Keep Calm and Read On!

Maggie Schumacher contributed today's post. 

I consider it a pretty significant part of my role as a middle school reading specialist to keep current with young adult (YA) literature. Keeping current with literature serves a variety of important purposes; my primary reason for doing this is to build a “toolbox” that I can turn to anytime I need so that I can talk to students and teachers about current literature. It’s important to have recommendations for students that span a variety of levels, Lexiles, genres, and interests. I also need to know what’s fresh and exciting or controversial and page-turning so I can make recommendations to teachers for their classroom libraries or updating literature circle options. There’s nothing more important to me than matching a student with a good book! It’s important that students can see themselves reflected in literature.

I find out about current YA titles through various methods. If you’re looking for good titles, I’d recommend tapping into the following resources:

1. Your school’s library media specialist.

If you are lucky enough to have one, and he or she’s as great as the one in my middle school, you need to utilize this amazing resource! This person should have access to lists of recent award winners and what’s new in YA literature.

2. The Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) from UW-Madison. https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/

Each year the CCBC publishes CCBC Choices, which is an annual best-of-the-year list broken down by genres and age groups. If you have the opportunity to visit the CCBC in Madison, you can hear about many new titles from those who have read and reviewed them. This can help to narrow down your reading list as well. The CCBC also has a “Book of the Week” and various book lists for reference on their website, including the Read On Wisconsin! (http://readon.education.wisc.edu/) current and past year book lists. The CCBC also should be your go-to if you are ever faced with a book challenge. Be sure to check out their information on intellectual freedom.

3. Follow the annual award winners and visit book fairs and warehouse sales whenever you can.

There are many awards out there, but the Printz Award winners and honor books are typically where I start my list. The Michael L. Printz Award is an annual award for literary excellence in YA/teen literature (http://www.ala.org/yalsa/printz). This is my go-to list for hot titles in YA/teen reading. Last year’s winner, I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson, was beyond moving! There tend to be some controversial topics in these titles, but sometimes edgy and mature content can hook those most reluctant of readers.

These are only a few ways I find out about great new books, but they’re a great place to start!

I know I’m not the only one who’s heard and agreed with the mantra: “So many books, so little time.”  Because we are all so busy and stretched with our time, I know some of you are probably wondering how I can find the time to read all of these great books?!

One thing that I do is read with my students every day during independent reading time. I teach one block of reading intervention every day; within this block, students have a guaranteed twenty minutes of independent reading time. This is a non-negotiable in our school. During this time, I don’t pull students or conference - we just read. When the students are reading, I read too so they see me acting as a model of independent reading behaviors. This time is sacred and students are focused and working on sustained silent reading.

Our building also has a designated Drop Everything And Read (DEAR) time during homeroom every Thursday. At this time, the expectation is that every student and teacher drops everything and reads. This helps to promote a culture of literacy in our building. I take advantage of this time to work through my reading list; I always look forward to homeroom on Thursdays!

I try to make time to read each evening before I go to sleep. Believe me when I say that some nights I only make it one page into a chapter before I’m falling asleep on my book... but my good intentions are there. Some nights I manage a few chapters, some nights I manage more, and some nights less.

I read on my device when I’m killing time waiting for an oil change or in the doctor’s office. I listen to audiobooks in my car on my drive to and home from work or my weekend travels. Sometimes I even take a break at my desk during the school day (gasp!) and just pick up a book and read. Who’s to argue that’s not in my job description? I do, after all, specialize in reading! Find a system that works for you and figure out how to incorporate reading into your schedule! Give yourself the gift of a good book and permission to read it.

It’s important that our students see us as readers. It’s important to be knowledgeable and current on hot titles in literature so we can have recommendations for students and teachers alike. To read or not to read? That’s a silly question! Read on!