Integrating Young Adult Literature Through the Common Core Standards

Rachel L. Wadham, MEd, is librarian and professor of adolescent literature at Brigham Young University, Provo, UT.Jonathan W. Ostenson, PhD, is professor in the English Education program at Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, where he teaches courses in English teaching methods and young adult literature.

This book advocates for a stronger role for young-adult literature in ELA classrooms, compellingly documenting how this body of work meets both the needs of adolescent students and the demands of the common core for complex texts and tasks.Integrating Young Adult Literature through the Common Core Standards provides a compelling template for teachers that uses young adult literature and inquiry learning to meet students' needs and the demands of the common core standards.The first part of the book addresses the widely adopted common core state standards by examining closely the standards' model of text complexity and demonstrating how young adult literature can fill the requirements of this model. The second part provides theoretical discussions and analysis of the standards as well as concrete applications of young adult literature within the classroom in order to give school professionals a comprehensive understanding of how young adult literature and the standards can work together. The book empowers schools and teachers to make intelligent, informed decisions about texts and instructional practices that benefit their students.Finally, the authors explore a powerful teaching approach that integrates current understandings about learning, young adult literature, and the common core standards in a way that will facilitate greater learning and understanding in English classrooms.

This book advocates for a stronger role for young-adult literature in ELA classrooms, compellingly documenting how this body of work meets both the needs of adolescent students and the demands of the common core for complex texts and tasks.

ContentsIntroductionPart I: Defining the Complexity of Young Adult Literature Using the Common Core StandardsChapter 1: Young Adult LiteratureWhat is Young Adult Literature?A Brief History of Young Adult LiteratureDispelling Some MythsYoung Adult Literature In the ClassroomEmbracing Young Adult LiteratureOur Bold Approach to Young Adult LiteratureChapter 2: The Common Core State StandardsThe Precise Nature of the Common Core StandardsAssumptions and Implications of the CCSSFilling Holes in the CCSSApplying the CCSSConclusionChapter 3: Quantitative Dimensions of Text ComplexityHistoryTypes of FormulasStrengths of Readability FormulasPotential Problems with Readability FormulasPossibilities for the FutureConclusionChapter 4: Qualitative Dimensions of Text ComplexityFormatAudienceLevels of MeaningStructureLanguage ConventionsKnowledge DemandsConclusionChapter 5: Reader and Task Dimensions of Text ComplexityReader Dimensions of Text ComplexityEnvisioning Independent ReadersThe Adolescent ReaderThe Readers AptitudeTask DimensionsConclusionChapter 6: Applying the Three-Tired Model of Text ComplexityIntroductionAnalysis ExamplesAmerican Born Chinese by Gene Luen YangBerlin Boxing Club by Robert SharenowClay by David AlmondThe Pirates of Turtle Rock by Richard W. JenningsThis Dark Endeavor by Kenneth OppelWisdoms Kiss by Catherine Gilbert MurdockPart II: Planning Instruction Using Young Adult Literature and the Common Core StandardsIntroductionChapter 7: Inquiry LearningDefining Inquiry LearningPlanning for Inquiry LearningPrincipals that Guide PlanningChapter 8: Model Unit PlanStep One: Choosing An Anchor Text and Devising an Essential Question/ThemeStep Two: Developing a Unit AssessmentStep Three: Developing Learning Outcomes and Processes for Daily InstructionConclusionChapter 9: Raw Materials for Unit PlanningIntroductionChanging the WorldGenre and MeaningExploration and FrontiersFuture SocietiesForgivenessThe Making of a Legend -- Robin HoodMythological TalesThe Personal Price of War - The Revolutionary WarSecretsTriangle Shirtwaist FactoryUnpacking The Story - Beauty and the BeastWildlife ConservationChapter 10: Raw Materials for Textual ConnectionsMaking InferencesThemes Connected to Developmental TasksThematically Connected to the ClassicsDialogue Rich TextsComparing and Contrasting StructurePoint of ViewBooks Made Into MoviesPortraying HistoryDrawing on TraditionRetelling the ClassicsReal People In FictionNovels and Picture BooksNovels and NonfictionConclusionAppendix A: Blank Analysis FormAppendix B: Blank Raw Materials Planning SheetAppendix C: Unit MaterialsIndexes