Reflection

Reflection

I feel so invested in everything below, I'd just like to tie it all together a little bit and give it some finality. First, there is a TON of other things I'd like to include that I just didn't have the time for. The more I read and watched, the more I discovered I should be reading and watching. Especially towards the end of the semester in watching everyone's digital advertisements, I'd really like to add a ton more books. Unfortunately, time is of the essence. So, for this assignment, I just couldn't fit it all in. However, I most definitely plan to continue, especially since now I'm so interested in tween literature.

Next, I tried to really plug in to the tween age group for this project. I didn't just want to read and watch things I think tweens would or should like; I wanted to actually experience materials that tweens ARE liking right now. I substitute teach in all of my local districts, and mostly focus on grades 4-10 anyways. So for my criteria for my blog I wanted to read, watch, listen to, surf, etc. the things that tweens are. This included me often times borrowing their books, interviewing them, grabbing their ear buds, etc. This created sort of a pattern in my blog, where you can see a cycle of younger material lumped together from when I was working with my 5th and 6th graders, and then all of the older tween materials lumped together when I was working with my 7,th, 8th, and 9th graders. It was very cyclical, but it worked for me. Also, the tweens? LOVED IT. They loved talking to me about their books, recommending more to me, asking me about what I've read, etc. Having someone take an interest in the stuff they like really excited them. They all ask about my project, and they are all sad that it is ending. I've promised them I'll keep reading their stuff, though. They're really excited for me to read the Eragon books and the new Rick Riordan series next. I think I have my work cut out for me.

Finally, this project really helped me see the awkwardness that is the tween years in a different light. The same group of kids that really like to watch Phineas and Ferb? Also were telling me all about Vampire Diaries. It really is such a transitional time in a person's life, I now believe that it is even more important to advocate for this group and provide proper materials for them. I'm relieved to have such a big project behind me, but I'm sad at the same time. I may even continue on the blog once in a while, as I'll be reading the material still. However, from this point on, it will probably be a lot less professional, and a lot more Jen-like. Stay tuned. ;)