Which instructional strategies described in this chapter u like best and why?

The instructional strategies that I like best in this book is the post reading strategies. Instead of sticking with discussion and writting activities, creative projects were recommended to enhance students involvement with their reading. Creative project provides students with oppurtunities to stretch their imagination and also provide them with oppurtunities for authentic interaction with books. Some of the creative projects for post readers are :

1) Creating a collage that illustrate one of the characters in the book.

2) Create a script dramatizing a scene from the book.

3) Design a jacket cover for the book.

4) Write a song

5) Design a sweatshirt, T-shirt or tie based on the book.

How does disccusion and writing help you to understand your feelings and clarify your thinking about a selection you are reading.

Effective discussion can help one to develop higher level thinking skill. Discussion has helped me to put forth my view point and at the same time listen to the view point of others. In a meaningful discussion, we will get valuable insights and information and provide oppurtunities for newer understanding. One of Unique quality of discussion is that the interlocuters build on each other's construction. A conversation is a verbal collaboration. Each party borrows words & phrases and structures from the other, recombines them, adds them and eloborate them.

In separable from this, verbal colloboration is the accompanying cognitive colloboration. A conversation is dialogical - a meeting and fusion of minds, even if speakers disagree.

Journal responding is another way of helping us to understand our feelings and clarify our thinking about a selection we are reading

Journal responding is a free form of informing personal wanting with no restriction on spellings and mechanics.

Writtinng the journal provide the freedom and flexibility on revealing those personal reflection as they occur throughout the book.

How do you think that your understanding and appreciation of literature can be enhanced by working either in pairs or in small group?

Understanding and appreciation of literature can be enhanced by working in small groups because as the group members share their experiences with literature, they clarify and articulate their reactions, their ideas and their belieft about what they have read. Working in small groups provide social context for readers. This sense of social community has an impact on readers' interest with the text. Reading and experiencing literature are not solitary experiences in which the sole interactions are between the reader and the text. The involvement between readers and the text provide only two dimensional viewpoint. The third dimension of the literature experience involves the social aspect when the readers share the reading experience.
Meanwhile, working in pairs is another way of learning literature. Learning partners may respond to each other in their dialogue journal share their writtings with each other or develop creative project together. An inherent benefit to this approach is that both partners have mutual responsibilities and mutual needs and therefore the level of commitment and involvement is usually high.

Examine several young adult literature books. Identify and explain factors that influence whether or not you will read a book.

There are few factors that might move me to read a book. When I look at a book and read the caption, it should evoke something in me . It should stimulate my imagination, mind and emotion. The characters portrayed should be believable characters, multifaceted people who are neither stereotypical not prototypical. There should be a coherent, not a predictable plot. Apart from that, there should be reasonable conflict with satisfying resolution of the conflict. Meaningful interection among characters, significant themes and appropriate setting will add value to the book. Additionally, authentic dialogue, clarity of language, vivid images and rich but not effusive descriptions will influence a reader's selection.

Describe your favourite K-12 teacher of literature, the methods used and the learning environment established in the classroom.

No comments as literature was not taught during my secondary schooling days.

Recognizing the range and diversity of readers in a classromm How do you think, young adult literature can help a teache to meet their needs.

In an ESL classroom, there is bound to be different types of readers. Based on the Brown and Stephens book, there are three types of readers; a capable reader, an at risk reader, a bilingual reader. A capable reader is someone who can read very well, but he does not often read nor does he enjoy reading. An at risk reader is an average student who never reads unless he absolutely has to. A bilingual reader is someone whose mother tongue is not English. To meet the needs of these different types of readers, the teacher could suggest a reading assignment where the pupils are given the freedom to choose a book of their choice to read. Apart from that, the teacher should encourage readers to write about their readings and use their writing to connect with their own experience. Finally, the teacher should also recommend a variety of YAL to cater to the different types of readers.

