Reading Young Adult

How much time should be spent reading YA in English classes versus classic lit?

I think this depends on who your students are. I often wonder why we focus on teaching kids so many reading skills through fiction. Why not use poetry or nonfiction? In life we read fiction for pleasure. We read nonfiction for knowledge. In schools we tend to do the opposite. We read ficiton for our skills and so when do kids learn to read for pleasure. So, I say, read the YA for pure pleasure, everyday. Or use something simple like a reading log.

If students are in an AP program or the like then, sure, they need to read more classic pieces. Even that has its limitations in the real world, though. I mean, when does literary analysis come into play?

In high school and in college many of the English classes focus on literary analysis still, but why? When do you need to know these things except to become a teacher or book reviewer or editory maybe?  Why not save that work for the College Majors? Why is this still part of the standard curriculum? English is about communication, Comm I and II stands for Communications and we teach literary analysis.

What do students need to be able to communicate? They need to see spin, bias, connotations, denotations or words. They need to learn rational debating, persuasive writing and speaking. They need to generate their own ideas and back them. They need background knowledge of the world around them.

Let's save the SKILLS for other texts and keep the novels for pleasure. Otherwise we run the risk of continuing to lose pleasure reading entirely with the most struggling students.

• Visit our SHELFARI page and join our group to share you favorite books.

• ALA Young Adult Library Services Association provides books lists and reviews, material for Teen Read Week

	Book Lists Whole Collection for high school Independent Reading Whole Collection for middle school Independent Reading Teen Boys Teen Girls Nonfiction books Literature Circles

	Lessons / Materials Book Pass--use this simple form to preview several books Reading Logs - Simple single responses that develop active reading when used habitually Literature Circles packet to be copied all at once and completed throughout each meeting.