Teen Library Services Projects
Activities, programs, and projects that can be implemented for teens.
Student Empathy Project
The Empathy Project is a book club that will meet once a week after school to read and discuss Mindy McGinnis’ book Heroine. Once done with the book, students will participate in a Skype call after school with the author to ask her questions about the book, writing, and the author’s life.
Project Goals:
*Motivate and get students reading a high interest book
*Discuss a topic (using fiction as a way to remove the non-fiction reality of many students) that affects a lot of families
*Develop empathy toward opioid addiction and what others may be experiencing
Article about the importance of reading books with tough issues:
https://www.unlv.edu/news/article/quick-take-dark-or-difficult-themes-young-adult-readers
Click here to access the letter sent home to students.
The Learning Commons Student Writing Center
One of my first tasks during my practicum was to create a student writing center.
The writing center contains the following elements:
-
Writing prompts
-
Writing activities
-
Books about writing
-
Copies of drafts of my books, query letters, edit letters, and advance copies (so they can see the entire writing process)
-
Writing supplies (pens, pencils, notebooks)
-
Resources for every step of the writing process
-
Motivation posters from published authors
-
A quiet area to write (both a long desk area and pillows to lounge)
-
A coffee and tea center for writing fuel
Artist in Residence Program
This project was designed in my Teen Library Services class. We were to design a program for your school or library connected to teens. Because I teach English in a high school setting, I wanted to create a program for my students who were into creative writing (since we don't have a creative writing program at our school).
The Artist in Residence program for my high school library will bring three YA authors to my school for a week or reading/writing events. I think the writing process is just as important as the reading process, so I want to plan activities that will involve both the readers and writers of the school. The Writers in Residence will be a part of the school from Monday-Friday and participate in activities during the day (geared toward the students) and evening activities (geared toward both students and the community). I have specifically selected writers who have experience teaching writing workshops, so much of the content of this week isn’t new to them. The writers write in three different genres to bring diversity to the program.
Three Authors:
Nova Ren Suma (magical realism) – Author of YA & MG novels Imaginary Girls, Dani Noir, 17 & Gone, The Walls Around Us, A Room for the Wolves
Nick Lowe (comic books) – Author and editor at Marvel comics
Chris Crutcher (contemporary) – Author of 11 YA novels
