Professional Book Response 1

Chapter 1

“Adolescents on the Edge” begins by highlighting the need for a classroom community. To create a strong, trust-based community within a classroom, it all boils down to looking to the students. The classroom environment should reflect their ideas and principles. For example, have students create a class chart outlining how to go about having an appropriate classroom discussion. In addition, students have to have common goals. Baca and Lent provide a few helpful suggestions, which include having students read their creative writing to younger students, helping them form book clubs, and getting them involved in community service projects that relate to what they are doing in the classroom. I love their suggestion of relating reading and writing projects to community service projects. It is involving kids in the classroom community and in their broader communities.

Golden Lines

“Students’ heads must be up and they must be actively involved in their communities, including communities created in school.” (P. 4)

Strategies

Have students apply their writing to their world

Find ways to tailor the classroom to their needs

Chapter 2

The authors then move on to discussing how to help motivate and engage students. A standout is the example of a teacher showing students her “reading mind.” In this exercise, the teacher read aloud from the text and then shared her thought process out loud. This helps demonstrate to students how to process what they read, especially if they are striving readers. I liked that the authors laid the example out in a detailed fashion. I could see myself referencing it easily in the future. Another method of engagement comes from purposeful activities. One student shared how she would find herself reading an article on the internet and then researching aspects of it after, just for her own enjoyment. Another example shared was of high-risk students becoming engaged in reading in retirement homes after school because it had a purpose. To further engage students, teachers need to show them how to talk about their ideas and exchange feedback. This will create a more open environment that is conducive to discussions.

Golden Lines

“Adolescents will engage in literacy when they find it purposeful.” (P. 21)

“The words ‘nonthreatening, no strings attached, no penalty’ all confirm the importance of allowing students to try on learning as you couch from the sidelines, not offering false praise, of course, but constructive, honest feedback that shows students that you care about their progress and that you can be trusted to support them even when they are not ‘getting it.’” (P. 23)

Strategies

Have students adjust a writing assignment to fit their interests

Provide opportunities for honest feedback where no grades are involved

Resources

Super fun poem creator that let’s kids use their own interests as inspiration: http://www.pongoteenwriting.org/introduction-to-writing-activities.html

Questions

How cohesive would our classroom be, discussion-wise, if all the students were doing slightly different assignments at the same time?

How likely is it that I could lead my class into a community service project related to our reading re: time and expenses?