vocab strategy

Okay, so I introduced vocab visuals aka V 2 (that's supposed to be a squared) to my students. For each novel we read they have to choose a minimum of 20 words they don't know and use this strategy. I also have subscribed to word of the day which emails a word with the definition, synonym, antonym, etomylogy, etc. They also have to use this strategy for the word of the day.So far it's going well!

Accidentally forgot and added to the end?! Soto what?!

Okay, so I'm not going to ruin the ending of the book for anyone but saying exactly what occurs...
I do think that Soto really crammed in a lot of new ideas in the last few pages and I so am not buying all the coincidences that occur. This wouldn't be the first book or the twentieth that I would recommend to a student but if this happened to be the one that finally got someone to read then more power to them!

Other Young Adult Novels and Wed. class

Hi All,
I'm looking forward to sharing some additional YA novels (and some non-fiction) related to a serious topic--the Middle East and war, as well as other postmodern picture books and graphic novels tomorrow night. I am glad you are reading against the grain with the Soto novel, deconstructing some of its stereotypical elements. This is the essence of critical literacy and the problems you are noticing permeate some (not all) of this genre.

We'll also look at some specific response strategies you may find useful in working with literature and non-fiction texts.

Well, gotta go....more later.
Tom

Yay for blogging!

Hello all,
It is great to see so many posts. I have really enjoyed reading your thoughts and comments about the book. I finished reading it this weekend. I was in Utah with my family and my nineteen year-old niece and my twelve year-old niece both asked me about the book. I will be very interested in their feedback and will share their thoughts with you. While I have many of the same concerns that you have shared I also find myself drawn to Marisa. I find her inner struggle realistic. I'm thrilled that you all are blogging and sharing insights and information with one another!

On the topic of blogs...please check out http://blog.reading.org/jaal/
It is connected to the Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy. It is just getting started and they need voices!! The topic is centered around new literacies and I think you will enjoy reading it and sharing your thoughts and opinions.

Thanks!
Jenni

My response to the novel so far...

I am having a hard time with this novel. Soto has a stilted style of writing. I think he is writing this way to sound like an adolescent, but instead it makes Marisa sound unintelligent. "Marisa could tell that the nerd wasn't familiar with her kind of school, one with security guards who themselves looked like thugs."I have read many young adult novels where the writers create an adolescent voice without making the main character sound silly.

I also find myself getting confused about some of the decisions that Marisa makes. So, she meets Rene and the next day she wants to go to a new school. Marisa is relieved that she doesn't have to go to her old school, and yet she never thought about going to a new school prior to meeting Rene. Given that she makes this decision after meeting Rene you can infer that she has made this decision entirely based on him, however, she thinks about how much she hated her old school all of the time. So, why didn't she try to transfer earlier?

The last difficulty that I have is that there are quite a few stereotypes in this novel. First there is the nerd with the high water pants and fanny pack (which seems like an anachronism when you figure that this novel cannot be set in the 80's or the early 90's because of the prevalent use of cellphones which were pretty expensive then). Next we have the poor school entirely populated by thugs and gangsters where the minority student body is only good at one thing: sports. Then you have the rich school where everyone is nice, involved in clubs, and of course horrible at sports. Then there is the school production of Romeo and Juliet. Last but not least we have a heavy girl who suffers from low self esteem who will become magically fabulous through the miracle that is a diet.

I think that middle school students would read this book, but I am not sure that they would find Marisa to be authentic.

Marisa's Diet

I am torn over Marisa's eating habits. On the one hand I really hate that Marisa isn't happy with her body because she is "chubby." Sometimes I feel that these types of characters only perpetuate the media frenzy of skinny being the only beautiful. At the beginning of chapter 7 Marisa even describes how hungry she is and how she feels weak from not eating!!! On the other hand there are many obese students sitting in our schools. In the novel Soto talks about the healthy foods that Marisa is eating instead of the junk food. Encouraging students better couldn't hurt. So I am not sure where I stand with the "food issues" in this novel. Any thoughts?

Middle School v High School

As I continue to read this book, I wonder who would identify more with it or even get a kick out of it more...middle school or high school students? I think m.s. students and 9th and 10th graders would identify with the story. 11th and 12th graders would enjoy it for its humor and memories aspect. What do you all think?

Accidental Love

The book for me is tolerable, but definitely not a favorite. Every other page seems to being out another stereotype. Marisa's inner struggles is what helps me to pick up the book and keep reading. I don't think she's running away from anything intentionally, I think she just trying to find happiness. I'm pulling for her and hope she is able to find it in the end.

The book so far

It's not too bad. I wonder if adolescents would really be into reading it though. The stereotypes are jumping out at me too now. Honking laugh, white socks, high water pants. It is kind of a corny story but it keeps me entertained. I do think it is odd that she keeps thinking how nerdy and dorky Rene is, and then she wants to make out with him. Usually teenage girls don't want to make out with nerds do they? Have times changed since I was in school?

Response to Podcast 9/16/08

That's so awesome about the podcast website. I'm really excited about having my students learn how to make them. I was actually really surprised to learn that many of my students didn't know what a podcast even was. 

