Adolescence is a unique time in life, and the middle schoolers in our K-8 school have many unique needs. The biggest need for me as a librarian is to connect the not-yet-engaged readers with compelling books so that they increase the amount they read, and as a result grow their skill as readers.
Our K-8 alternative school attracts a diverse group of students.
Families of the 6h-8th graders often choose the K-8 option over middle school so their kids can have more personal, flexible learning experiences.
The kids we want to target with this new collection of books also donât read much, and we want to change that. Sometimes labeled as "strugglingâ or ânon-readers,â more often they lack extensive reading experience or may comprehend in different and more complex ways.
Growing the collection of contemporary Young Adult books in our library is an important step toward providing the resources that will draw these kids to reading.
My Project
Imagine you're an 8th grade boy who's been sent to the library to check out a book. Would you be most inspired to read Hatchet, Holes, or Maze Runner; the Harry Potter series, or The Vladimir Tod series? Would an adolescent girl want to explore teen issues in highly rated books like How to Save a Life and Divergent, or American Girl books?
The average publication date of our library fiction section is 2000, and while there are classic titles available, contemporary Young Adult titles is what lures teen readers. These books can provide the bridge to the classics, and bridge they'll never cross if they don't pick up books in the first place!
Fifty books may not seem like a lot, but it expands the number of Young Adult fiction titles targeted to our middle school readers by close to 20%.
We'd love you to come on board and make a difference for students. If we "build it," we know they will come!
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