If you are looking for ways to encourage teenagers to read more - and read more enthusiastically - then this guide is for you. Few specific programs or guides focus on nurturing literacy among teenagers. Supported by fascinating background statistics and data, this book fills the gap by addressing the challenges of motivating teens to read through a framework for educators to create a reading plan for their school. Each individual chapter may be used as a discussion generator or a workshop, as needed to improve the overall reading program for young adults. To get students more involved in their reading, the authors explain how to construct an environment conducive to reading and how to implement interactive activities that are meant to spark interest in reading and help students relate to the literature. The authors provide chapters focusing on reading workshops, literature circles, book clubs, booktalks, thematic units, and information literacy. These chapters provide suggestions on how to incorporate these activities into the classroom or media center, and most of note, provide extensive lists of sample materials including annotations on appropriate resources for student reading and professional consultation. For example, Chapter 7: Book Clubs, provides helpful lists of moderator and book club member responsibilities, possible programs like Bookshare Book Fairs, sample topics for book club sessions, and a list of quality literature that can be read by the club. Each chapter’s annotated professional journal articles and books give educators professional and academic views upon the subject or activity in question. The book’s appendixes provide annotated bibliographies organized into five categories: young adult titles, professional titles, award-winning books, young adult books on tape, and young adult literature videos. Through implementing the suggested activities and using the recommended strategies, faculty and administrators can facilitate change in the attitudes of young adults toward reading. Teens will not only come to value participating in group discussions and choosing their own literature, but will make stronger personal connections with young adult titles. With this book, educators have at their fingertips a myriad of solutions for developing a reading plan that will stimulate the interest of students at all reading levels. Grades 6-8.
