If you are going to NCTE in Boston, please come to our panel!
How Stories Can Help Students Feel Brave and Take Risks
Sunday, November 24, 2024
9:00 to 10:15 AM
Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC)
415 Summer Street
Every day, teachers ask students to be brave and take risks with both academics and social interactions. Sometimes, though, students doubt their own bravery. That’s where books come in – they’re the perfect medium to help model courage in all its forms. This panel will discuss books with brave characters, including kids who challenge social stereotypes, battle mental illness, and fight monsters.
Presenter Roles:
Mia – moderator
Lorien – teacher/author
Janae – author
Dan – author
If you ask a student to conjure an image of bravery, how do you think they’d answer? Would they describe a knight? A firefighter? Some kind of superhero in full costume, complete with a cape and mask? In reality, bravery comes in many other forms. Whether it’s pitching at a championship game, or standing up to a school bully, students are faced with countless moments when they have to make a choice: will they be someone who takes a risk or someone who doesn’t?
In the classroom, teachers constantly encourage students to be risk-takers; however, we need to model what this looks like. English teachers are in a prime position to aid with this endeavor through our classroom libraries.
To make “learning actionable, relevant, purposeful, and engaging for students” (NCTE), it’s important to draw connections between fiction and reality. Research shows that readers tend to be more empathetic people, because if you’re connecting with the text, you’re putting yourself in the main character’s shoes – even if you don’t have anything in common with them. We use books to teach themes, characterization, and craft – but most importantly, we use them to teach real-life lessons, allowing students to ask themselves big questions like: what would you do in this situation? How would you feel at that moment? Would you make the same choices as the main character? All main characters go on a journey and change; hopefully, so does the reader.
In a world that feels increasingly uncertain and hostile, it’s more important than ever to create safe spaces in our classrooms. Therefore, this panel will not only facilitate discussion around classroom libraries, but will also provide suggestions on some books that teachers may want to recommend to their students.
Included are:
Janae Marks’ ZOE WASHINTON series (FROM THE DESK OF ZOE WASHINGTON and ON AIR WITH ZOE WASHINGTON), in which Zoe shows great courage as she questions assumptions, searches for the truth, and does what she believes is right, even in the face of great opposition. In Marks’ latest novel A SPLIT SECOND, Elise wakes up six months in the future and discovers that her best friends are no longer speaking to her. As she tries to get her time and friendships back, Elise realizes how toxic these girls are, and learns to stick up for herself–showing readers how to bravely navigate social situations.
Lorien Lawrence’s Fright Watch series (THE STITCHERS, THE COLLECTORS, and UNMASKED), where the main characters battle both real-life and supernatural monsters. In the latest book, UNMASKED, 14-year-old Marion is struggling with an anxiety disorder. While her parents are supportive and attentive, she still feels alone with her mental illness. The story shines a lot on this disorder – specifically her symptoms. More importantly, however, it also shows how Marion is able to use specific strategies to help her become successful and reach her goals.
Dan Poblocki’s most recent books, TALES TO KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT and MORE TALES TO KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT, are novels disguised as short story collections in which dozens of characters intersect in a universe of wicked magicians, otherworldly monsters, and portals to darker realms. Exploring explicitly how young people deal with fear, the protagonists of each volume – Amelia and Gilbert respectively – both must face the horrors contained within the tales they’re consuming, as the tales come to life around them, creating palpable danger. Using fantasy as a metaphor for real life social anxieties, these books literally work to show young readers how they can overcome difficulties, large and larger.
Mia Wenjen’s picture book, SUMO JOE, in which Aikido Jo decides to invade her older brother’s game of sumo with his friends, challenging gender stereotypes of the sport, and showcasing her Aikido martial arts skills. Other real-life female athletes are showcased in CHANGING THE GAME: ASIAN AMERICAN FEMALE ATHLETES, a middle-grade biography anthology that showcases triumph over racism, poverty, accessibility, illness, and injury.
p.s. Related posts:
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I love the idea of using stories to help students feel brave and confident enough to take risks! Storytelling is such a powerful tool for inspiring courage and resilience. I’m just a carpet cleaner, but I’ve seen how sharing stories about overcoming challenges can make even the toughest tasks feel more manageable. Thank you for sharing this insightful approach!
This panel discussion beautifully highlights the vital role that literature plays in nurturing bravery and empathy among students. By exploring diverse characters who face challenges and defy stereotypes, you’re not just encouraging risk-taking in academics and social interactions; you’re also fostering a deeper understanding of courage in its many forms. It’s inspiring to see educators dedicated to creating safe spaces where students can learn from these powerful narratives and apply those lessons in their own lives. Thank you for championing such an important cause!