Last week of the term

Thanks to all of you for your final reflections.  I'm glad that my first attempts with a blog worked for you.  I think we made it.  And from your comments, you learned something.  That's the whole idea, right?  I'm very impressed with your text sets.  I'm so glad that you found this to be a useful assignment.

All I can say is thanks for the wonderful excitement for YAL.  It's a whole new world for many of you.

I have most of your final papers graded so I'll be posting grades by the end of the week.  Also, I"ll be emailing all of you with comments about your text sets.  So keep an eye out.  Hopefully it will be tomorrow, once I teach my last undergraduate class for WOU.

After summer session, I'm retiring.  So now I'll get to read more books.  But I'll be thinking of you and how your test sets are going to provide more excitement next school year.  Have a terrific summer, relax and keep reading!!

Sue

Week 8/9/10/11

I'm really here, I didn't drop off the face of the earth.  Just a lot of eye trouble that makes it very hard to work on the computer.  Well the end of the term is upon all of us.  I have been up to my eyeballs with reading theses and attending oral defenses in addition to all of the other responsibilities.

What I would like you to do is to :
1. finish your blogs to each other , and
2.  your text set, which is to be emailed to me for a grade, and
3.  blog to each other about your text set.
(ex.  you topic, how your are going to use this, and what interesting new materials you have found.)

4.  And I would also like you to complete the final which is to answer the following question:

Tell me what you learned about YAL , what will "stick" with you next year , and how have your grown as a teacher through this experience by taking READ 591.  That is due to me by June 4.  Please just email your final to me at dauers@wou.edu

I think we all made it!!  The weather is finally getting a bit warmer.  You have been a great group to work with and I hope that this has been a good experience.  Thanks to all of you for becoming bloggers!  This was new to me as well but I think it worked.  You'll hear from me again before the end of the term.

Happy Reading!

Sue

Week 8.Hi!

Well, late again.  What a week .  I've been trying to get all my grad student observations in plus reading theses and attending oral defenses.  That's in addition to everything else that goes on around here.

This week we are going back to Ch.8, Science Fiction and Fantasy. To be honest, these are two genre that are not my favorites but they certainly are with YA's.  Just look at the Twilight Series and how that has taken off.

I'd like each of you to talk in your book group about why this genre is so popular with adolescents.  I would also like to see your blogs about visualizing:  Do you already do this in your class and if so how?  Or can you design a visualizing activity to include in your text set?  This is a powerful but sometimes difficult strategy for students because in this day and age, most of the visualizing is already done for them through TV, video games, games, etc.  How can we help YA's return to using their imaginations?  And why is that important?

Will this rain ever stop?  I do see blue sky as I write this.  Maybe I'm just optimistic enough.  In any case, have a great week.  The term is really coming to an end quickly.


Happy reading!
Sue

Week 7

 Hi gang,
Well, we are heading into the final stretch of this course.  From all of those I've heard from, I just want you to know that you are doing great on your blogs.  And it seems that you are enjoying your books groups.  Remember that your grade will be on what you are learning through the process of this class, not necessarily on one particular assignment.

This week you are going to read Ch. 10 : Nonfiction, autobiographies, biographies, diaries, and memoirs.  The is a lot to lump together I know, but so important in the reading agenda for young adults/adolescent readers.

How many of you found some terrific non-fiction, bios, etc. in the picture books you were exploring?  There are many and these are a good way to get struggling readers into the social studies, language arts, sports, math and science curriculum.  The texts are not too challenging, there are illustrations to enhance the text and they are short.  Remember most topics you teach can be found in picture books.  They are a great way to a reluctant readers's heart.

I would hope that you all read Freedom Writers Diary found on p. 480.  What a powerful story of one young teacher and how she changed the lives of her students.  Well actually, they changed their own lives with her facilitation.  This may be a book that your book group may want to read this week.  But there are many other listed in the text.  So . . . to the book groups, find a common non-fiction that you're whole group would like to read.  Your assignment for the next two weeks will then be to blog each other about the book, oh, and also work on your text set.

And at the end of the chapter, please read the part on text structure.  This is how you can make learning relevant in the content areas.

Happy reading!
Sue
I'm getting spring fever, how about you?  Don't forget to stop and smell the aromas of spring, unless you are bothered by allergies.  Have a great week!

Wednesday afternoon

Crazy day at WOU.  I won't get the new assignments up until later tonight so please be patient.  Thanks for understanding . . .
Sue

Week 6

Well this week it is Historical Fiction, one of my favorite genres.  Your assignment this week is to find and read a historical fiction book and talk with your book group about it.  Even though you may not teach social studies, how could you incorporate it into your curriculum?

I also want to recommend that you read the last part of this chapter (6) which explains how to monitor and clarify reading with great strategies.  I know that we don't use "think alouds" enough in the classroom.  Try it and see what happens.  Let us all know on your blog.

How are your text set coming?   I'm still waiting to hear from some of you about your topic.

And the last question is about your book groups.  Have you found or heard from eveyone yet?  If not, please let me know.

It's only 3:50 pm, the sky is dark with blustery clouds and it's hailing.  Yikes, just heard a big clap of thunder,  like I used to hear in Nebraska.  I thought this was spring!  I'm ready for warm weather and sunshine.  How about you?

Happy reading!
Sue

Week 5 (where has this term gone?)

My apologies for not having this up last night.  I had class till 7 pm and got home and crashed.  Ever have those days?  In addition, I"m having problems with my left eye and because of the swelling, my vision is distorted.  Just think, and I'm driving on the same roads as you are . . .yikes!  And trying to read everything on a computer!

Anyhow, it gets worse as I get tired.  Going to the opthomologist (SP?) tomorrow and hopefully "get fixed".

I am sending you all information and a bibliography about YAL picture books, as promised.  Please include some YA picture books in your text set.  How are you all coming on this?  I don't believe that I've received all of your topics yet.  Please email those to me.

I'l also going to put your into books groups for the rest of the term so you can respond to a smaller group about your YAL readings.  Now you all can read whatever group you want but you at least need to read those of your group and respond to each other in your blogs.

Group Y - Kristina Alverez, Kim Daniels,Lauren Hall, Sarah Lehman, Rebecca Kuluris

Group A - Autumn Appletoft, Kristen Goulding, Jamie Hill, Laurie Major, Amanda Wheeler

Group L - Courtney Brown, Katie Guile, Marci Kempf, RJ Rich

Did I miss anyone?  I sure hope not!

So this week, find some YAL picture books and talk through your blogs to your book group.  That's you only assignment, oh except working on your text set and reading Ch. 5, it's a big one!
Happy reading!
Sue