Teen Read Week 2008
Oct 12th, 2008 by Cathy Jo Nelson
Here is where you can read the activities I have planned for Teen Read Week. I have created a display in the library too titled “Books that Bite” and if i remember I’ll return here and post a picture. Friday another literacy teacher is sponsoring a “Books that Bite Breakfast” which we are having a lot of fun promoting.
We are dabbling with some other activities, but these are more class specific since for the first time in many years i have (gasp) a homeroom (actually it is an advisory for literacy, and I am charged with challenging their already really high lexile levels (1200+ in my group of 31–yes I inherited the largest group!))
So I am asking my group to bring in a song and it’s lyrics so we can analyze them like poetry. 
Here are the rules:
- Must by PG or G rated if it were a movie
- No derogatory lyrics that glorify degrading, beating, or killing people
- Absolutely NO profane language (slang or otherwise)
- Bring either the actual CD or make a $1 donation to the purchase of the song in iTunes
Depending on how many are brought in, we may have to do this over a few Fridays. We will draw a name out of a hat, and then make copies of the lyrics to spread around the room as we listen to it (makes me glad I’m in the library near a copying machine.) Then we will have discussion as to what we think it means, pick out and explain words or phrases, and critically analyze the songs for both musical merit and message (not to mention literary criticism.) I’m really kind of pumped to have the conversation about words and their connotations, and how meanings have transformed over the years (i.e. pimped has a whole new meaning in today’s world.)
I would LOVE to invite a class from somewhere else to “sit in” or perhaps be more active with the session via skype or some other conferencing tool. Yes, I am very afraid of what variety of music will be brought in. Shockingly enough, kids today have very diverse tastes, and some even listen to the same music I listened too in high school almost 27-30 years ago. So we will have to see (and hear) how this goes. Wish me luck.
Attribution:
www.flickr.com/photos/93159879@N00/2576254989
Hi Cathy!
I love the lines from the book contest!
May I use it with students at my school? I’ll give you credit as the creator, of course.
Thanks for your post. It was fun to read about what you are doing for Teen Read Week.
@Erin–sure. I modeled it after another I saw, but changed some of the titles to represent some of the more popular books at my school (i.e. Twilight, Bluford Series, etc.)