As for the book, it's entertaining for me since most of what I read are the classics for my classes. However, I am definitely seeing a lot of stereotypes popping up in the book. I can see Soto's aim...but I think he could have portrayed Hispanic culture in a little better light.  I'm just curious to see how Marisa continues to deal with the issues of both her old and new schools. 

Hi All,
It looks like we'll be reading against the grain which is fine. Soto (and other YA authors) are typically adults (although not always) writing about teens. They draw heavily on their own experiences and Gary Soto's roots are in Fresno's agricultural, rural landscape. I worked a lot with schools in that area in the 1980's (e.g. Delano High School). I would agree though, that in many ways, times have changed and communication is much more wide-ranging now. In any case, we'll look at lots of other YA novels when we get into that topic a bit later. Shoot, now I have to finish this novel to really participate in our blog.

The podcast idea is super. Garage Band and a host of other Mac based vehicles allow for doing podcasts (e.g. Keynote, Profcast etc.). We have one that Elizabeth Moje is doing for a future issue of JAAL and, of course, there are tons on iTunes. Now, if I can only find the time and get myself off the addiction to YouTube videos......
cheers,
Tom

When I picture what Rene looks like I can not help but picture the same as Ben. I also agree in that the book is nothing what I dealt with in high school. It has been a long time since I was in high school and believe that times have changed very much. I was worried for Marisa in chapter five when she was at her aunts house and some of her friends from Washington came by to trick-or-treat and asked if she was alone. I feared they would try and do something to her. I was happy that she came up with such a great excuse for leaving Washington. Putting it on her parents was a smart idea.

My Thoughts on the Book

Hey classmates and teachers,

I read chapters five and six of Soto's book. I'm honestly having trouble thinking this what adolescence is really like. It's certainly not how it was for me. How about for the rest of you?

Also, after our discussion last week, the stereotypes really jump out at me. Rene especially fits about every stereotype there is - from the high-water pants with white socks to the asthmatic laugh.

And I'm amazed how quickly Maria falls for this king of geeks. Does that ever happen?

I don't hate the book though. I'm entertained enough to keep reading.

New Literacies Project for Nevada's High School Students

Ashley asked in class if there was a place her students could do podcasts. I'm actually developing a website for Nevada's high school students where, among many other things, they can create podcasts! They can also submit journalistic articles, essays, stories, artwork videos, and even post material from their cell phones. I talked to Dr. Bean, and he said this would work as my project for this class.

I really need to find some teachers to participate by encouraging their students to submit work. So Ashley and anyone else teaching high school, if you want to, I'd love for you to join in the effort.

Here's a link to the site. I still have work to do on it. I welcome anyone's feedback!

Responses to Chap. 3-4

1. The book must take place somewhere in the Southwest, my guess is California.

2. Marisa at school is all about image. She likes to be tough and let others know about it. However, this is changing now that she has moved to a new school.

At home, Marisa seems to realize more than ever her negative communication skills. She says things without thinking and then regrets it. Her true emotions don't come out as much as she'd like them to.

With Alicia she is super protective. I think Alicia represents the person she'd like to be physically. She feels loving towards her but awkward now that she has changed schools and isn't in her comfort zone. 

3. Soto's use of Spanglish and other Hispanic cultural elements are definitely reflective of new literacy. Also, his honesty about the real trails and tribulations of  being a teenager are very reflective of modern times.

4. The new literacy elements make the plot very realistic and relatable. 

5. I would be proud of her in a way that she skipped school to see an injured friend. Especially considering the usual reasons that kids skip school. However, I would be disappointed that she missed school especially considering her grades, etc. What I was wondering is why her mom didn't take her back to school? Marisa said she left in the morning. so she could have returned.

Chapters 3-4

I once heard someone say "We cannot always choose our first thought, but we can always choose our second." Throughout the book we read about Marisa's  constant battle within her thoughts. It seems that she is beginning to choose her second thought more wisely, what do you think is prompting this change?

By changing schools is Marisa making a fresh start or running away?

Reflect on the characters and the setting, what stereotypes are present? 

If my daughter were to keep cutting school I would have a serious talk as to why she doesn't want to go. As for her missing school to go see her friend after the car accident, I can't really blame her, and I believe that her mother isn't really mad at her for missing school on this day, but doesn't want her to continue.

I feel that Marisa is a very interesting character. She seems very confident most of the time but insecure at times. I believe that she stands up for herself almost as a defense because she has had to her entire life. She wants to do the right thing and is a very caring person when it comes to her friends and family. Marisa is really trying her best by changing schools.

Welcom to our YA novel discussions

Hi All,
We'll actually take up these questions for the Gary Soto novel this evening in class but you can also post here. We'll read the next two chapters for next time (i.e. 3 and 4).

1. Given Gary Soto's biography, where does this novel take place?

2. How is 14-year old Marisa Rodriguez's self image and identitly:

- in school?

- at home?

- with her best friend Alicia?

3. What new literacies elements are present in this 2006 novel that would not be found in a 1990's vintage story?

4. How doe these new literacies elements drive the plot?

5. What would you do as Marisa's Mom and Dad (about Marisa cutting school)?