Keep Reading Fun: Summer Reading Flowchart
Posted: May 12, 2013 Filed under: CLTL, fiction, literature, nonfiction, poetry, reading | Tags: books, literature, summer reading 1 Comment »Can’t decide what to read this summer? Don’t know how to get the whole family reading?
Not sure what to suggest for your Changing Lives Through Literature group—or other book group?
This fun Summer Reading Flowchart will guide you to the right book! We thank Sarah Fudin for sharing this fantastic Teach.com visual.
Brought to you by Teach.com
Sarah Fudin
Read Sarah Fudin’s accompanying article—Keep Reading Fun—also published on this blog.
Sarah Fudin works at an education company where she manages the community relations for the George Washington University’s online MPH degree, an innovative program that allows students to take public health courses online.
Keep Reading Fun
Posted: May 12, 2013 Filed under: literature, reading | Tags: summer reading 2 Comments »By Sarah Fudin
Sarah Fudin, author
Summertime is synonymous with vacation and summer-time reading lists, but finding the right book can be a challenge as the possibilities are endless. Sometimes learners aren’t sure what they want to read because they haven’t had the experience of enjoying a good book.
Reading is an important building block for all students and summer is a great time to dive in. Many lists exist, but a great place to begin is with a fun, visual flowchart. Here you will find an exciting and visual path to the next great book waiting to be read. Simply make a few choices, and you’re off! A summer reading list, however, is just part of the journey towards helping a learner become a proficient reader.
Set a Good Example
One of the best ways you can encourage reading is to set a good example. When a learner sees a role model reading on a consistent basis, he or she is more likely to form a connection with reading. Whether at school or home, keeping plenty of books available also reinforces the importance of reading and creates more reading opportunities. Magazine subscriptions are a great way to encourage reluctant readers. Find out what your learner is interested in and help him or her choose a magazine subscription. Subscriptions are great because they contain lots of graphics and learners will look forward to them each month.
Make a Reading-Friendly Environment
Creating a reading environment that includes daily reading time is also an import part of cultivating reading success. Reading times are more successful when a healthy environment for reading is present. A reading corner can help define reading time, and it’s important to keep out distractions such as TVs, computers and video games. Different approaches should be incorporated so that learners can discover their strengths and also be exposed to different formats, and this includes both reading aloud and silently. Additionally, dramatizing different parts of the story through skits can be a great way to make reading fun and interesting. At the end of each reading session, leave time for discussion and check for comprehension.
Visit the Library
A great resource for every reader can be found at the local library. Libraries offer a variety of programs that support and encourage both beginning and advanced readers. For many young learners, getting their first library card is an exciting day. It’s important to make library visits something to look forward to and enjoy. Planning visits on a regular basis and attending events that are of interest can help create excitement. Many libraries also offer weekly story times that are appealing to younger readers and book events, such as signings, for older readers.
Lend a Helping Hand When it comes time to select a book, learners should be given both choice and guidance. Learners should be guided through the process, especially when they are first developing their own reading habits. Ask questions about what they like, and help them look through books and read the covers for more information. Classics are great, but if your learner reaches for something more basic, don’t be discouraging. According to the reading guidelines by the National Education Association, the important principle is that learners are reading.
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Reading is a skill that, if cultivated, can create a lifetime of opportunity and enjoyment. Reading opens the doors to broader thoughts and experiences. However, reading is a journey that takes preparation and work. When left on their own, beginner readers often won’t be able to develop the reading skills they will need to engage and challenge their reading throughout their lives.
It is important to reflect on your reading approach and ask yourself whether you are meeting your learner’s reading needs. “Are You Turning a Child into a Reluctant Reader” is a useful article that gives some good tips for developing a healthy approach to reading. Many insightful resources are also available online, including reading guidelines for all age groups.
As summer vacation approaches, remember: It’s a great time to cultivate reading success!
Sarah Fudin works at an education company where she manages the community relations for the George Washington University’s online MPH degree, an innovative program that allows students to take public health courses online.
