Wrap-up Post

Well, I can't believe the semester is almost over! I went by so fast.  Getting all of the reading in this semester was difficult.  I was reading A LOT for my English classes, but the reading was not Young Adult related so it was harder to make time for all of the different reading requirements for each of the classes.  I really enjoyed getting to read all of the Young Adult novels I did, though.  It was a nice break from all of the tricky, 'think about it' texts required for most of the English classes.  I do enjoy those readings, but they can be mentally exhausting, the YA novels gave my mind a breather.  I also really enjoyed Readicide.  My eyes were opened to a lot of things through that book.  I had no idea there are schools who do not read novels.  I always did, and all of the schools I have observed read novels, plays, and other forms of literature.  It was shocking; honestly, I did not believe it at first until Gallagher repeated it multiple times and gave all of those examples.  I really wish states could figure out something besides typical state assessments to measure students growth.  There has to be a better way.

I do not feel that I have changed as a reader, but I do feel that this assignment helped me to pay more attention to the kinds of books my students will be reading, and to think about the types of novels I need to read so I can provide them with books and ideas for reading.  I want my students to have every reading opportunity they possibly can to enjoy reading.  How would I be able to help them choose novels if I don't know what is out there.  Plus, Young Adult Literature is just fun to read.

I loved the blog assignment; I loved the reading and the ability to be as creative (or not) as I wanted with it.  Designing the blog was part of the fun.  I think this would be a fun idea for students instead of just having spiral notebooks for them to journal in.