Connecting With Texts: Teacher Candidates Reading Young Adult Literature

Abstract

Preparing teachers to understand their students' reading processes so that they can guide their students toward connecting with texts in meaningful and personal ways are goals that can be met through the study of young adult literature. Twenty-first century learners live in an increasingly interconnected world and have access to countless texts thanks to continual improvements in technologies. Being able to connect with these texts meaningfully will enable readers to think critically and creatively, both inside and outside the classroom. Teacher candidates can show their prospective students how to construct understandings through close analysis, association, and extension. This article provides a rationale for the teaching of young adult literature as a vehicle through which students can create meaningful connections with texts. The article offers implications for informed instructional practices involving young adult literature.