Crime Fiction to Read Now
Posted: April 28, 2013 Filed under: fiction, literature, reading | Tags: Anthony Quinn, crime fiction, Donna Leon, Foyles, Ian Rankin, Michael Connelly Leave a comment »By Louis Sharman
There have been some incredible, on-the-edge-of-your-seat crime novels published this year; some featuring our favorite protagonists while others thrill us with brand new, nail-biting narratives that you simply can’t put down.
Crime fiction seems to be ever-increasing in popularity recently, no doubt due to the proliferation of television and film adaptations. We’ve loved detectives from Rebus to Precious Ramotswe and Inspector Montalbano to Sherlock Holmes for years now, yet our appetite for the crime genre never wanes, only grows.
It’s fair to say that the quality of screen adaptations does vary, with some fans left disappointed with casting or plot amendments. Nevertheless, you can be sure that somewhere in the pipeline are plans to adapt some of the biggest crime books of recent years—so you may want to read them first. Here are four that you shouldn’t miss.
Disappeared by Anthony Quinn
Quinn’s debut novel has been hailed one of the greatest crime novels of the year, ahead of many more established crime writers. Set in Ireland, the novel concerns the disappearance of an Alzheimer’s patient set against a backdrop of the aftermath of the Troubles. It’s up to the wonderfully-named Inspector Celsius Daly to discover that the victim isn’t all he seems. The novel is tense, evoking Irish politics and history. One reviewer said it was “a major piece of work.”
The Impossible Dead by Ian Rankin
Very different to the author’s other crime-fighting creation, Rebus, Inspector Malcolm Fox has divided opinion among Rankin fans. The fact is, he’s different and that’s never going to please everyone. However, Fox has been called “a worthy rival” in this book, in which Fox is tasked with finding out whether a police colleague took advantage of females he arrested. Add to that the murder of the accused’s uncle and you’ve got quite an involved plot.
The Black Box by Michael Connelly
The latest in the Harry Bosch series sees the investigator linking a bullet from a recent crime to a case which occurred back in 1992 which was never solved after Bosch himself passed it over to a special task force. Indications are that what was thought to be an accidental death during the LA riots was in fact, something more sinister. The book is praised as “riveting and relentlessly paced.”
Beastly Things by Donna Leon
Commissario Brunetti, the clean-nosed, family-man detective thinks he recognizes the body floating in the lagoon, yet the victim possesses no identification other than some distinctive shoes. Without a missing person report, the case ceases. However, as with most Brunetti cases, Signorina Elettra comes to the rescue with some vital information, which provides Brunetti with a “fragile lead.” Gripping and harrowing, what’s lovely about the Brunetti series is Leon’s vivid description of Venice, which paints a romantic backdrop to even a grotesque murder.
A few more
Other fine pieces of crime literature include The Bat—Jo Nesbo’s 1997 novel scheduled for a July 2013 re-release—and John Grisham’s The Racketeer, not to mention James M Cain’s posthumous and “lost” novel, The Cocktail Waitress. Fans of the genre won’t be disappointed.
Louis Sharman works for a company called Foyles, a legendary award-winning independent bookstore with a long history. Foyles is based in London and Bristol, UK.
Celebrate National Library Week – April 14-20, 2013
Posted: April 14, 2013 Filed under: CLTL, current events, literature, reading | Tags: National Library Week 1 Comment »
By Nancy E. Oliveira, Editor
The American Library Association encourages you to celebrate National Library Week, April 14-20, with the theme Communities matter @ your library.
Local free public libraries continue to provide equal access to literature—from the classics to the latest best-sellers—to all members of their communities. Whether you’re wealthy or poor, educated or not, libraries provide you with great works of literature.
Literature has the power to transform lives. Libraries provide the books—the tangible resources—to help make those transformations happen.
Whether you’re running a Changing Lives Through Literature alternative sentencing group or some other literature discussion group, encourage your members to continue reading and thinking about literature.
