Using historical fiction and information books for teaching Social Studies

Historical novels can supplement the history or social studies curriculum with human stories that bring events to life.  They can help develop an appreciation of our historical heritage and provide the reader with a vicarious experience of the past through lieterature, according to Children’s Literature in Action: A Librarian’s Guide.  Historical fiction books are information books.  Some different ways to introduce historical fiction , according to Children’s Literature in Action: A Librarian’s Guide is through drama activities, guest speakers,  museum resources, traveling exhibits, and through web resources.  Teachers can choose historical fiction books for read alouds or booktalks to help spark an interest in students.

Challenged Books

I found the article about the book, And Tango Makes Three very interesting. Although I have never read the book, I can understand why it is considered the number one challenged book. I don't believe it is a book for lower elementary students. I think it is a book that should be monitored by the media specialist. Homosexuality is not something that a normal k-3 grade student should know about. I do believe it would be okay for older students. Now thinking as a parent I believe we should be familiar with things our children read. This is definitely a book that may need some discussion. Overall I feel that these challenged books are not doing any harm. They are part of real life. Students see, hear, and even do worse in real life. Challenged books can give students something to relate to or even help them decide to make better decision. With this being said check out our new list:
1. "And Tango Makes Three" by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
Reasons: Homosexuality, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group
2. "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: Offensive language, Racism, Sex Education, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group, Violence
3. "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
Reasons: Insensitivity, Offensive Language, Racism, Sexually Explicit
4. "Crank" by Ellen Hopkins
Reasons: Drugs, Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit
5. "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group, Violence
6. "Lush" by Natasha Friend
Reasons: Drugs, Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group
7. "What My Mother Doesn’t Know" by Sonya Sones
Reasons: Sexism, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group
8. "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By In America" by Barbara Ehrenreich
Reasons: Drugs, Inaccurate, Offensive Language, Political Viewpoint, Religious Viewpoint
9. "Revolutionary Voices" edited by Amy Sonnie
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit
10. "Twilight" by  Stephenie Meyer
Reasons: Religious Viewpoint, Violence

Using picture books for teaching young adults

According to the book, Young Adult Literature in Action: A Librirain's Guide, pictue books are likely to increase in popularity through llustrated stories. They are considered to be closely related to graphic novels. Picture books can be used in young adult literature when teacherse discuss careers in art and the use of various media and techniques. In parenting classes they can be incorparted throug read alouds for young childern. They can also be used to introduce literary elements. They are a good resource for helping with ESL teens. They may also be read just for enjoyment and pleasure.

Controversial books and what makes them so...

Controversial books are ones that some feel are unsuitable for young adults. These are books that may contain family issues, such as divorce or separation. They may also contain issues concerning sexuality, violence, and profanity.
If books are challenged, librarians should be aware of the four stages in handling challenged books. First, be informed. Make sure to have a copy of the intellectual freedom manual on hand. Second, be prepared. You should ensure that you have a selection policy manual for your library. Third, you must understand the levels of complaints and challenges. A casual inquiry is when a parent may approach you concerning a book that is disturbing. A complaint is when a parent makes an appointment with your principal. At this point a reconsideration form may be filled out if you can not come to a resolution. A formal challenge would be the last step. If the reconsideration form is filled out and given to your superintendent, he or she will then form a committee. This committee will not include the principle or librarian. The committee will come together to make a decision about the book. Finally, you should inform students, teachers, administrators, and parent about the intellectual freedom and what it means.

The First Part Last

This is an AMAZING book! I loved it and would recommend it to students. It is a controversial book but with young adults I think it is fine. These are situations that young adults can relate to in some way and hopefully help some of them to make wise decisions. It really shows the hardships of being a teen parent. I loved that it was about a young father raising his baby girl. It really made me sad when I found out Nia, the mom was in a vegetative state.

Articles on Young Adults

My first article focuses on teen friendships in regards to peer influence and peer pressure.  It states that friendships during adolescence become more complex, exclusive, and consistent. Different types of relationships began to emerge. There are new types of friendships such as opposite sex and romantic relationships and different levels of relationships such as “cliques”. Peer influence and peer pressure can be positive or negative. Although peer influence and peer pressure when negative may lead to unhealthy and unsafe choice by teens. Some strategies to help with teens are:

1. Nurture teens’ abilities and self-esteem so that they are equipped to foster positive peer relationships and deflect negative pressures.
2. Encourage positive relationships between significant adults and teens.
3. Encourage diverse relationships.
4. Support parent education programs for families with teenagers.
5. Equip youth with the skills necessary to resist negative behaviors, as well as to make good decisions.
6. Teaching youth exit strategies or ways to say ‘no’ to negative pressures.

In conclusion, peers play a large role in one another’s life during adolescence. They offer many positive opportunities, along with negative ones. Peer relationships are important to help young adults develop into healthy adults.

The second article I chose is called, “A Chapter a Day”. It is an e-resource used to help motivate young adults to read. Teens sign up for the book club then via e-mail they receive pages from popular fiction and non fiction books each day of the week. By the end of the week they have received two to three brief chapters. Each week the process starts over. Chapter a day works with over forty different publishers, including Penguin Putnam, McGraw Hill, and Random House.