Quick Write Idea:

After reading this article what advise would you give to one of the characters in the text you're reading?

Why Attitude Is More Important Than IQ

What's Off Limits in YA Fiction?

YA fiction author Chris Vick set himself some interesting rules to follow when he was including controversial issues in his books directed at teen audiences. I wonder if parents and teens would agree on the rules. And I wonder if the books we use in class demonstrate the rules. Interesting questions for our students...

https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2016/may/10/teenagers-controversial-issues-fiction-chris-vick?CMP=share_btn_gp

Critical literacy lesson:

Poor Journalism:

"Rise of women teachers 'turning boys off education' as report reveals girls born this year will be 75% more likely to go to university"

This is a great example of really bad reporting. The article's headline reports as fact a claim that is revealed to be completely without merit in the body of the article. An equally accurate headline would have been "Lack of Three Stooges courses turning boys off university".
Challenge students to research the issue and generate accurate claims about gender imbalances in education.
Original article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3586401/Rise-women-teachers-turning-boys-education-report-reveals-girls-born-year-75-likely-university.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

The Green Book

A great 99% Invisible Podcast
From the 1940s to the mid 60s, the classic American road trip could be a minefield of embarrassment and even danger for african americans daring to use the wrong bathroom, or wanting to be served in a whites only restaurant. This short 99% Invisible podcast shares stories from the time. It makes real the mundane evil of everyday racism. Here's an assignment page with a few discussion questions to support it: https://goo.gl/XHsLXa 

http://99percentinvisible.org/episode/the-green-book/