Student Learning Outcome 9

Aligned with Student Learning Outcomes

SLO9. School library candidates promote reading for learning, personal growth, and enjoyment.

Artifacts

Book Talks:

• Censorship:The Hunger Games, Dangerously Alice, and To Kill A Mockingbird http://youtu.be/qZ3AHraiLOY
• The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisnero: http://youtu.be/iaQeH_0tJMw
• The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore: http://youtu.be/wd_jyVSa3JI
• Matched by Ally Condie: http://youtu.be/dyc4Trwbmnw

Reflection

Book talking is a wonderful way to promote reading for learning, personal growth, and enjoyment. When working with students in poverty, book talking becomes even more crucial in order to give students exposure to titles they would otherwise never hear about. The purpose of a book talk is to spark an interest in a book through a short presentation. It is not a book review or evaluation, nor is it a summary or criticism. The purpose of my book talks is always to persuade the listener to read the book by giving them just enough information to interest them without spoiling the outcome of the story.

I started my library career in a high school. Therefore, these book talks are aimed at young adults. In the first book talk video, I discuss The Hunger Games, Dangerously Alice, and To Kill A Mockingbird because they were on the American Library Association’s list of top ten most frequently challenged books for the year 2011.  I chose to discuss challenged books to dispel the myth that all of them are bad.  This book talk was intended to bring awareness to the qualities found in these three particular books.  I selected these three titles because they cover a range of reading levels and diverse interests among young adults today.

The high school I worked in served more than 77 percent of students free and reduced lunch. The demographic breakdown of the students was 33 percent Black, 33 percent Hispanic, and 33 percent White. I chose to book talk The House on Mango Street and The Other Wes Moore since they address common issues faced by many of my students living in poverty. The students seemed to enjoy both books. Matched was a fun book to discuss with students who had never read a dystopian novel.

Bibliography with Citations and Grade Recommendations:

Collins, S. (2008). The hunger games. New York: Scholastic Press.

Cited by School Library Journal, September 2008, Vol. 54 Issue 9, p176, 2p. Recommended for grades 7 and up.

Lee, H. (1960). To kill a mockingbird. Philadelphia: Lippincott.

Cited by Cecere, Joanne K. School Library Journal, May 2011, Vol. 57 Issue 5, p134-134, 1p. Recommended for high school and adult.

Naylor, P. R. (2007). Dangerously Alice. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Cited by Burner, Joyce Adams School Library Journal, Aug2007, Vol. 53 Issue 12, p122-124, 2p. Recommended for grades 7-10.