"You Gotta BE the Book": Teaching Engaged and Reflective Reading with Adolescents, Second Edition (Language and Literacy Series (Teachers College Pr)) (Language & Literacy) [Paperback]

Jeffrey D. Wilhelm (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0807748463 | ISBN-13: 978-0807748466 | Publication Date: November 2, 2007 | Edition: 2

Over a decade ago, Jeffrey Wilhelm s groundbreaking book showed educators how to think of reading as a personally meaningful, pleasurable, and productive pursuit. In the 13 years since its publication, the author has experimented with and further developed all of the techniques he first explored in You Gotta BE the Book, including visual techniques, drama and action strategies, think-aloud protocols, and symbolic story representation/reading manipulatives. In this expanded edition, Wilhelm adds a new commentary to each chapter in which he reflects on the research and insights he introduced in his now classic text.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This important book remains on the must-read list for literacy teachers working with adolescent learners. Its value is two-fold. --Choice, May 2008

No other book that I have read in the last 10 years has affected my teaching as much as this one. You Gotta BE the Book made me a better teacher. I suspect all of its readers feel much the same way. --From the foreword to the Second Edition, Michael Smith

"This important book remains on the must-read list for literacy teachers working with adolescent learners. Its value is two-fold." --Choice, May 2008

No other book that I have read in the last 10 years has affected my teaching as much as this one. You Gotta BE the Book made me a better teacher. I suspect all of its readers feel much the same way. --From the foreword to the Second Edition by Michael W. Smith

About the Author

Jeffrey D. Wilhelm is an internationally-known teacher, author, and presenter. He has authored or co-authored 15 texts about literacy teaching.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Teachers College Press; 2 edition (November 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807748463
• ISBN-13: 978-0807748466
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #164,764 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Nice Concept, December 21, 2008

By 

Danielle Vogel "Reading Teacher" (Peoria, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: "You Gotta BE the Book": Teaching Engaged and Reflective Reading with Adolescents, Second Edition (Language and Literacy Series (Teachers College Pr)) (Language & Literacy) (Paperback)

While "being the book" is a lovely concept, the book does not live up to the hype and grandeous accolades it has received in the reading community. Instead of full on "book being" immersion, I pulled some concepts from Wilheilm's book that best fit my teaching style. The eighth graders (in particular) loved playing characters- especially boys volunteering to play the female roles. Kids are still able to talk about a book they read over a year ago when we applied some of these reading strategies.
The key to making "being the book" work is choosing stories that are worthy of the time it will take to set up the reading experiences. In addition, I started small and added in the reading strategies based on the personality of the class. I love using some of the strategies that were abandoned in primary school. Middle and High schoolers are kids, too.