts in line the capitol host the annual Hunger Games. The games pit the 12 districts against one another in a fight to the death. Yes a fight to the death. Two people are selected from each district to compete in the Hunger games that are televised to every citizen in Panem. The startling thing is that kids are selected to participate in the hunger games. Yes kids and they are expected to kill one another until only one survives. You journey with the tributes as they fight to stay alive in the game. You follow the lives of the tributes of district 12 quite possibly one of the poorest districts. Katniss and Peeta are the tributes from district 12. How did Katniss become a tribute? What relationship goes Peeta and Katniss have before the games? Will they survive? Can they win coming from one of the poorest districts? If you want to know the answers to these questions you have to read this fast pace, well written and creative story.
Reaction: While this story is entertaining it deals with a lot of underlying issues of society. Acceptance, survival and courage are all concepts dealt with in this wonderful story. What is the government's role in the life of its citizens? Are we more than our address and location? As I read this book I had self reflection of my hometown Macon, GA. Although I could list numerous accomplishments of this city they have been marred by the recent crime and economic decline. Are we any less civilized or able to succeed? I think not but as outlined in this book it is always interested to see how people view you because of where you live. If you pick it up you may not be able to put it down.
Application: I used this book and its recent movie release to spark allow my students to create a marketing campaign for the book. The students created a commercial, posters and ads to help promote the book.
Animal Farm
Title: Animal Farm
Author: George Orwell
Publisher: Secker and Warbug
Genre: Historical Fiction
Summary: From the writer who brought you 1984 come a good hard look at the Russian revolution. Instead of telling the story from the perspective of human Orwell uses animals to show how power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The rise of Stalin as the leader of Russia was truly one to be studied for the leader who was not to be became the leader who was. The story takes place on Manor Farm which is ran by a farmer named Mr. Jones. The only thing we know about Mr. Jones is that he "exploits" the animals labor for self gain. Old Major a wish pig calls a meeting of all the animals and tells them how they can live in harmony with each other and free from the tyranny of man. He outlines the ideals of animalism and that all animals are equal (this is really important). Old Major is just that old and dies in his sleep. The animals form a plan to rid themselves of Mr. Jones and they succeed. The revolt is successful. Snowball and Napoleon (two pigs) become the leaders of the farm. Snowball initially is the leader but through deception and forming a secret police using puppies takes control of the farm. Suddenly everyone isn't equal and the rules change overnight. What will happen to Animal Farm? How did it go back to Manor Farm? Is there anything wrong with trading?
Reaction: I don't know a lot about the Russian revolution and the rise of Stalin but this is an interesting book. Using animals was shear genius because it removes the charisma associated with dictators. The ideals of this utopian society has been preached for centuries and at first it appears its effective. If everyone works then everyone prospers. Yeah right! There is no perfect society and their will always be those who lead and those who follow. The irony is no matter how much things have changed (technology, education and progress) things remain the same. People are still looking for someone else to solve their problems and someone willing to say I can solve your problems.
Application: There are also a plethora of ways this book can be used in the classroom. As of now this is required reading in literature classes all over the country. This book illustrates many of the events that occurred that lead up to World War II. It can be used as a literary piece in the a literature classroom. It can be used to tie historical events in social studies. It can be used to discovered the effectiveness of law in a civics classroom. It can also be used to explore the concepts of trade in an economics classroom. I can use it in a marketing class to discuss the power of propaganda. The students would also create posters to hail Napoleon as leader.
Who might use this book: Middle and High School Students
Pretty Little Liars
Title: Pretty Little Liars
Author: Sara Shepherd
Publisher: Harper Teen
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Summary: I stepped out my normal boundaries with this book, aided by a sixteen year old niece I had to see what excited her so much. Pretty Little Liars tells the story of four high school friends Spencer, Emily, Hanna, and Aria, who try to solve the missing person case of their best friend Allison DiLaurentis. Allison went missing during their 7th grade year while at a sleepover at Spencer’s house. She walked out after a disagreement with Spencer and was never seen again. The story tell each girl's story. Who knew that each of them has a major secret that they don’t want each other to know. Little do they know someone knows each one of their secrets, which leads to blackmail and betrayal. After years of searching for Allison's body to no avail until someone moved in the DiLaurentis’ old house. The people who moved in the house wanted to build a tennis court in their backyard, and when they began preparing for the foundation they discovered Allison’s body. Things get even stranger after that they begin to receive text messages from an unknown source. At first they don’t tell each other, but they finally sit down and discuss the texts. This initially complicates their lives but leads in the right direction to solve the murder of their friend.
Reaction: This book was an eye opener. As a high school teacher this novel gave me a glimpse into the high school environment especially the interaction of a girl group also called a clique. The suspicion and intrigue of the book was captivating. It left me wanting to know and read more. Reading the novel has made me want to read the entire series and watch the television series.
Application: This book may be best used in a leisure setting due to some of the materials in the book, but it’s a marvelous novel to read if you are a teenager. This book will captivate teenage girls, because it is mostly relates to females due to the fact it’s about girls. I really enjoyed this novel, and encourage others to read.
Who might use this book: Middle and High School Students
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