Patrick Jones connectingya

Patrick Joneswww.connectingya.com

Getting started

School Library Journal November 2001

“Why We Are Kids Best Assets”

One in your face: “I hate to read” – what does it mean, why did he say it, and what you can do about it

One fact: “Reading ability is positively correlated with the extent to which students read recreationally.” -National Center for Education Statistics.

One story from JDC One book from your life

Connecting Young Adults and Connecting Young Adults and LibrariesLibraries

Patrick JonesPatrick Jones

http://www.connectingya.comhttp://www.connectingya.comGetting startedGetting started

WHO? Audience Customers / students Presenter

WHAT: ObjectivesWHEN? WHERE?

HOW? Lecture Handouts Active Learning Peer Learning Question and answer Power Point:

www.connectingya.com

WHAT: OBJECTIVES Learn why some readers are

reluctant readers Learn the best materials to reach

reluctant readers Share practices for reaching

reluctant readers Any others?

Small group: answer his 2 questions

Why should I read for pleasure rather than watch TV, go to the mall, listen to music, IM, talk on my cell phone, play Nintendo, work, study, be on myspace, or do something that’s not so boring?

Okay, fine. I’m in 8th grade; what should I read? (based on your experience, not a readers advisory interview with teen)

~Who are Reluctant Readers~

Who Are Reluctant Readers?How often do you read? (Survey

says)How do you read? Girls Boys Total

I read constantly for my own personal satisfaction, and I love it. 35% 17% 28%

I don't have much time to read for pleasure, but I like to when I get the chance. 41% 40% 41%

I only read what I'm supposed to for school. 13% 24% 17%

I basically don't read books much at all. 5% 9% 5%

No answer. 6% 10% 7%

Who Are Reluctant Readers?Why don’t you read (survey

says)If you don't read much or don't like reading, why not?” Girls Boys Total’

No time/too busy 41.4% 29.8% 36.1%

Boring/not fun 29.3 39.3% 33.7%

Can’t get into the stories 6.3% 7.7% 6.9%

Boys are more interesting .2% N/A .1%

Like other activities better 7.8% 11.1% 9.2%

Too much school work 5.5% 1.4% 3.7%

Makes me tired/causes headaches 1.9% 2.5% 2.2%

I’m not good at it 2.6% 4.3% 3.4%

Video games/television more interesting 1.8% 2.3% 2.0%

Books are too long 1.2% .9% 1.1%

Friends make fun of me .4% 0% .2%

Other 1.9% .9% 1.5%

Who Are Reluctant Readers?

Survey says… "I think that reading is

EXTREMELY boring and that it gives me stress!! The only thing I will willingly read is a magazine!!!" --girl, 17

"The reason I don’t read is because I basically don’t have enough time. I go to work right after school and go to school right away at 5:30 in the morning. But when I do read, I love it and wish I could do it more often. --boy, 17


Survey says… I have a pretty busy

schedule, and I like getting school reading done before pleasure reading. So I don't get confused, I don't normally read any other books besides assigned ones during the school year." --girl, 17

"Because most books can't keep me interested, so I guess I have a short attention span" boy, 17,


Survey says… "I don't really read for pleasure. If I do,

then it is from a beauty magazine like Teen or Seventeen. No books really interest me anymore. I used to read Babysitters Club when I was little. I also read other little kids books all the time, but not anymore. At my age, no books really interest me." --girl, 17

I think that reading takes up a lot of time that I don't have, and I enjoy reading when it's a good book that I'm interested in, but I don't have the time for books like that since the reading that I have to do is for school, and I don't like the books they choose for me." --girl, 17


Survey says… “I don’t read because I am a visual

learner so I find it hard to learn with pages and pages of words. I like to see what I’m being taught.” – boy, age 17

“I don't mind reading for myself but when school starts I don't like reading anymore. School seems to have boring books to read. Most of the books that I'm assigned to read have nothing to do with my profession. And I feel that it's a waste of time. If I have to read something I feel that it should at least offer me some type of helpful knowledge.” – girl, age 16


Survey says… "I don't read because it is

boring" --boy, 15 “I usually don't read because

it gives me headaches trying to focus my eyes on the words.” –boy, age 14

“I don't really have time to read during school days and I don't really know which books are worth reading.” –girl, age 15


Survey says… “I like to read, but it’s having

the patience to make time for it that gets in the way! Plus, a lot of the books seem to be sci-fi these days, which I hate, so its also availability.”—girl, age 14

“I think the reason I don’t read is because I never run into a book good enough to keep my attention.” –boy, age 14


Literate non-readers

Illiterate literates

Nonreaders Aliterates

From Beers, Kylene. “Choosing Not to Read: Understanding Why Some Middle Schoolers Just Say No.” Into Focus: Understanding and Creating Middle School Readers ed. Kylene Beers and Barbara G. Samuels.