Find out how your community matters to your local library by visiting your library during National Library Week. Comment on this blog post to share with us how you participated in National Library Week.
For more information visit American Library Association – National Library Week.
Image provided by American Library Association.
A Conversation About Audiobooks
Posted: March 31, 2013 Filed under: literature, reading | Tags: audiobooks 2 Comments »By Michael Cardin
Recommending audiobooks
As a librarian I am always promoting the library on or off the clock. One day I recommended to a friend that he try out the audiobooks one can download from the library’s website.
“Why do you listen to audiobooks?” he asked me with suspicion. “Isn’t that cheating?” He maintained that reading the print version of the book was the correct way.
It’s not cheating
“How is it cheating?” I countered. “Nearly all audiobooks produced these days are unabridged. If you listen to the audio version as intently as you read the print version you still will have a similar experience. Instead of using your eyes to process the information you use your ears.
In some ways audiobooks might give you more of a boost. There is research supporting the use of audiobooks. An article written by two librarians says research “repeatedly indicates that listening to audiobooks enhances comprehension, fluency, vocabulary, and language acquisition, as well as overall reading achievement” (Grover and Hannegan).
An addition to—not a replacement of—traditional reading
I went on with my explanation. “Audiobooks have changed the way I read. I still read the old-fashioned way. But now I find time to listen when I can’t read. With audiobooks I can cover more ground. For instance, when my son takes his nap and I have housework, I listen to audiobooks.
When I am outside raking leaves, I listen to the story of the man who compiled the Oxford English Dictionary.
During those long car rides, I listen to an author contest conventional wisdom regarding parenting.
When I cook and prepare food, I listen to a narrator describing the Maginot Line in France during WWII.
If you take all that time spent doing menial tasks, you have carved out more reading time. The range of subjects covered in audiobooks is the same as what you find on library shelves. From finance to true crime to study aids to romance to the classics, all the bases are covered.”
Great narrators
“You also get to hear the stories read by great narrators. Sometimes the author reads the book for you. These authors very often demonstrate the passion they feel about the topics of their books. Other times you’ll hear actors, well-known ones, interpret a great work of fiction. The words come alive. I’ve listened to an autobiography read by the author. It felt like that person was standing right next to me telling me his life story.”
How much does it cost?
“Don’t audiobooks cost a lot of money, particularly the really long ones?”
“I’m glad you brought that up. What many people don’t realize is that people can download audiobooks from their public library website for free. The Sails Library Network serves 73 Libraries in 40 communities throughout Southeastern Massachusetts. The Sails Library Network as well as the Ocean State Libraries Consortium offer both eBooks and audiobooks to download.
How to get started
If you have a valid library card you can sign into the Sails Library Digital Media Library and create an account. From here you can download Overdrive Media Console onto your computer. This allows you to download books to your computer and listen to them or to transfer them to your device—iPod®, iPad®, iPhone®, Windows Phone® and other devices.”
Give audiobooks a try
I further explained “All genres are represented in this ever-growing catalogue. This digital library mirrors existing library collections and caters to the needs of all patrons of every age and ability. In a way this digital collection is an addition, a supplement, and an enhancement of the existing collection. Until more hours are added to our allotment of twenty-four in one day, finding time to read is a challenge for those reluctant readers as well as the insatiable readers.”
“So,” I said to him, “now you have no excuse not to try audiobooks.”
Work Cited
Grover, Sharon and Lizette Hannegan. “Hear and Now: Connecting Outstanding Audiobooks to Library and Classroom Instruction.” Teacher Librarian 35.3 2008: 17. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 21 Feb. 2013.
Michael Cardin, MLIS, is the Young Adult Librarian at the East Smithfield Public Library in Smithfield, RI. This year’s Teen Summer Reading Program will be the seventh that he has planned and carried out.
What’s green and read all over?
Posted: March 28, 2013 Filed under: current events, reading | Tags: book drive, Prison Book Program 1 Comment »The Great American Book Drive.
Bring Us Your Books!
