With the All American Boys text, I want to use the Shared Reading Strategy for grades 6-8 and 9-12. The strategy entail reading, then re-reading the text, allowing it to undergo in class conversation. I feel it is an appropriate strategy to approach students with because it promotes engagement and initiative with students; they can play an interactive game to keep track of who is reading and where the last person left off, by letting students read and choose the next reader to keep each other engaged. For pauses in readings, discussions can be held in small groups, which promotes more interaction, letting the lesson assist even ASL students. In class reading and discussion, allows students to analyze the chapters and open up their interpretations of characters, actions, and themes. The reading would be broken up into units; in a time crunch situation, students would analyze chapter units in groups. Groups would be responsible for their unit of chapters then could discuss interpretations of their parts of the story. Then, each group would share their analysis with the class, promoting further in class discussion.
I would assign this strategy after each assigned reading unit, or during class progression of the text. For example, students would be assigned to read the first four chapters; then in class, we would re-read the material while divided into groups, discuss themes and specific points, and have each group share what they have learned from each other. Teachers can redirect and broaden student conversations. With this activity, students can explore beyond the main themes within the text by discussing how such issues exist within their own lives and how they have witnessed the themes through their own local news experiences. Students can discuss how their race has exposed prejudice and stereotypes; they can also confirm or deny how and why these issues remain to persist. Furthermore, a discussion can be explored of how the story could have been different had characters taken other courses of action. The activity demonstrates YA pedagogy by revisiting discussion, themes, and analysis which define All American Boys as a YA text. It explores how the text can impact YA literature, and the importance of relatable YA literature in classrooms.
Jellyfish Melodies 