SILVIA GUTIERREZ CSLA CONFERENCE NOVEMBER 19, 2012

The Street Lit (Bluford High) Book Club :

Captivating the Struggling Non-reader

WHAT IS STREET LIT?“GRITTY STORIES ABOUT DAILY LIFE, RELATIONSHIPS, AND SURVIVAL IN POOR, URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS.“ MELANIE HONIG, AUTHOR.“A SUBGENRE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN FICTION THAT DEPICTS THE SURVIVAL LIFESTYLES OF INNER-CITY RESIDENTS…THE STRUGGLES AND INEQUITIES, BUT ALSO THE HOPE AND POSSIBILITIES OF DAILY LIFE EXPERIENCES…” VANESSA IRVIN MORRIS, PROFESSOR, DREXEL UNIVERSITY.

Today’s Agenda

The MembersThe BooksThe ClubThe ImpactRecommended Changes

Bancroft Middle School Long Beach, California2010-2011 School Year- Student Enrollment 1,100

studentsPercent of Total Enrollment /Percent Scoring at

Advanced or Proficient

Black or African American 15.4% /53% American Indian or Alaska Native 0.3% /0% Asian 9.7% / 75% Filipino 3.8% /77% Hispanic or Latino 40.6% /64% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 2.2%/ 54% White 26.9% /71% Two or More Races 0.1% / 100% Socioeconomically Disadvantaged 49.9% /61% Students with Disabilities 9.5%/ 40% English Learners 13.6%/ 20%

Selection Criteria” for 22 Original Members (5 Others Added Later by Request)

Recommended by ELA teacher Good behavior Poor verbal/social skills

At-risk due to family circumstancesParent in prison

Single mother who is blindFather terminally ill with cancerFamily member associated with a gang

Members by Gender/Ethnicity7th Grade 8th Grade 4 Female 1 Asian/ 3 Latina

10 Male 10 Latino -------------------------- 1 African Am Female 2 White/ 1 Latino

Males

3 Female 2 Asian/ 1 Latino

5 Male 2 Asian/ 3 Latino ---------------------------- 1 White Male

Why a Club?

Club Guidelines

Students would: Be provided a selection of appealing booksReceive reading guidance /encouragementParticipate in informal book discussions

Meet in the library during Advisory class Not be graded /judged Not be required to read aloud

22 Original Members’CST Scores

Far B

elow

Below

Basic

Basic

Profici

ent

Adva

nced

01234567

7th grade8th grade

Bluford High Book Series Acclaimed and Recommended

Breaking Point, The Test and Pretty Ugly - 2012 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (YALSA)

The Gun 2012 Popular Paperback (YALSA)

No Way Out and Schooled 2009 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (YALSA)

The Bully featured in Books That Don't Bore 'Em by James Blasingame, associate professor at Arizona and editor the Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy.

Accelerated Reader listed the first 15 titles of the Bluford Series in the “top 40” books for both middle and high school struggling readers in 2009 and 2010.

Approved for middle school by Long Beach Unified School District.

Bluford High Key Format Features

Reading level is 5th grade.

Contains between 125–200 pages. Fulfills teachers’ requirement for 100 + pages.

Paperback format with appealing covers.

Affordable: Only $1 per copy

Student Comments on the Books

-casual, conversational language - violence – gang fights, drive-by shootings -lots of action -protagonist has lots of drama - interesting characters (bullies, drug dealers,

drug users, troublemakers, pregnant teens) -adults (teachers, parents, neighbors) have flaws

- unemployment, bad relationships, alcohol/drug abuse

Street BookClub Agenda

Met weekly in library for 20 minutes during Advisory Students chose books and were then assigned to a

group reading the same book. Groups ranged in size from 2 – 4.

Groups provided with guided questions worksheet I circulated among groups to listen and guide discussion Students kept a reading log and received a Brag Tag for

each book read

Empowers the Reader Validates their urban life experiences Thrilling, recreational reading For students who aren’t avid readers,

provides emotional experience quickly Stories for a population that has been

overlooked in more mainstream literature Satisfaction/achievement from reading the

complete book Entertaining like reality TV. Allows readers

to observe the bad choices others make

Student Comments on the Club7th grade girl 8th grade boy

“Next year, can we meet every day.”

I used to think reading was boring but you showed me it’s exciting.”

The Impact

Of the original 22, 7 dropped out, or rarely participated

All read at least 1 book 3 students read all 15 books Average number of books read -6 Some change in CST scores

CST Scores 7th Grade 2010-20118 increased/4 decreased/2 no change

Far b

elow

Below

Basic

Basic

Profici

ent

Adva

nce01234567

7th gr 20107th gr 2011

CST Scores 8th grade 2010-20115 increased/ 3 decreased

Far B

elow

Below

Basic

Basic

Profici

ent

Adva

nced

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

8th grade 20108th grade 2011

Room for improvement

How it was conducted Changes 27 members Met weekly in library for 20

minutes during Advisory Students chose books and

were then assigned to a group reading the same book. Groups ranged in size from 2 – 4.

Groups provided with guided questions worksheet

I circulated among groups to listen and guide discussion

10-12 members max Meet 2 – 3 times a week

Day 1 - SSR or TL reads aloud Day 2 -small group discussion Day 3- large group discussion Include written reflection

Students read the same book, or choose between two books

Include individual conferences

Resources Readings on Adolescent Literacy

Street Lit Book Lists/Collection Development http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~gdc27/final/docume

nts/schoollibraryurbanlitbooklist.pdf

http://wikis.ala.org/professionaltips/index.php?title=Street_Lit_Collection_Development_Resources

http://www.streetfiction.org/ Townsend Press

http://www.townsendpress.com/our-books/bluford-series/