What benefit do you eceive when you have opportunities to share what you are reading with others?

Reading is an enriching experience. Sharing what we are reading with others will be a meaningful experience as we get to establish a process for making connections with our reading. Through sharing, a reader gets to make some connections with the text. By sharing , a reader is actually reliving the work , identifying memorable words, images, ideas and people. The process of sharing includes interaction between readers and others and is divided into three components which are articulating, clarifying and verifying. Through articulating, readers express their reaction, thoughts and beliefs. After articulating and clarifying, readers can reassess and verify their thoughts within the context of their own value systems.

Reflection on the young adult literature along with the Browm and Stephen's textbook.

Based on the young adult literature , 'The Heroes' , I find that the issues faced by the protagonist are real life experiences faced by many pre-adolescents. Reading YAL will definetely make a lasting impression on readers as it connects with their lives and personal experiences. Reading this textbook has given me some sinsight on how YAL can help pave the pre-adolescents journey into adulthood. As stated in the text book, reading YAL has an ongoing, pervasive impact on our lives and has the power to transform individuals. It provides readers with infinite possibilities for knowledge, enrichment and wisdom. According to Rosenblatt, all readers bring to reading prior knowledge, and experience that influences their perception of the text. Meaning evolves for individusl readers as they interact and respond to the text.

Reflection upon my own experience as a reader, its influences on me.

I used to read fairy tales and fables from various countries when I was in the primary school. I enjoyed reading fairy tales and used to imagine myself to be in the main character's shoes. I, however, am ashamed to admit that I didn't quite get into the reading mode when I went to secondary school. In secondary school, I was more into studying for exams. Most of my time was spent practising my maths or memorizing facts related to history, geography or science. I would get very upset if I did not do well in my exams. I do read newspaper, magazines and the occasional storybook, but nothing substantial to affect or influence me. In retrospect, I feel the fairy tales and fables did have some subtle influence on me; that truth and honesty prevails and that good people will somehow or rather attain happiness in the end. That concept has spurred me on to be a good and honest person; based on my own standards, at least.

My favourite author

I enjoy reading John Grisham's novels. John Grisham is an American , former politician, retired attorney and novelist who is best known for his works of modern legal drama. His books are mostly about legal, social and political issues. I like the way Grisham narrates his story. He provides vivid accounts of the unfolding events. Not only that, his book features a lot of twists and turns of events. He keeps the story moving with lots of details and gradually building up suspense. Apart from that, his work allows the reader to get to know the realities of the justice system in America. In general, Grisham's books gives us issues to think about and discuss with friends.

Teaching Young Adult Literature- What is Young Adult Literature?

I am reading Teaching Young Adult Literature by Elaine C. Stephens and Jean E. Brown. The term 'young adult' has connotations of pubescent boys and girls in their transition into adulthood. Young Adult Literature, from herein will be referred as Y.A.L., is a body of literature which portrays the lives,experiences, aspirations and problems of young people. It focusses on youthful characters,and explores their sense of identity, their adventures,their dreams and their trials.
Y.A.L. is recommended for young readers as this genre reflects and reinforce attitudes they already hold or can identitify with. It provides young readers an opportunity for self realisation and at the same time expand their knowledge of events, situation and human interactions not only within their circle of experience but also of others from different cultures and ways of life.
Y.A.L. has evolved through time. Early Y.A.L. which was written before 1960s focussed primarily on disturbed and highly rebellious youth. The rebellion was directed against authority figures and the establishments. There were less portrayal of the influence of the family and less emphasis of ethnic and cultural diveristy. In contemporary novels, however, Y.A.L. discusses the needs, problems, and interests of affluent, suburban youths. The rebellion portrayed is in the context of seeking identity. There is a more pronounced portrayal on the role of parents and the influence of the extended family. There is also an increased emphasis on ethnic and cultural diversity.
Y.A.L. has evolved to address the entire spectrum of life.