Teaching YAL

Let's face it. It's hard to get students to pick up a classic and actually read it. They simply aren't interested, and would much rather skim through the sparknotes. They aren't going to learn anything this way, which means you've just had a pointless lesson. Here are some pointers on how to incorporate Young Adult Literature in your classroom, with some of the struggles addressed!

• How am I supposed to obtain a classroom set of The Hunger Games? That's too expensive!

             Don't worry about buying a classroom set. Read aloud to your students. Set aside a certain amount of class time each day and simply read to them. They'll enjoy it and actually look forward to it. This will allow for greater class discussions, and it's something different which I love! You could also make a summer reading list of  young adult novels and let the kids choose what they want to read. They would be purchasing a book anyway, so why not make it a modern one? Then you'd have some pretty interesting back to school essays to read.

• Aren't these books below English standards for the classroom?

             Absolutely not! If you do your research and choose the right one, you'll find books filled with literary devices that you can incorporate in your lessons. The novels are filled with metaphors, similes, assimilation, theme, allegory, conflict, and so much more! More importantly, these books were actually written for teens so they are identifiable and will entice them.

• These books are only filled with bad things that students shouldn't be reading.

              Young Adult Novels are geared toward teenagers and include issues that they are facing in their own lives. This is what attracts young readers to them. They see themselves in the book and are able to learn life lessons.  Some of these books deal with things like sexuality, bullying, drugs, and unplanned pregnancy. Some may not be acceptable reading in the classroom. That is up to the teacher. Always read a book before assigning it to a class! Also, it's always a good idea to send home a letter to parents before reading a book, especially if there is questionable material in it. This is called a rationale. Have the parents sign and return it, then keep a copy.

             Remember that kids are facing most or all of these tough situations every day anyway. Reading about it in a safe environment like the classroom, where they have a chance to talk about it and maybe learn a thing or two, may not be such a bad thing. Certain factors, like grade level, will contribute to your decision.

Hopefully this will help in your own planning of teaching YAL. These are only a few suggestions, and aren't the only way to do things. Have fun,  get these kids interested in reading again!