A call to arms -- er, books!

[dozmuffinxc]

"Books: the best weapons in the world. Arm yourselves."

~The Tenth DoctorNow that I have my placement (even though I probably won't find out the exact grade level until Monday), I'm starting to turn my classroom vision into a reality here in the Queen City. I won't know the actual aesthetics of my room until teacher workdays start, but one of the

Comments

[sabrebabe]

Gimme a list of authors/genres/titles you're interested in. We have a lot of thrift stores and *two* used book stores right here in my neck of the woods. I'm running up to Copper Harbor tomorrow to pick berries, but there's a shop up in Calumet (on the way there) that has some ridiculously *old* books in their clutches (some written in the Old Finnish). I was going to peek at them for my uncle who collects the things, but I'll see what else they have that you might be interested in as well.

[dozmuffinxc]

Here is a Prentice Hall list of "High School reading." Like Grym says below, though, I'm definitely most interested in YA books rather than classics! I have a good number of of those already, and will have more ready access to them through the school. Any of the Hunger Games books and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian for sure. I'm sadly out of the loop with YA, though, and can't give too many specific suggestions. But anything would be helpful!

Also -- if you happen to run into a copy of Phantom by Susan Kay, let me know! It's been out of print for years, and I look in every used book store/consignment shop in the hopes that I might come across a copy. Who knows but you might have better luck? :)

[inkdancer]

As soon as you know your grade level, let me know. I have a large supply of young adult books which I was considering selling, but I would much rather donate them to a good cause.

[dozmuffinxc]

Will do! I meet my principal on Tuesday, so should know more then.

[dozmuffinxc]

Ninth grade English I FTW!!

[tkurogrym]

I'll see what I can turn up. :) Let me strongly recommend that you really look for quality Young Adult titles and popular fiction -- much more than old classics (although they should be mixed in). Reading for pleasure means reading easily and confidently; many kids who grew up in homes that weren't "print rich" are easily turned off by our classics. They CAN read them, but lack the personal self-assurance to push through the difficult parts. They can gain that with easier, higher interest texts.

Are you going to be up my way anytime before school starts?

[dozmuffinxc]

You've pretty much summed up my classroom vision in a nutshell! I'm all about the reading, and want to find as many different types of books to appeal to the unique personalities, interests and learning styles that I'm going to find in my class. I'm sadly out of the loop when it comes to YA novels, though, and would love any suggestions you might have!

[tkurogrym]

I'm getting more familiar with newer titles thanks to the Elon Academy Book Jam. You'll have to find out what kinds of books your particular kids like. The EA kids seem to lean toward fantasy adventure (Hunger Games, Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment, etc.) or real life teen struggles (Looking For Alaska by Green, Nineteen Minutes by Picoult, 13 Reasons Why by Asher). Note that all of the above are controversial for some reason or another -- explorations of suicide, sexuality, school shootings... Always a risk you run with lots of YA titles.

[dixiebell12]

I have tons of elementary books, do you need any of those?

Hugs,
dix

[dozmuffinxc]

I wouldn't be able to use them, but I know plenty of elementary teachers who would love them if you're looking to get rid of them!