Avid: “I like reading and I always will.” Enjoy reading and like being identified as readers. Plan to read in the future.

Dormant: “I’m too busy right now.” Like to read but don’t make time for it. Have positive attitudes toward reading. Will read for pleasure when they have the opportunity.

Uncommitted: “I might be a reader, someday.” Believe reading is boring because they only see it as a skill. Don’t care for it much but could grow to like it.

Unmotivated: “I’m never going to like reading.” Actively dislike reading and express negative attitudes about people who read.

Unskilled: “I can’t read.” Does not identify as a reader and defines reading as “figuring out words.”

Why They Aren’t Reading

1. Associate with failure


2. Time and energy


3. Negative peer pressure


4. Not stimulated by ideas / not practical


5. No encouragement


6. Not a priority / rather do that read


7. Some adolescents may consider reading solitary and anti-social.


8. Can’t find the good books

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers

Cover - catchy, action-oriented, attractive, appealing, good "blurb"


Print style - sufficiently large

for enjoyable reading


Format - appropriate and appealing balance of text and white space


Artwork/illustrations - enticing, realistic, demonstrated diversity


Clear writing without long convoluted sentences of sophisticated vocabulary


Acceptable literary quality and effectiveness of presentation

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction High interest

"hook" in first 10 pages

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Well-defined

characters and not too many of them

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Sufficient plot to

sustain interest

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Plot lines

developed through dialog and action rather than descriptive text

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Familiar themes

with emotional appeal for teenagers

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Believable

treatment (that does not preclude speculative fiction however)

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Single point of

view / not too many characters

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Touches of

humor when appropriate

Turnaround titles

The Turn Around Books “I don’t think there is one turn-around book. That

reduces a love to reading to a silver bullet—or in this case a magic book. Reluctant readers come to reading reluctantly. For a while they’ll be book-at-a-time readers---readers who will read the book we put into their hand but they won’t seek out the next good book on their own. Gradually, with support and encouragement, they’ll move toward a stance that says, “This reading thing is good—good enough that I’ll seek a book out on my own.” Maybe that’s the turn-around-book—the book that the kid on his own finds that he enjoys” - Dr. K. Beers (via email)

Turnaround titles Anderson, Laurie

Halse. Speak Ashanti.

Foolish/Unfoolish Banks, Russell. Rule

of the Bone (M) Brunvand, Jan Harold.

Big Book of Urban Legends

Turnaround titles Burgess, Melvin. Doing

It (M) Card, Orson Scott.

Ender’s Game Chbosky, Stephen.

Perks Of Being A Wallflower (M)

Cisneros, Sandra. House On Mango Street

Turnaround titles Curtis, Christopher

Paul. The Watsons Go To Birmingham—1963

Drooker, Eric. Blood Song

Flake, Sharon. Skin I’m In

Flake, Sharon. Who Am I Without Him

Turnaround titles Flinn, Alex.

Breathing Underwater

Foley, Mick. Have A Nice Day (M)

Gantos, Jack. Hole In My Life

Giles, Gail. Playing in Traffic

Turnaround titles Giles, Gail.

Shattering Glass Glenn, Mel. Class

Dismissed Going, K. L. Fat Kid

Rules The World Korman, Gordon.

Son Of The Mob

Turnaround titles Groening, Matt.

Simpsons Comics (any)

Hinton, S.E. Outsiders

Holmes, Shannon. Be More Careful (M)

Johnson, Angela. First Part Last

Turnaround titles Keys, Alice. Tears

For Water Lubar, David.

Hidden Talents McCall, Nathan.

Makes Me Wanna Holler

McDonald, Janet. Spellbound

Turnaround titles

Mowry, Jess. Way Past Cool

Myers , Walter Dean. Monster

Nixon, Joan Lowry. Whispers From The Dead

Paolini, Christopher. Eragon

Turnaround titles

Paulsen, Gary. Harris and Me

Paulsen, Gary. Hatchet

Pelzer, David. Child Called It

Porter, Connie Rose. Imani All Mine

Turnaround titles

Rodriquez, Louis. Always Running (M)

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter (any)

Sachar, Louis. Holes Shakur, Sanyika.

Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member ( M)

Turnaround titles Shakur, Tupac.

Rose That Grew from Concrete

Shan, Darren. Cirque Du Freak series

Sleator, William. Interstellar Pig

Smith, Jeff. Bone

Turnaround titles

Souljah, Sister. Coldest Winter Ever (M)

Sparks, Beatrice. Go Ask Alice

Stine, R.L. Dangerous Girls

Strasser, Todd. Give A Boy A Gun

Turnaround titles

Tillage, Leon Walter. Leon’s Story

Trueman, Terry. Stuck In Neutral

Tyree, Omar. Flyy Girl (M)

Vibe magazine staff. Tupac.

