[ISLMA-Share] Middle School/Jr. High Explicit Content or Words Letter to Parents

[Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association]

I do the same thing as you, Jeanne.  An early conversation with students
about the different genres, reading levels, and content of books they will
find in the library prevents a LOT of problems.  I tell students the very
same thing, that if any book makes them feel uncomfortable or scared, then
they can easily return it and choose something else.  I've only had a
student bring a book back a handful of times in my thirteen years in the
library.  When it has happened, I've taken the moment to talk to the
student about what it was in the book that didn't sit well with them, and
then we look for another book together.  It's a good "bonding" moment too.

On Fri, Sep 1, 2017 at 10:21 AM, Email list for the Illinois School Library
Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:

> I do not send letters to parents. If you start that, you will need to read
> and police every book that’s in your collection and you will be surprised
> at the language that shows up in places.
>
> I do stick YA stickers on books that are reviewed as 14 and up just as a
> heads up, but any of our students can check them out.  I remind students
> every year that just like you can see a big difference in kids’ sizes in a
> middle school, we also have a wide variety of reading levels and emotional
> maturity levels.  Students will find some books that they had in their
> elementary schools, but we will also have books in our collection that
> could be found at the high school.  I tell them every year at both the
> middle school and the high school level,* "If a book ever makes you feel
> uncomfortable, bring it back and check out something else.  What is not a
> good fit for you, might be a good fit for somebody else or you in the
> future.  Library books are optional free reading, not a requirement."*
>
> I have found that students do a good job of policing themselves.
>
> Jeanne Brucher
> Teacher-Librarian
> jbrucher at geneseoschools.org
> Geneseo Middle School (309) 945-0524
> Geneseo High School (309) 945-0316
>
>
> On Sep 1, 2017, at 10:09 AM, Email list for the Illinois School Library
> Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>
> Hello all,
>
> It is my first year in a middle school/jr. high school library setting.
> Does anyone have a letter that a teacher could send to parents about
> explicit content or word usage in particular books.
>
> Please share with me... I would love to see a few examples!
>
> Thanks so much,
>
> Lani
> Lincoln Hall Library/Media Specialist
> Lincolnwood, IL
>
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-- 
*Amanda Kuzminski*
*Library Media Specialist*
Orland Junior High School
14855 West Avenue
Orland Park, IL 60462
708-364-4214

No trees were destroyed in the sending of this message, but a large number
of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
    - Neil DeGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist
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