From: Lynn Rutan <lynnrutan_at_charter.net>
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2010 09:51:26 -0400

Thank you to everyone who has posted so eloquently on this fascinating subject! My awe and respect for the current nonfiction has grown even higher and I didn't think that was possible.

Now - the next and equally important step is to continue the work of getting these amazing books into the hands of our students and teachers AND to help them understand the importance of this dedication to the integrity of the research and writing process. As many of us know all too well, that step is not happening in a large number of schools due to a myriad of depressing reasons. Students all too often regard research as a 10 minute exercise limited to a google search, grab the top result, cut and paste. In my working days I used to co-teach a research unit with all my students but due to staffing cuts and many other systemic reasons that has stopped and many of the in-depth research units have also disappeared.

I am a stubborn optimist and I really believe the educational pendulum will eventually swing the other way from the current stultifying practices. In fact I hope the counter swing is beginning. I'd love to hear what other teachers and librarians are doing out there to help push! Can we hear about some success stories? How are you using nonfiction with students and how are you helping them understand the importance of well-researched source notes and citations?

Someone mentioned having more nonfiction writers in for school visits to talk about their research process which I think could be extremely powerful. Having heard some of you nonfiction authors speak, I can attest to that! I think bringing those voices to the ears of students would generate tremendous enthusiasm and interest.

What other projects are you all using to push the dark away?

Lynn Rutan Librarian Bookends: BooklistOnline Youth Blog Holland, MI lynnrutan_at_charter.net
Received on Sat 23 Oct 2010 09:51:26 AM CDT