Silvia Gutierrez CSLA Conference November 19, 2012

2. The Street Lit (Bluford High) Book Club : Captivating the Struggling Non-reader Silvia Gutierrez CSLA Conference November 19, 2012

3. 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.

4. Today’s Agenda The Members The Books The Club The Impact Recommended Changes

5. Bancroft Middle School Long Beach, California 2010-2011 School Year- Student Enrollment 1,100 students Percent 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%

6. 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 circumstances Parent in prison Single mother who is blind Father terminally ill with cancer Family member associated with a gang

7. Members by Gender/Ethnicity 7th 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

8. Why a Club?

9. Club Guidelines • Students would: • Be provided a selection of appealing books Receive reading guidance /encouragement Participate in informal book discussions Meet in the library during Advisory class Not be graded /judged Not be required to read aloud

10. 22 Original Members’CST Scores

12. Bluford High Book Series Acclaimed and Recommended • Breaking Point, The Test and Pretty Ugly - 2012 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (YALSA) • The Gun2012 Popular Paperback (YALSA) • No Way Out and Schooled2009 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.

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Student Comments on the Club 7th 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.”

19. 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

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

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

22. 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

23. Resources • Readings on Adolescent Literacy • Street Lit Book Lists/Collection Development • http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~gdc27/final/documents/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/