Compare and Contrast

I wrote a more general post about literary quality. But then I realized I had specific comments to make about the two novels I read for my YA lit class: Rot and Ruin and Please Ignore Vera Dietz.

On one hand, the Rot and Ruin is a fairly conventional example of dystopian YA. It isn't an innovative novel in terms of structure or plot; it moves predictably and linearly from point A to point B. On the other hand, the narrative voice is strong, the pacing is tight, and the plot - while not extraordinary - is engaging  and layered enough to keep the reader interested. The arc of the character development isn't surprising, but it is satisfying and the characters are well-developed and three-dimensional. In particular, the book's antagonist, while initially depicted as little more than a thug, is fleshed out as the story progresses. While readers are not invited to sympathize with him, they can understand his point of view - and maybe even be reminded of times when they have made similar rationalizations.

In contrast, Please Ignore Vera Dietz (a Printz Honor Book) is unconventionally structured, with a unique compilation of narrative voices.  Yet, I think an argument could be made that the structure (and the multiple voices) is a gimmick that functions to "dress up" an otherwise pedestrian story about a boy from an abusive home and the girl who loved him. More importantly, I think that while Vera and her father are fully-realized, three-dimensional characters, Charlie remains an enigma (perhaps deliberately) throughout the novel, and Jenny is presented as nothing more than a one-dimensional "evil girl."

As between the two, I'm not convinced Please Ignore Vera Dietz is the worthier book. As my classmate, Will, points out in his blog, " I often find myself remembering parts of some of the best books I've read, or the best songs I've heard as I go through my day, and I think it helps me make sense of all the craziness out there." I agree wholeheartedly with this sentiment. And while I have mulled over Rot and Ruin repeatedly since I read it, I haven't thought about Please Ignore Vera Dietz outside of my classwork.

Fund of Knowledge Inventory

ECI 521 is based on three outcomes, each rooted in a different aspect of self. By the end of this class, I expect to develop more effective teaching skills by strengthening my Professional Self, my Literate Self, and my Virtual Self.

Before embarking on my ECI 521 journey, I conducted a self-assessment of my current proficiencies and set personal goals related to each standard. In the process, I reflected on my own literacy development during my young adult years.

Professional Self

I arrived in ECI 521 with a solid background in creating educational experiences for young people that challenge them to think critically about texts, explore social justice issues, and engage with material creatively. For instance, I regularly conduct Torah study sessions with teens and tweens. Rather than merely reading the text and discussing it with students, I incorporate experiential elements into the lesson to help students connect with and “own” the old-fashioned language.

Recently, before discussing Psalm 133 I had the group perform some team-building activities, culminating with students hitting a piñata while blindfolded as their classmates gave them instructions on where to swing.  While we ate candy from the piñata, we discussed the Psalm: “How good it is and how pleasant when brothers dwell together in unity.”

I could have simply presented the verse and asked students to discuss it. They probably would have been able to explain what it meant, but their explanations would likely have been abstract and impersonal. Having just experienced the joy of working together to achieve a common goal (candy!) they were able to relate the psalm to their lives more personally. It was also easy for them to think of other examples of the benefits of working together. The activity “jump started” their understanding of the text and scaffolded our discussion by activating prior knowledge.

We ended the session by linking Psalm 133 to a quote from Rabbi Ben Zoma: “Who is wise? He who learns from everyone.”  Since the students had already discussed the benefits of community and teamwork, they were able to grasp what Ben Zoma meant quickly and understand how it related to the psalm. Their comments were insightful, and everyone was engaged in the conversation.