patrick jones getting started school library journal november 2001 “ why we are kids best...

Patrick Joneswww.connectingya.com

www.connectingya.com

Getting started

School Library Journal November 2001

“Why We Are Kids Best Assets”

One in your face: “I hate to read” – what does it mean, why did he say it, and what you can do about it

One fact: “Reading ability is positively correlated with the extent to which students read recreationally.” -National Center for Education Statistics.

One story from JDC One book from your life


Connecting Young Adults and Connecting Young Adults and LibrariesLibraries

Patrick JonesPatrick Jones

http://www.connectingya.comhttp://www.connectingya.comGetting startedGetting started

WHO? Audience Customers / students Presenter

WHAT: ObjectivesWHEN? WHERE?

HOW? Lecture Handouts Active Learning Power Point: Reading: books on

slides


Small group exercise #1 Have you now or

have you ever been a reluctant reader?

What is your reading autobiography?


Why They Aren’t Reading

By the time many students reach high school, they equate reading with ridicule, failure or exclusively school-related tasks.


Why They Aren’t Reading

Can’t find the good books


Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers

Cover - catchy, action-oriented, attractive, appealing, good "blurb"



Print style - sufficiently large

for enjoyable reading



Format - appropriate and appealing balance of text and white space



Artwork/illustrations - enticing, realistic, demonstrated diversity



Clear writing without long convoluted sentences of sophisticated vocabulary



Acceptable literary quality and effectiveness of presentation


Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction High interest

"hook" in first 10 pages


Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Well-defined

characters and not too many of them


Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Sufficient plot to

sustain interest


When you write, do you think about the potential book's appeal to non-

readers?

R.L. Stine: Almost all of my books are designed for reluctant readers. When I wrote and edited educational magazines, I learned how to write for different reading levels. I try to keep my scary books at a 4th-grade reading and vocabulary level. In addition-- short books, fast-paced, lots of surprises and twists, cliff-hanger chapter endings to force them to go on to the next chapter, and plot-driven books with little description to slow down the action.


Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Plot lines

developed through dialog and action rather than descriptive text


Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Familiar themes

with emotional appeal for teenagers


Young adults like fiction that:

1. Show YAs being independent from adults. 2. Reassure YAs they are "normal". 3. Present role models. 4. Demonstrate problem solving in action. 5. Allow to feel like winners/overcoming

odds. 6. Display relationships of all sorts. 7. Capture intensity and uncertainty of

their life. 8. Help develop of socially responsible

behavior 9. Explore lives of other teenagers. .


Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Believable

treatment (that does not preclude speculative fiction however)


Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Single point of

view / not too many characters


Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Touches of

humor when appropriate


WHAT will reluctant readers

read? (Twenty four carets)

Books – genre teen fiction.




Books – series

fiction .




Books – nonfiction (general).




Books – nonfiction biography.




Books – graphic novels.




Books - collected comics.




Books – Manga.




Magazines




Comic Books


25 things to do to reach reluctant readers

tomorrow

1. A library card:

2. Booklists: 3. Booktalking :

4. Build relationships:



tomorrow

5. Celebrate Teen Read Week: 6. Contests: 7. Displays:

8. Follow-up:



tomorrow

9. Freedom and choice:

10. Get input:11. Get out of

the library:12. Get over

yourself:



tomorrow

13. Get them in the building :

14. Go the shelves:

15. High visibility merchandising:

16. Honesty:



tomorrow

17. Keep current :18. Listen: 19. Non-judgmental

attitude:20. Reader's advisory:



tomorrow

21.Samples: 22.Wave goodbye

to just fiction 23.Weed the

collection: 24.Zowie! Get

graphic


Talking points from authors

Jon Scieszka From what I've heard from my GUYS READ fans, they see most all reading as some kind of school assignment. They feel like they are going to have to answer 10 questions or write an essay for anything they read. I've heard from a lot of teens who say they are not readers. But it turns out that they read magazines about cars, music, wrestling, fishing, computers, style. They read information books. They read graphic novels. They read and write online. They just don't read the relatively narrow collection of literary fiction that is defined as "Real Reading" in schools.


A core collection for reluctant readers: a tool box Young Adult Library Services Association

(YALSA) website. www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists Includes a variety of booklists, including

Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, Best Books for Young Adults and others.


For More Information

Connecting with Reluctant Teen

ReadersPatrick Jones, Maureen L.

Hartman, and Patricia Taylor

Neal-Schuman, coming in summer 2006


Final thoughts

Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2005 16:34:26 -0700 (PDT) From: "Amanda Subject: Hi ‘‘ I loved your book’’’ To: [email protected] My name is Amanda!!! I am 15 years old and I have just finished

reading your book "Things Change". It has been the most inspiring thing that I have read in my life!!! See normally I do not enjoy reading but, this book just captured me and sucked me in!!! I have never finished a whole book, but this one I read it in two days flat!!! I have never read a book that related so well to teens today. You were so real when you wrote this book........’’’ I was shocked to find that this was your first book dedicated to teens!!! I only wish that you write more!!! The girl Johanna was so strong it only made feel good about my self!!! I could relate to every single thing in the book....... and it can only show to others that real things can happen to real people!!!’’’’ And you told it like it was in the book..... I just wrote to tell you that you are now my favorite author!!! And I HOPE that you write many more teen books because I can guarantee you I will the first to get one!!!


HardcoverISBN: 0-8027-8901-3Price: $16.95224 pagesApril 2004

PaperbackISBN: 0-8027-7746-5ISBN 13: 978-0-8027-7746-1Price: $7.95224 pagesApril 2006


nailednailed Hardcover

ISBN: 0-8027-8077-6ISBN 13: 978-0-8027-8077-5

Price: $16.95224 pages

Size: 5-1/2 x 8-1/4April 2006


Chasing Chasing Tail Tail

LightsLights Hardcover

ISBN: 0-8027-9628-1ISBN 13: 978-0-

8027-9628-8Price: $16.95

304 pagesAugust 2007


Connecting Young Adults and LibrariesConnecting Young Adults and LibrariesPatrick JonesPatrick Jones

http://www.connectingya.chttp://www.connectingya.comom

Consulting, training, and coaching for providing powerful youth services including library card campaigns and web projects

[email protected]

patrick jones getting started school library journal november 2001 “ why we are kids best...

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