[aisle] [***] Re: Colleen Hoover for Independent Reading

Tue Jan 31 11:18:12 CST 2023

Upon a student recommendation, as a Book Club this past month, we read
Colleen Hoover's Verity. Huge and very embarassing mistake! If you
have not read it, uhhh, it's EXTREMELY sexual.

If the teacher (not the Librarian, as this is none of your business)
decides to write a generic email to parents (as has been suggested
above), I'd recommend calling out Colleen Hoover's books in
particular. I absolutely would not want my 8th grader to read what is
in Verity (if I had an 8th grader).

My advice, additionally, is to stay out of it since you are not
involved. I think you should just say to the teacher, "As the School
Librarian, I do not recommend Colleen Hoover for this age group."
Period.

Let us know what the teacher decides to do!

Lori

On Mon, Jan 23, 2023 at 11:01 AM Kathy McCoy via AISLE
<aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>
> As a former ELA teacher... some thoughts that I have:
> I would simply send out a generic email to parents explaining what we are doing in class (objectives, rationale, etc.) and tell them that they are guided toward checking out books in the school library, however, some students select an independent book outside of school.  Please check in with your child and make sure that they are selecting books that you approve. Play up the fact that school and home are partners.   OR... the ELA teacher could require that books for independent reading only come from or could be found in your library (like add that to the course syllabus).
>
> I'm in an 8th grade center and don't house Colleen H. books.  I'm starting to receive many requests for New Adult types of titles and tell the kids that if it's not YA (8th grade ages 13-14 appropropriate) it won't be here.  I still see them carrying Colleen H. around. No one is forcing them to read anything selected for independent reading.  I guess if it ever came back at me, I would point out that it's the parent job to let your child know & share your expectations of appropriateness and what suits your family values.
>
> Mrs. Kathy McCoy
> Library Media Specialist ~ Teacher
> CCUSD #301 | Central Middle School
> "Engage the mind, empower the learner, inspire excellence, influence the world"
>
>
> On Mon, Jan 23, 2023 at 12:44 PM Carol Naughton via AISLE <aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>>
>> Unless the LA teacher wants to approve everyone's books, there is not much she can do. Another way to do it is if the book is not specifically YA, they need a parent's permission.
>>
>>
>>
>> Carol Naughton
>> LRC Director, Community High School
>> FIRST Tech Challenge Coach
>> Team #19757 WEGO Robotics
>>
>> 630-876-6400 | cnaughton at d94.org
>>
>> http://www.wegolrc.org/
>>
>>
>> If we teach a child to read but fail to develop a desire to read, we will have created a skilled nonreader, a literate illiterate.
>>
>> ~Kylene Beers
>>
>> Currently Reading:
>>
>>  The Candy House by Jennifer Egan
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Jan 23, 2023 at 12:39 PM Mary Gabel via AISLE <aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>>>
>>> If they have complete freedom to choose, isn't it up to them and their parents/guardians?
>>>
>>> On Mon, Jan 23, 2023 at 12:35 PM Leah Gregory via AISLE <aisle at list.railslibraries.info> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> If they are bringing them in, and not passing them around, I would let it go. That’s between them and their parents. If they are passing them around and it’s becoming a thing, I would address it as a distraction.
>>>>
>>>> Leah Gregory, M.A., M.S.
>>>>
>>>> Membership Coordinator – School Library Liaison
>>>>
>>>> Illinois Heartland Library System
>>>>
>>>> Edwardsville Office
>>>>
>>>> 618.619.2069
>>>>
>>>> lgregory at illinoisheartland.org
>>>>
>>>> www.illinoisheartland.org
>>>>
>>>> Imagining Tomorrow—Delivering Possibilities Today!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ________________________________
>>>> From: AISLE <aisle-bounces at list.railslibraries.info> on behalf of Claire Greene via AISLE <aisle at list.railslibraries.info>
>>>> Sent: Monday, January 23, 2023 12:34:10 PM
>>>> To: AISLE-Share: Association of Illinois School Library Educators discussion list <aisle at list.railslibraries.info>
>>>> Cc: Claire Greene <cgreene at northbrook28.net>
>>>> Subject: [aisle] Colleen Hoover for Independent Reading
>>>>
>>>> Good afternoon, collective mind!
>>>>
>>>> I had an email from an 8th grade LA teacher this morning asking what we should do about 8th grade students reading books that we know to be extremely mature, and not professionally recommended for their age group. Specifically, many of our 8th graders are reading Colleen Hoover books. These are books they have NOT gotten from the school or classroom library, which makes me inclined to think it's none of our business, and we should do nothing.
>>>>
>>>> However, the teacher is concerned because she does reading conferences about independent reading books, and keeps records of the books students choose to read. They have complete freedom over the books they choose for independent reading, but the reading itself is assigned and tracked (20 minutes a day is assigned), making it technically curricular.
>>>>
>>>> Does anyone have any thoughts about how to balance students' privacy and intellectual freedom with the LA teacher's responsibility in loco parentis?
>>>>
>>>> Thank you for your insight!
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>>
>>>> Claire Greene, Director of Resource
>>>>
>>>> (She | Her)
>>>> Northbrook Junior High School
>>>> Northbrook District 28
>>>>
>>>> 1475 Maple Avenue
>>>> Northbrook, IL 60062
>>>>
>>>> www.northbrook28.net/NBJH
>>>>
>>>> 847-498-7920
>>>>
>>>> MAILMAN_MIMEDEFANG
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-- 
Lori McGreal