Using Literature to Connect Young Adolescent Concerns Throughout the Curriculum

Teacher advocacy has been a central concept of middle schools for more than 30 years. More recently, it has evolved from a separate, stand-alone advisory program to a broader based, school-wide advocacy. This excellent resource presents outstanding young adolescent literature that helps middle school students deal with the many concerns they face at this time of life while also providing a vehicle for integrating advisory across the curriculum. Focused on two major themes "Trust and Relationships" and "Courage and Integrity," the authors describe 14 different young adolescent literature books, explaining the complex themes of each and then suggesting a variety of ways that they could be used. The activities for each book span the content areas as they involve young adolescents in high level work. These stories, along with excellent unit activities that ask in-depth questions, will enthusiastically engage young adolescent readers.