Teaching the Young Adult Literature Workshop

Catalog description

This course is designed to familiarize students with the genre and field of young adult (YA) literature and to provide a rationale and basis for practice for teaching adolescent literature in English Language Arts (ELA) courses utilizing a Reader's Workshop format. By the end of this course, students will be able to (a) Articulate a working definition of adolescent/YA literature; (b) Respond to a variety of YA literature texts individually and in a group to increase understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of this literary genre; (c) Describe some of the trends and dominant concerns in the field of YA literature, including: multiculturalism, new/digital literacies, critical literacy, and censorship; (d) Choose YA texts appropriate for classroom use by gaining familiarity with a range of popular and/or award-winning YA literature titles; (e) Select YA texts that will stimulate interest, foster appreciation for the written word, and increase motivation of learners to read independently for pleasure and for personal growth; (e) Make and support claims about the use of YA lit in the ELA classroom; (f) Design lessons in the context of a reader's workshop approach; (g) Explore, evaluate, and select instructional materials and professional resources for teaching with YA literature; and (h) Demonstrate an awareness of culturally responsive literature teaching and an understanding of how cultural, linguistic, and ethnic diversity impact teaching and learning as these ideas connect to YA literature. This course engages essential questions in the teaching of young adult literature in the workshop format. First, it invites students to engage the question "What is young adult literature (YA literature) or adolescent literature?" This is particularly important as the YA category grows in quantity and importance. Second, students consider, "How can we use YA literature to teach for social justice and social responsibility?," a question resonant with Standard Six of the National Council of Teachers of English's Standards for the Preparation of Teachers of English Language Arts. Students will consider in depth the advantages and the challenges of using YA literature in secondary classrooms. They will learn promising practices in adolescent literacy and teaching young adult literature as well as methods and materials that teachers can use to maximize engagement for all students. Finally, students will engage the linked questions of "How can ELA teachers motivate students to read for pleasure and personal growth?" and "How do we humanize our YA literature teaching and teach for love, justice, joy, and wisdom?"