YALIT/Crit

LA Times Book Prizes for YA Lit

This prize always gets a lot of buzz in the field. Here are the finalists in the YA category:

YOUNG ADULT FICTION
M.T. Anderson, The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume 1: The Pox Party (Candlewick Press)
Coe Booth, Tyrell (Push/Scholastic)
John Green, An Abundance of Katherines (Dutton Books/Penguin Books for Young Readers)Meg Rosoff, Just in Case (Wendy Lamb Books/Random House)
Nancy Werlin, The Rules of Survival (Dial Books/Penguin Young Readers Group)

You'll see famliar authors and titles there.

THE WINNER--TYRELL Here's the review from School Library Journal (SLJ).

This one is on my summer reading list.

Comments, Myers subject

I think there is a "rule" if I am limited to the number of people that I can have in my seminar. I mean I realized that there have been only three people in each seminar (since I have all ready attended the amount required) but I didn't think that it had to be that way "no matter what!" I'm just saying that I don't think an extra person will throw off the class that much or maybe in my own non chalant way I am conveying a "no big deal attitude" toward this concept. I just thought we had a little bit more "breathing room" or freedom on how to conduct our projects, that's all. We are all grad students and I thought the class would be a little bit more flexible toward our personal needs since we are more "collegues" than students. It's no big deal though, I'll just keep the folder for my own personal records.

SALE at Barnes and Noble

This week is Barnes & Noble's teacher appreciation week -- 25% off. If you have a teacher ID, you can take advantage of this good sale.

If there's anything you want and do not yet have teacher ID, let me know and I will be happy to buy it for you if it's available here in Syr.

KES

Just One Question

Dear Dr. Stearns,

In that case, I'd appreciate it very much if you can answer my # 4 quesion. Thanks a lot. I am not quite a smart student as far as understnading directions, especially at my age. :) There is a reason for my paying all the expensive tuitions and fees and  sitting at a student's seat, which explains why I always have to ask questions.

5/3 Book club

I have finished reading A child Called "It" for his week's book club ( I started last week). I have one bold question here: Do we have time to read Eagle Blue before the end of this term? It took me a while to finish only 100 pages( small print). With all these papers due, I wonder how...but I will try my very best. How do you feel, my peers?

Questions

Dear Dr. Stearns,

I'd appreciate it very much if you let me know if I understand your requirement correctly.

1. Two (4-5pp) papers: # 1 paper is Northern Light, and # 2 paper is the paper that is due on Monday 4/30.

2. One paper(4 pp) personal essay--in lieu of final exam. What is this title? or Can we choose by ourselves? Or is it the final project?

3. Final reflective piece ---What is this? Is it the top part of our self evaluation on our seminar?

4. Project----Is this == # 2, the personal paper ?

Sorry about this, but it's better to ask first than regret later.

Thanks a lot

Sure, Karen!

Of course you have my permission but I'm taking a flight out to San Diego, on the 16th so I won't be able to attend the last class. I'm sure that won't stop you from having a great intellectual discussion and I wish I could be there. However, I made these plans months in advance so it would not be in my best interest to break them.

Dean Myers

I'm sorry, I didn't know that there was a "rule" on how many people could attend a seminar. I thought you needed to have at least 3 people in it, I didn't know that this was the "maximum amount" which you could have even if more people wanted to attend. So many rules, so many regulations-I can't keep up with them all; worse than high school! I think that's pretty sad because I know a lot of you want to attend and I hate to through away these extra folders. I don't remember who signed up but I do know I had about four or five names and Li was one of them. I left the "remembering" up to those who signed up for the seminar. If you do remember being one of the first three, let me know and I will confirm it with you. If not, then I'll just hand out the folders in class to the first individuals who want to attend.

I just was informed that the seminar may be on the 10th instead of the 3rd so I may just be handing out folders for Thursday's class but I'm not sure.

