tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1550222691875074441.post2889068088633661571..comments2024-01-30T05:25:56.085-07:00Comments on A Teacher's View: What Should Students Read?mmazenkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06602797515366983639noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1550222691875074441.post-85308553423243475062016-05-02T15:53:49.001-06:002016-05-02T15:53:49.001-06:00Thanks for the comments. I completely agree that Y...Thanks for the comments. I completely agree that YA has it's place, and there are many works that I find compelling. You can't go wrong with The Outsiders, especially at middle school. I'm not a fan of The Giver, but I know many who are. And Walter Dean Meyer and Sherman Alexi are both excellent choices.mmazenkohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06602797515366983639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1550222691875074441.post-72403953176758694032016-04-26T11:10:21.712-06:002016-04-26T11:10:21.712-06:00Hello. I am a Cherry Creek graduate class of 2009....Hello. I am a Cherry Creek graduate class of 2009. I now teach middle school English at a title I school in Denver (I am in my 3rd year). While I agree that students need to be introduced to literature outside of what they might seek out on their own I believe there is merit to teaching YA Lit as well. Perhaps the perspective varys some with middle school versus high school. One of my biggest challenges is simply getting my students engaged and I have books which I usually use towards the beginning of the year because I know I can hook students with them. One such book is Monster by Walter Dean Meyers I read it every year with my 7th graders, and we do a big unit on argumentative, and persuasive writing with an emphasis on using textual evidence. This year we ended the unit in a mock trial and even brought in non-fiction pieces by looking at statistics surrounding teens convicted of crimes, the school to prison pipline, and related current events. Oh know that what i taught was a rigoruous unit. In 6th grade I always start with S.E Hintons The Outsiders and in 8th grade with Lois Lowerys The Giver. I find that by starting with YA Lit which is often more accessible and engaing to the students I can hook them, and build them up to reading literature.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com