Ever wonder what to do with all those books collecting dust on your shelves, piling up in your closet, or hiding under your bed? Put them to work for the Prison Book Program and City Mission Society by bringing them to the 5th annual Great American Book Drive. Choose to support reuse, help open doors for prisoners, and promote social justice by donating your gently used books.
Saturday, April 13
10 am – 3 pm
The Nonprofit Center
89 South Street (near South Station)
Boston, MA (directions)
Better World Books will sell them to people all over the world who will cherish them…and the Prison Book Program and the City Mission Society will benefit with every sale. It’s about literacy, not landfill.
For complete information visit www.prisonbookprogram.org/bookdrive.
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Pam Boiros of the Prison Book Program provided the above information. Thank you to JoAnne Breault for sharing Pam’s book drive information with our blog readers.
Famous Written Works of Jailed Authors
Posted: March 24, 2013 Filed under: literature, reading, writing | Tags: De Profundis, Don Quixote, Le Morte D'Arthur, Marco Polo, Martin Luther King Jr., Miguel de Cervantes, Oscar Wilde, Sir Thomas Malory 2 Comments »By Brian Beltz
There is no doubting the importance of literature in the day-to-day lives of prison inmates. In a world obsessed with television, celebrity gossip, and social media, inmates are, save for a few hours a day, almost exclusively removed. Books can fill the long empty days, provide an escape from the drudgery of prison life, and help them better themselves and learn new things.
Perhaps even more important, however, is the impact that prison inmates themselves have had on literature. Some of the greatest literary achievements in history, both fiction and non-fiction, were conceived or penned by authors while in prison. There are far too many of them to create an exhaustive list, but here are some of the most notable.
Don Quixote
This two-part volume fully titled “The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha” is widely considered one of the greatest and most influential works of fiction ever published. Author Miguel de Cervantes is said to have formulated the story while in prison at Argamasilla de Alba in La Mancha. Some hold that Cervantes wrote the first volume while incarcerated, but there is no debate that his time behind bars was the inspiration for the story.
Letter From Birmingham City Jail
Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote this letter from his jail cell after being arrested for his participation in the Birmingham campaign, a non-violent protest against racial segregation. The letter contained King’s famous statement “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” While the letter had little effect on the campaign in Birmingham, its widespread circulation is credited for rallying support for the civil rights movement and calls for civil rights legislation. King’s work remains one of the most important documents in American history.
The Travels of Marco Polo
Divided into four books, The Travels of Marco Polo chronicles the experiences of Marco Polo throughout Asia, China, Persia, and Indonesia between 1271 and 1291. Polo recounted his travels to Italian romance writer, Rustichello da Pisa while the two were imprisoned in Genoa. Although the voracity of the work was regarded with suspicion at the time, today topographers have referred to his work as the precursor to scientific geography.
Le Morte D’Arthur
Sir Thomas Malory, the father of the King Arthur mythology, is said to have written the most famous version of the legend, Le Morte D’Arthur while incarcerated in France. The book created the famous imagery of the sword in the stone and the lady in the lake, and has been re-imagined over and over throughout history.
This photo of writer Oscar Wilde was taken by Napoleon Sarony in January, 1882 and is currently held by the George Eastman House.
De Profundis
Better known for publishing works like “The Picture of Dorian Gray” and “The Importance of Being Earnest,” Oscar Wilde was an Irish writer who became one of London’s most popular playwrights in the in the early 1890s. However, Wilde was convicted of gross indecency in 1895 and sent to prison. While in jail, he wrote what amounted to be the longest love letter ever written, a work that was published posthumously under the title, “De Profundis” (“From the Depths” in Latin). Often overlooked, De Profundis gives tremendous insight into the character of Oscar Wilde, his affection for others, and his legendary conversational skills.
There exist countless other works created or inspired by authors who spent time in prison. There is no direct correlation as to why so many important pieces have been spawned by the incarceration experience. Perhaps, it is due to the amount of time allowed for introspection or the fact that so many people in history were jailed for what they believed in (Nelson Mandela and Ghandi also come to mind). What is clear, however, is that the next great literary work is being written somewhere right now, quite possibly in a prison cell.