Andrew's Seminar

What pieces of this seminar folder, specifically did you find most valuable?

Andrew had a wide variety of texts that could be used to discuss satire in the classroom, most of which I was unfamiliar with. King Dork was of special interest to me, since I have only recently read Catcher in the Rye, and am always looking for ways to tie YA Lit into classical literature that we are often required to teach. The material was extremely boy-friendly; having recently reviewed research addressing the gap in reading comprehension between boys and girls, I found myself plotting how the literature being discussed could fit in with pedagogy designed to turn boys into readers.

What did you enjoy about the seminar?

Andrew’s obvious enthusiasm for humor was present throughout the seminar. The topic was a refreshing change from my own seminar on Death and Dying. Having a limited sense of humor myself, I found the lesson plans very accessible

If you came away from seminar wanting to read any of these books, which would you pick and why?

I would attempt to integrate King Dork into a unit on Catcher in the Rye, despite its somewhat elicit content since it offered opportunity to explore literary satire. Of course, there are real censorship issues here, and I would want to notify parents of my choice. Andrew also gave us a fine taste of The Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga since it is less heavy handed and involves a plot about comic books, and is relatable to high school student.

What contribution did you make to the seminar?

Laughter: Andrew provided ample opportunity for it. Every comedian needs an audience.

What connections can you make between your experience of the seminar and teaching adolescents?

I am fascinated by the issue of engaging students in literature, especially boys who are often resistant to reading due to societal expectations. Humor provides an in-road to the life of boys, and allows girls the chance to explore new types of narrative literature that they might not otherwise read.

What suggestions, if any, do you have for your seminar facilitator?

Andrew presented with his typical naturally laid-back style and back-handed humor. My only advice is to make sure you take these lesson plans into your classroom; you’re a natural! His presentation was extremely engaging and made humor more accessible to those of use who are humor impaired.

PLEASE CONSIDER:

As you know, our syllabus lists May 10 as our last class. I would like to ask you if you would consider adding an addiitonal class the following week. This is not really an "addiitonal" class as we dropped 2 classes due to the bad weather and then my conference commitments this semester (sigh!). 3 if you count the night you held class without me and not everyone made it to class.

This is on my mind -- as you are -- all the time and it's creating a good deal of anxiety. I think you know this, but I will reiterate that I have a deep commitment to graduate education and to all of your efforts to prepare for the challenging work of either continuing to be an extraordinary teacher or in your becoming one.

I would like NOT to have to rush our last seminars, lit circles and discussions of KETURAH and EAGLE BLUE.

I would also like time for us to share projects, second papers for publication and process the journey we have been on together this semester. We might use the Yagelski chapter along with the NCTE presidential address to do both.

It would also be nice if we had circle time for all of us to talk a little bit about our seminar topics, the significance of them and what we learned from the work we did to prepare.

How would you feel about our adding an additional class during what is finals week on campus? That would push the discussion of EAGLE BLUE to 1/2 on the 10th and the rest on the 17th. It also gives us some leeway with the last seminars. Because we did not have class this week, Ray C was not able to give out his folders.

We could postpone his seminar until the 10th (w/your permission Ray) with either Celinda, Lindsay or Joe and then the two remaining seminars could be held on the 17th.

This would be instead of trying to fit Ray C in on the 3rd and Lindsay, Celinda and Joe on the 10th. That did not work well last time we met and Li was forced to make the best of that poor scheduling on my part. Jerry would be our only seminar on the 3rd if we did that.

Lit Circles on JOE and LIFE AS WE KNEW IT might also have more time with this schedule. Currently they are to be held on the 3rd.

On the 17th we would not have to meet until 6:50 of course. We can play that by ear. It might turn out that way if we all have as much to say as I think we do. But that's negotiable.

I'll bring the treats if you continue to bring all of your wonderful "work" this semester.

I would like to have this additional time in our 619 community.

Let me know here what you think. Thanks! KES