Turnaround titles

Werlin, Nancy. Killer’s Cousin

Williams, Stanley “Tookie”. Life In Prison

Woodson, Jacqueline. Miracles Boys

Woods, Teri. Dutch (M)

A core collection for reluctant readers:

WHAT will reluctant readers

read? (Twenty four carets)

Books – series

fiction .



Books – adult fiction.



Books –children’s books



Books – nonfiction illustration heavy books



Books – nonfiction informational books in series



Books – nonfiction pop goes the culture



Books – graphic novels.



Books - collected comics.



Books – Manga.



Books – poetry



Magazines



Newspapers:



Tabloids:



Comic Books



Catalogs:



Text on a computer



Audio books:



DVDs / movies

Group exercise

Choose one of the reluctant reader “carets” and develop a strategy on how to partner with teachers to use the format/genre with students

Remember: small group work is about process NOT product

25 things to do to reach reluctant readers

tomorrow

1. A library card:

2. Booklists: 3. Booktalking :

4. Build relationships:


tomorrow

5. Celebrate Teen Read Week: 6. Contests: 7. Displays:

8. Follow-up:


tomorrow

9. Freedom and choice:

10. Get input:11. Get out of

the library:12. Get over

yourself:


tomorrow

13. Get them in the building :

14. Go the shelves:

15. High visibility merchandising:

16. Honesty:


tomorrow

17. Keep current :18. Listen: 19. Non-judgmental

attitude:20. Reader's advisory:


tomorrow

21.Samples: 22.Wave goodbye

to just fiction 23.Weed the

collection: 24.Zowie! Get

graphic

Final thoughts

Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2005 16:34:26 -0700 (PDT) From: "Amanda Subject: Hi ‘‘ I loved your book’’’ To: [email protected] My name is Amanda!!! I am 15 years old and I have just finished

reading your book "Things Change". It has been the most inspiring thing that I have read in my life!!! See normally I do not enjoy reading but, this book just captured me and sucked me in!!! I have never finished a whole book, but this one I read it in two days flat!!! I have never read a book that related so well to teens today. You were so real when you wrote this book........’’’ I was shocked to find that this was your first book dedicated to teens!!! I only wish that you write more!!! The girl Johanna was so strong it only made feel good about my self!!! I could relate to every single thing in the book....... and it can only show to others that real things can happen to real people!!!’’’’ And you told it like it was in the book..... I just wrote to tell you that you are now my favorite author!!! And I HOPE that you write many more teen books because I can guarantee you I will the first to get one!!!

For your consideration-

Things Change

(Walker and Company, April 2004)

Walker Books for Young Readershttp://www.walkeryoungreaders.com/

nailednailed by

Patrick Jones

(April 2006)

Chasing Chasing Tail Tail

LightsLights by

Patrick Jones

(April 2007)

For More Information

A Core Collection for Young Adults

Patrick Jones, Patricia Taylor, and Kirsten

EdwardsNeal-Schuman, 2003

For more information:

Connecting Young Adults and Libraries: A How-To-Do-It Manual, Third EditionBy Patrick Jones, Michele Gorman, and Tricia Suellentrop

Neal-Schuman, July 2004 1-55570-508-1. 8 1/2 x 11 .

438 pp.

A core collection for reluctant readers: a tool box Beers, Kylene. When

Kids Can’t Read; What Teachers Can Do: A Guide for Teachers 6-12. Heinemann, 2003.

A great resource on methods of teaching reading to middle and high school students who lack the ability to read successfully.

A core collection for reluctant readers: a tool box

Bodart, Joni Richards. The World’s Best Thin Books: What to Read When your Book Report is Due Tomorrow. Scarecrow Press, 2000

A great guide to the best books for young adults – all are under 200 pages.

A core collection for reluctant readers: a tool box

Reynolds, Marilyn. I Won’t Read and You Can’t Make Me: Reaching Reluctant Teen Readers. Heinemann, 2004.

A current author for teens and a former teacher shares her motivation and strategies for reaching reluctant teen readers, including success stories from her past students and questions from readers

A core collection for reluctant readers: a tool box Sullivan, Michael.

Connecting Boys With Books: What Libraries Can Do. American Library Association, 2003.

Strategies and materials for connecting boys with reading and libraries.

A core collection for reluctant readers: a tool box Young Adult Library Services Association

(YALSA) website. www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists Includes a variety of booklists, including

Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, Best Books for Young Adults and others.

Connecting Young Adults and LibrariesConnecting Young Adults and LibrariesPatrick JonesPatrick Jones

http://www.connectingya.chttp://www.connectingya.comom

Consulting, training, and coaching for providing powerful youth services including library card campaigns and web projects

[email protected]

Patrick Jones connectingya

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