Brian Beltz is an aspiring writer and currently blogs for the law firm Solomon & Relihan (www.solomonrelihan.com) in Phoenix, Arizona. He loves to help make sense of complex legal issues in plain English and write about current events.
Photo: Napoleon Sarony, held by George Eastman House and shared on flickr.com commons with no known current copyright
Shaun Attwood: From Committing Crime to Writing About Its Consequences
Posted: March 17, 2013 Filed under: criminal justice, nonfiction, reading, writing | Tags: Hard Time 5 Comments »By Eve Pearce
One of the main problems with the prison system is that inmates are often clueless as to what they are going to do when they are finally released. This can lead prisoners to believe that they have no choice but to return to a life of crime the minute they are set free. For some, writing can provide a career path as well as a means of self-expression.
A perfect example of this is the case of former drug baron Shaun Attwood, who served twenty-six months in prison after being caught running an ecstasy ring in Arizona. During his incarceration, Attwood sent out details of everyday prison life to be published on an Internet blog. His blog was featured in a number of different national newspapers in his home country of England and sparked a passion for writing within him.
He has since had a highly successful book published entitled Hard Time, which describes his descent into crime and subsequent incarceration. He also won a Koestler Trust award for literature, which is an arts prize awarded to prisoners and ex-offenders. Creative writing has ensured that Attwood has remained on the straight and narrow.
Maricopa County Jail
Attwood was incarcerated in Maricopa County (Arizona) Jail, which is run by strict authoritarian Joe Arpaio and regarded by many people as America’s toughest jail. Attwood went from a life of drug-taking and hedonistic excess to having to quit cigarettes, alcohol and narcotics and survive amongst murderers, crystal meth addicts and violent white supremacist gang members. The Maricopa County Jail is famous for its strict routine. Inmates must go without nicotine, R- and X-rated television, and coffee. They are made to wear pink uniforms and fed food that some people argue is not fit for human consumption.
Attwood learned that crime does not pay. His blog did not attempt to justify his actions; he admitted that he had been extremely stupid. It merely chronicled the conditions that he was forced to live in and questioned whether the Maricopa County Jail was conducive to producing rehabilitated prisoners or whether it would send them back into the world worse than they were when they arrived in the jail.
Hard Time
Upon his release from prison, Attwood wrote Hard Time, which told his story from start to finish and concluded by saying how stupid and misguided his criminal career had been. He managed to secure a publishing deal with Mainstream Publishing and his book received critical acclaim. It was featured in numerous local and national newspapers and even appeared on Sky News.
He has since released two e-books and has a third book on the way, chronicling the time that he spent as an ecstasy dealer and reflecting upon how foolish he was. Instead of committing crime, he now travels around his native England, giving talks to schoolchildren about the dangers of breaking the law. Had he not had writing to occupy his time, who knows how differently his story might have ended.
From Jail to a Writing Career
One of the dangers of being released from prison is that an individual can have nothing to go out to. If somebody feels that he or she is doomed to a life of joblessness due to his or her criminal record then lawbreaking might take place as a result.
Writing can provide an alternative.
Everybody has a story to tell and for those who possess sufficient talent, putting pen to paper can produce financial rewards. It can mean the difference between leaving an institution without a clue what to do next and being set free with dreams of being a successful author.
Not everybody can embark upon a writing career but the most important thing is that the possibility of doing so can give people hope. It can also give individuals a much-needed channel for creative expression that can help them to reflect upon the mistakes that they have made in the past and ensure that they avoid making similar mistakes throughout the years to come.
Sometimes people commit crime because they genuinely have no idea what else to do. Writing can provide an alternative and help keep people on the correct path.
Eve Pearce is a full-time feature writer as well as an art and photography aficionado. She has written for numerous sites on various topics over the past few years.
