silvia gutierrez csla conference november 19, 2012
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The Street Lit ( Bluford High) Book Club : Captivating the Struggling Non-reader. Silvia Gutierrez CSLA Conference November 19, 2012. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
SILVIA GUTIERREZ CSLA CONFERENCE NOVEMBER 19, 2012
The Street Lit (Bluford High) Book Club :
Captivating the Struggling Non-reader
WHAT IS STREET LIT?“GRITTY STORIES ABOUT DAILY LIFE, RELATIONSHIPS, AND SURVIVAL IN POOR, URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS.“ MELANIE HONIG, AUTHOR.“A SUBGENRE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN FICTION THAT DEPICTS THE SURVIVAL LIFESTYLES OF INNER-CITY RESIDENTS…THE STRUGGLES AND INEQUITIES, BUT ALSO THE HOPE AND POSSIBILITIES OF DAILY LIFE EXPERIENCES…” VANESSA IRVIN MORRIS, PROFESSOR, DREXEL UNIVERSITY.
Today’s Agenda
The MembersThe BooksThe ClubThe ImpactRecommended Changes
Bancroft Middle School Long Beach, California2010-2011 School Year- Student Enrollment 1,100
studentsPercent of Total Enrollment /Percent Scoring at
Advanced or Proficient
Black or African American 15.4% /53% American Indian or Alaska Native 0.3% /0% Asian 9.7% / 75% Filipino 3.8% /77% Hispanic or Latino 40.6% /64% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 2.2%/ 54% White 26.9% /71% Two or More Races 0.1% / 100% Socioeconomically Disadvantaged 49.9% /61% Students with Disabilities 9.5%/ 40% English Learners 13.6%/ 20%
Selection Criteria” for 22 Original Members (5 Others Added Later by Request)
Recommended by ELA teacher Good behavior Poor verbal/social skills
At-risk due to family circumstancesParent in prison
Single mother who is blindFather terminally ill with cancerFamily member associated with a gang
Members by Gender/Ethnicity7th Grade 8th Grade 4 Female 1 Asian/ 3 Latina
10 Male 10 Latino -------------------------- 1 African Am Female 2 White/ 1 Latino
Males
3 Female 2 Asian/ 1 Latino
5 Male 2 Asian/ 3 Latino ---------------------------- 1 White Male
Why a Club?
Club Guidelines
Students would: Be provided a selection of appealing booksReceive reading guidance /encouragementParticipate in informal book discussions
Meet in the library during Advisory class Not be graded /judged Not be required to read aloud
22 Original Members’CST Scores
Far B
elow
Below
Basic
Basic
Profici
ent
Adva
nced
01234567
7th grade8th grade
Bluford High Book Series Acclaimed and Recommended
Breaking Point, The Test and Pretty Ugly - 2012 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (YALSA)
The Gun 2012 Popular Paperback (YALSA)
No Way Out and Schooled 2009 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (YALSA)
The Bully featured in Books That Don't Bore 'Em by James Blasingame, associate professor at Arizona and editor the Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy.
Accelerated Reader listed the first 15 titles of the Bluford Series in the “top 40” books for both middle and high school struggling readers in 2009 and 2010.
Approved for middle school by Long Beach Unified School District.
Bluford High Key Format Features
Reading level is 5th grade.
Contains between 125–200 pages. Fulfills teachers’ requirement for 100 + pages.
Paperback format with appealing covers.
Affordable: Only $1 per copy
Student Comments on the Books
-casual, conversational language - violence – gang fights, drive-by shootings -lots of action -protagonist has lots of drama - interesting characters (bullies, drug dealers,
drug users, troublemakers, pregnant teens) -adults (teachers, parents, neighbors) have flaws
- unemployment, bad relationships, alcohol/drug abuse
Street BookClub Agenda
Met weekly in library for 20 minutes during Advisory Students chose books and were then assigned to a
group reading the same book. Groups ranged in size from 2 – 4.
Groups provided with guided questions worksheet I circulated among groups to listen and guide discussion Students kept a reading log and received a Brag Tag for
each book read
Empowers the Reader Validates their urban life experiences Thrilling, recreational reading For students who aren’t avid readers,
provides emotional experience quickly Stories for a population that has been
overlooked in more mainstream literature Satisfaction/achievement from reading the
complete book Entertaining like reality TV. Allows readers
to observe the bad choices others make
Student Comments on the Club7th grade girl 8th grade boy
“Next year, can we meet every day.”
I used to think reading was boring but you showed me it’s exciting.”
The Impact
Of the original 22, 7 dropped out, or rarely participated
All read at least 1 book 3 students read all 15 books Average number of books read -6 Some change in CST scores
CST Scores 7th Grade 2010-20118 increased/4 decreased/2 no change
Far b
elow
Below
Basic
Basic
Profici
ent
Adva
nce01234567
7th gr 20107th gr 2011
CST Scores 8th grade 2010-20115 increased/ 3 decreased
Far B
elow
Below
Basic
Basic
Profici
ent
Adva
nced
00.5
11.5
22.5
33.5
8th grade 20108th grade 2011
Room for improvement
How it was conducted Changes 27 members Met weekly in library for 20
minutes during Advisory Students chose books and
were then assigned to a group reading the same book. Groups ranged in size from 2 – 4.
Groups provided with guided questions worksheet
I circulated among groups to listen and guide discussion
10-12 members max Meet 2 – 3 times a week
Day 1 - SSR or TL reads aloud Day 2 -small group discussion Day 3- large group discussion Include written reflection
Students read the same book, or choose between two books
Include individual conferences
Resources Readings on Adolescent Literacy
Street Lit Book Lists/Collection Development http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~gdc27/final/docume
nts/schoollibraryurbanlitbooklist.pdf
http://wikis.ala.org/professionaltips/index.php?title=Street_Lit_Collection_Development_Resources
http://www.streetfiction.org/ Townsend Press
http://www.townsendpress.com/our-books/bluford-series/