This book is unique. It offers readers opportunities to explore the most common universal themes taught in secondary English Language Arts classrooms using poetry; however, it doesn't simply suggest poems grouped by common themes. Each poetry section presents a poetic conversation among the poets on each of the given eight themes. One of the poets initiates each section with an original poem, and the next poet responds to the first, initial, poem. The other poets join the conversation responding to the first, second, or any of the poems previously included in this section. The poems feature the themes of poetry, places, nature, beauty, and harmony, love, loyalty and betrayal, home and family, loss and grief, and dreams and hopes for the future. The three final chapters aim to explain how to use these poems, and poetry in general, in the classrooms and beyond its walls; to invite novice and experienced poets to create various forms of poetry; and to share views on poetry, its teaching, reading, and writing. The various poetry forms are explored in this volume to create poems that help deliver the author's message. All poems are written exclusively for a diverse readership of the book.

This book is unique. It offers readers opportunities to explore the most common universal themes taught in secondary English Language Arts classrooms using poetry; however, it doesn't simply suggest poems grouped by common themes. Each poetry section presents a poetic conversation among the poets on each of the given eight themes. One of the poets initiates each section with an original poem, and the next poet responds to the first, initial, poem. The other poets join the conversation responding to the first, second, or any of the poems previously included in this section. The poems feature the themes of poetry, places, nature, beauty, and harmony, love, loyalty and betrayal, home and family, loss and grief, and dreams and hopes for the future. The three final chapters aim to explain how to use these poems, and poetry in general, in the classrooms and beyond its walls; to invite novice and experienced poets to create various forms of poetry; and to share views on poetry, its teaching, reading, and writing. The various poetry forms are explored in this volume to create poems that help deliver the author's message. All poems are written exclusively for a diverse readership of the book.

Exploring Relationships and Connections to Others: Teaching Universal Themes through Young Adult Novels offers readers opportunities to explore the most common universal themes taught in secondary English Language Arts classrooms using contemporary young adult literature. Authors discuss adolescence and adolescent readers, young adult literature and its possibilities in the classroom, and ways to teach thematic analysis. The book provides context, traditional approaches to teaching, and examples of thematic explorations of each of the chosen themes. Chapters include developed teaching instructional units to study four universal themes: love and loss; friendship and betrayal; hate, its destructive consequences, and healing; and dreams and hope for tomorrow. Each instructional unit includes rationale, essential questions and objectives, calendar plans for up to five weeks, examples of introductory, reading and discussing, and enrichment activities and assessments. The activities target academic skills for ELA curricula and create safe spaces for exploring topics of relationships and connections to others, both of which are vital to adolescent growth and development. Each instructional chapter suggests a wide range of additional texts and resources for theme explorations.

Exploring Relationships and Connections to Others: Teaching Universal Themes through Young Adult Novels offers readers opportunities to explore the most common universal themes taught in secondary English Language Arts classrooms using contemporary young adult literature. Authors discuss adolescence and adolescent readers, young adult literature and its possibilities in the classroom, and ways to teach thematic analysis. The book provides context, traditional approaches to teaching, and examples of thematic explorations of each of the chosen themes. Chapters include developed teaching instructional units to study four universal themes: love and loss; friendship and betrayal; hate, its destructive consequences, and healing; and dreams and hope for tomorrow. Each instructional unit includes rationale, essential questions and objectives, calendar plans for up to five weeks, examples of introductory, reading and discussing, and enrichment activities and assessments. The activities target academic skills for ELA curricula and create safe spaces for exploring topics of relationships and connections to others, both of which are vital to adolescent growth and development. Each instructional chapter suggests a wide range of additional texts and resources for theme explorations.

This book offers readers opportunities to explore the most common universal themes taught in secondary English Language Arts classrooms using contemporary young adult literature. Authors discuss adolescence and adolescent readers, young adult literature and its possibilities in the classroom, and ways to teach thematic analysis. The book provides context, traditional approaches to teaching and examples of thematic explorations of each of the chosen themes. Chapters include developed teaching instructional units to study three universal themes: a journey of self-discovery; good vs. bad, right vs. wrong, and making difficult choices, and developing positive self-perception. Each instructional unit includes rationale, essential questions and objectives, calendar plans for up to six weeks, examples of introductory, reading and discussing, and enrichment activities and assessments. The activities target academic skills for ELA curricula and create safe spaces for exploring topics of identity struggles and personal growth complicated by social issues, all of which adolescents face today. Each instructional chapter suggests a wide range of additional texts and resources for theme explorations.

This book offers readers opportunities to explore the most common universal themes taught in secondary English Language Arts classrooms using contemporary young adult literature. Authors discuss adolescence and adolescent readers, young adult literature and its possibilities in the classroom, and ways to teach thematic analysis. The book provides context, traditional approaches to teaching and examples of thematic explorations of each of the chosen themes. Chapters include developed teaching instructional units to study three universal themes: a journey of self-discovery; good vs. bad, right vs. wrong, and making difficult choices, and developing positive self-perception. Each instructional unit includes rationale, essential questions and objectives, calendar plans for up to six weeks, examples of introductory, reading and discussing, and enrichment activities and assessments. The activities target academic skills for ELA curricula and create safe spaces for exploring topics of identity struggles and personal growth complicated by social issues, all of which adolescents face today. Each instructional chapter suggests a wide range of additional texts and resources for theme explorations.