[LIT] PG and R-rated books

[ardie]

> From: lit-request at literacyworkshop.org> Subject: lit Digest, Vol 34, Issue 6> To: lit at literacyworkshop.org> Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2008 12:00:03 -0400> > Send lit mailing list submissions to> lit at literacyworkshop.org> > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/listinfo/lit_literacyworkshop.org> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to> lit-request at literacyworkshop.org> > You can reach the person managing the list at> lit-owner at literacyworkshop.org> > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific> than "Re: Contents of lit digest..."> > > Today's Topics:> > 1. Thank you ... (TLP)> 2. Re: PG and R-rated books (McGivern, Liz)> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------> > Message: 1> Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2008 12:53:52 -0400> From: TLP <tlinsb71 at gmail.com>> Subject: [LIT] Thank you ...> To: "Lit Site" <lit at literacyworkshop.org>, MT> <MiddleTalk1 at LISTS.NMSA.ORG>> Message-ID:> <dfd142f70808230953o1c3aa232jeea5808da59d435c at mail.gmail.com>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1> > Yesterday was my stepfather's funeral. What a wonderful celebration of> his life. My daughters sang in stunning harmony both for him at> Hospice and at his funeral. After many months of increasing> disability, George spent the last 10 days at The Hospice House where> family was in constant attendance. During that time, I was able to> scan and incorporate photos of George's interesting life and create an> incredible slide show. George even helped me with names and events as> he described his life. From working in the woods as a youngster to> joining the Army-Navy in WWII. He was at Normandy and re-upped for the> Korean War. He was a father, a farmer, a teacher, ( Like me, went back> to school at 40) a quilter and wore many others hats as he sat on> various committees and the like. It was an honor to help and my mother> was comforted by each family and their support. I learned much about> my step father and his first family and it made us all even closer.> Thank you to all on our list who helped me with the technical aspect.> I had never actually burned a DVD before always using a thumb drive> and LCD projector. --> Tena> > > > ------------------------------> > Message: 2> Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2008 10:14:16 -0400> From: "McGivern, Liz" <lmcgivern at sau81.org>> Subject: Re: [LIT] PG and R-rated books> To: <lit at literacyworkshop.org>> Message-ID:> <BFF1BEAB3B3D2B49A0B8DB830F61FBF5329B9F at EXCHANGE.sau81.org>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"> > This is a great topic -- I struggle with it, too, as most of my 8th graders like to read books that seem "older" than they are. > > I worked hard this summer to organize my classroom library. My solution was to create an EXCEL spreadsheet of every novel in my classroom, sortable by genre, title, and author. I created a link from each title to the Amazon.com website where the books are reviewed by Booklist or other sources. It was a lot of work this summer to create the original document, but now when I add a new novel to the library, it takes a minute to log it in and add a link. > > I then posted the document on my EDLINE page, along with an introductory letter that tells parents that if they see one of "my" books at home (they are all marked in big letters with my last name) and want to know what their child is reading, they can go to my page and look for the link. If parents are uncomfortable with any subject matter, it is their responsibility to let their child know. Also, if they want to read any novel in my classroom library, I am more than willing to lend them a book to "preread," as I think conversations between students and parents are crucial at this age.> > The idea came from a conversation with my brother in law, who is a voracious reader. He asked me one day what I was reading. Since I have read all the novels in my classroom library, he wanted to know how parents could easily access the information in my head!! :)> > Ms. Liz McGivern> 8th grade Language Arts> Hudson Memorial School> > > > ------------------------------> > _______________________________________________> The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org> > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org.> > Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive. > > > End of lit Digest, Vol 34, Issue 6> **********************************
I've struggled with what to do about books that have more mature themes or language also.  Last year some of my students wanted to read 'Fallen Angels' by Walter Dean Myers.  It's a great book, but the language in it could be offensive to some, so I sent a permission form home (just the parents of the students who requested the book) for parents to sign.
 
This year, I'm attaching a general permission form to my Welcome Letter.  I have a few books that may fall into this category, which will be housed on a separate shelf of my classroom library.  Students whose parents will allow them to read these books, will be allowed to sign them out.  
 
mardie 
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