[MOSAIC] {MOSAIC} Middle school reading motivators

Thu Mar 1 08:07:32 EST 2007

Susan, 

I'm really glad you posted: You're right (and you've got the latest non-fiction which can never be called non-fiction novels because by definition a novel is fiction). Freedom Riders: John Lewis and Jim Zwerg on the Front Lines of e Civil Rights Movement by Ann Bausum and TEAM Moon by Catherine Thimmesh are exciting reads. I would add to that A Dream of Freedom by Catherine McWhorter. The book Freedom Riders would work really nicely as a companion book and it expands on one of her chapters about the Freedom Riders. Recently the NYTimes published an article about John Lewis taking college students on a bus and retracing those places and events of that critical summer. It might be interesting to ask kids to look at the same story through different points of view and perform them through hotseats (see Jeffrey Wilhelm). 

 If you are pursing a line of inquiry around the sixties or notions of civil rights you can add Kennedy Assasinated by Wilbourn Hampton, 10,000 Days of Thunder by Phil Caputo, Oh, Freedom! by Casey Osborne, and several books about the history of rock and roll. 

Actually, I am working on a project like this with my least motivated lowest scoring 8th graders and it's tough to motivate them. My teachers have found, incredibly, that "it's beyond the beautiful book." That is to say, it's not enough to give unmotivated middle schoolers beautiful books and expect them to read and be happy about it. We've incorporated some of the techniques and ideas of hotseat and other dramas from Jeffrey Wilhem's book on Deepending Reading Strategies and we've been using ideas from Myra Zarnowski's new book, Making Sense of History. And that is why I return the importance of keeping the definitions and distinctions appropriate between fiction and non fiction because we might also begin to use historical fiction as a motivator because of the appeal of story. So one might pair, for example, Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson with Jim Murphy's Yellow Fever. Or we might pair The Watsons Go to Birmingham or The Crossing with other non fiction texts about the 1960s. We might pair Karen Hesse's Out of the Dust with Jerry Stanley's Children of the Dust Bowl. Shifting back and forth from fiction to non-fiction deepens reading comprehension (what good readers do: self to text etc) but answers provides an assortment important historical understandings.

Gosh, sorry, this was a long way off from motivating middle school readers. Non fiction is a good way to go. But it needs purpose, action, something to do, and clear expectation. 

Sincerely,

Maureen Robins
Literacy Coach,
NYC

________________________________

From: mosaic-bounces at literacyworkshop.org on behalf of Feix, Susan
Sent: Thu 3/1/2007 7:26 AM
To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Listserv
Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] {MOSAIC} Middle school reading motivators

Hey,
This is my second response, so if you have read the first, please
ignore.  As I didn't see my response appear on the list serve, I figured
I did something wrong and needed to send a second communication.
I am a middle school teacher in Kentucky and have been teaching for many
years.  This year, because of a program I am in, I have increased my
non-fiction material greatly.  DON'T STOP READING!!! I have found it to
be very motivating.  These novels are real materials, have graphics, and
are often not too long.  I have discovered several well written
non-fiction novels that appeal to the students.  They are all under 100
pages (around 40-50 exculding pictures, charts, etc.):
   Freedom Riders by Ann Bausum              
   Team Moon by Catherine Thimmes
   Quest for the Tree Kangaroo by Sy Montgomery    
   Freedom Riders  ?
   Escape!  The Story of the Great Houdini by Sid Fleischman (longer)
   Kids At Work by Russell Freedman (his work is generally very strong)
   Hiltler's Youth by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Certainly there are many, many more.  Non-fiction has recently been
recognized as a genre that can motivate greatly.  One key is teaching
the strategies to read this type of material. 

I also conduct Literature Circles, and this has been a great motivator
in my class.  Harvey Daniel's book is a wealth of knowledge, and the
great part is you can begin immediately in your classroom.  I am a firm
believer in CHOICE and DISCUSSION.

You might also take a look at the graphics novels.  There is an
onslaught in this area.  They certainly target a definite population of
readers.  The visual action in this type of material is a positive for
many students.  The graphic novels written today certainly cover the
essential elements of literature.

Finally, current magazines also add another area to explore.  Getting
students to read often simply involves finding their interests.  I do
feel choice and discussion are the keys.  Hope this helps. 

Susan R. Feix
Harrison County Middle School
susan.feix at harrison.kyschools.us

-----Original Message-----
From: mosaic-bounces at literacyworkshop.org
[mailto:mosaic-bounces at literacyworkshop.org] On Behalf Of ANDREA B
LOCKHART
Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 12:20 PM
To: mosaic at literacyworkshop.org
Subject: [MOSAIC] {MOSAIC} Middle school reading motivators

 Hi,

I am new to the list, but I have enjoyed reading everything that has
been
coming through. I am currently teaching 6th/7th/8th grade remedial
reading
(students who are not served through special ed but who are below grade
level readers regardless). Many students coming into the class have such
a
negative attitude towards reading --something that I continually work
toward
changing. Does anyone have any ideas for motivating or interesting
lessons
that are geared toward middle schoolers--lesson ideas/reading
topics/"real
world" reading/fun reading/vocabulary games that might interest them? I
have
a solid base for my everyday plans, but when students lack motivation,
it's
difficult to interest and engage them sometimes. Any
ideas/advice/suggestions?

Thanks,
Andrea Lockhart
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