Wattpad: Clubs for Writers and Readers
Posted: March 10, 2013 Filed under: literature, reading, writing | Tags: reading clubs, writing clubs 8 Comments »By Allison Foster
For those who love to read, Wattpad.com has a lot to offer. It is a location where writers and readers come together and share stories for no other reason than because a story needs to be told. Genres of all kinds reside on this popular website and there is easily something for everyone within its pages. There is also a community mindset amongst its readers and writers. The site covers a wide range of likes and interests and has many clubs available to those who love to read.
Newest Club Discussions
You’ll find a collection of links to Wattpad’s many available clubs by going to the site’s Community drop down menu then selecting Clubs. These clubs are full of people interested in specific motifs. The “Newest Club Discussions” are posted on the top left of the page and feature recent comments. You’ll find breadcrumbs on the bottom of each comment giving you the link to the specific club.
Feature Clubs
The featured clubs are popular or otherwise deemed to be in the featured list. Thousands of members reside in these clubs covering a wide range of topics from “Essential Reads” to “Share Your Poetry.” Each club has a short description of what it’s about its number of members. It’s not uncommon to see clubs with tens of thousands of members. These clubs are more generalized than some of the others, but see a great deal of visitors.
Specialty Clubs
The list of specialty clubs is longer than the featured list because it delves deeper into conversations relating to specific aspects of writing. This list is comprised mostly of clubs that are centered on improving your skill in writing or editing. However, reader clubs also exist so that others can share what interesting online authors they have read and discuss projects created by Wattpad writers. These areas are tailored to beginner and experienced writers alike and cover everything from “Newcomers” to “Professional Writers.”
Categories
The longest of the club lists belongs to those under the Categories section. Each category of written content on Wattpad is listed here broken down by genre. Although fewer members reside in each of the clubs under this section, these clubs have membership ranging from 1,000 to more than 30,000 members. As Wattpad covers such a diverse range of content, there is a club available for nearly anyone.
One of the most interesting areas belongs to “Fan Fiction.” Wattpad allows submission of content based on nearly anything you are a fan of. For example, you could write that “Star Trek: The Next Generation” story you’ve always wanted. Since there is no money being made from the project, there are no copyright laws or official red tape to worry about. Coincidentally, more than 16,000 members belong to this specific club.
Free Reading Material and More
Wattpad.com is more than just a site to acquire free reading material. It is a place where anyone can share their stories for all to read and receive feedback from those who read them. Beginner authors post their works in order to practice as they receive insights about how the public gauges their performance. It is a place where others can share knowledge, book ideas, character building, and more. Community clubs are developed and frequented by the readers and writers of Wattpad sharing ideas on a global scale. No other site is quite like Wattpad.com.
Blogging was a natural progression for Allison Foster once she graduated from college, as it allowed her to combine her two passions: writing and children. She has enjoyed furthering her writing career with www.nannyclassifieds.com. She can be in touch through e-mail Allison.nannyclassifieds@gmail.com.
Literature Transforms You
Posted: March 3, 2013 Filed under: CLTL, fiction, literature, reading, theater | Tags: CLTL, Hamlet 1 Comment »Press Release—Dartmouth, MA
Let Hamlet Transform You
In this video, J.C. Wallace portrays the complex role of Hamlet. “To be, or not to be” is one of the best-known lines in English literature. Wallace gives a superb performance of Hamlet’s greatest soliloquy.
Wallace is the founder of the Rhode Island Shakespeare Company and has portrayed Hamlet for the Little Theatre of Fall River.
This video was produced by JoAnne Breault, Director of Communication for Changing Lives Through Literature (CLTL). Breault oversees CLTL’s Literature Transforms You campaign which promotes reading literature as a way to enhance lives. CLTL is based at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and was founded by Dr. Robert Waxler and Judge Robert Kane as an alternative sentencing program.
This is the second video in the Literature Transforms You series. Watch the first video—The Tell-Tale Heart.
Please comment on this post to share how literature has transformed you (or someone you know).
