Reading websites and print resources

There are zillions of resources addressing adolescent reading, but I’m all about picking a few really good ones and knowing them well. Here are some sites that I have saved on my computer and books that I keep within reach on my shelf. If you find other resources that you think I should add, please contact me at L_thurston_2000@yahoo.com and tell me about them~!

http://www.teenreads.com/
Love this site. A great place to get your teens used to visiting so they don’t keep pestering you for what to read next….

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/booklistsbook.cfm
Don’t have a young adult or reference librarian at your disposal 24/7? Then check out this site for the latest and greatest in YA works.

http://www.alan-ya.org/
See above note. Same deal here. I always said, if I ever went back for a new career, it would be to become a librarian: those guys know everything about everything~!

http://thisibelieve.org/
You and your students can use this site to springboard into reading lessons, writing activities, listening opportunities and discussion prompts. Teens love true stories and there is so much here that can be used across content areas… Just click already~!

Books on writing:

Strategies That Work: Teaching Comprehension for Understanding and Engagement by Stephanie Harvey & Anne Goudvis
I never read this book without my highlighter and post-its in hand: wonderful, idea-inspiring strategies to use immediately.

Deeper Reading: Comprehending Challenging Texts by Kelly Gallagher
All of this guy’s books are wonderful. My only challenge is figuring out how he has the time to teach AND do all of this writing. But as long as I keep getting gems like these, I don’t care.

Subjects Matter: Every Teacher’s Guide to Content-Area Reading by Harvey Daniels and Steven Zemelman
A balance of theory, practical strategies, additional resources make this book a must-have. Also, it’s NOT just for English teachers. It truly is about reading across content areas.