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Mirror Books and Adolescent Literacy: A Conversation with Dr. Valcine Brown
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What happens when adolescents lose their passion for reading, and how do we bring it back? Dr. Valcine Brown, a veteran educator who recently completed her PhD in education, is tackling this challenge head-on with innovative research and classroom practices.
Reading used to be magic. Remember that feeling of getting lost in a book? Too many adolescents don't – they find reading "boring," a sentiment Dr. Brown has found to be universal across different countries. Her research explores how "mirror books" – literature where students see aspects of their identity reflected – might rekindle that lost love of reading. Through careful measurement of reading attitudes across academic and recreational contexts, she's uncovering insights that challenge traditional approaches to literacy education.
Dr. Brown's own educational journey – earning her bachelor's degree over seven years while raising children as a single mother – informs her compassionate, practical approach. Her innovative credit recovery program allows students to demonstrate mastery through performance tasks rather than retaking entire classes, helping dozens of students catch up on missing credits each semester.
What does the future hold for adolescent literacy? Dr. Brown suggests more research, more student choice, and more interventions beyond third grade. The good news? Sometimes the solution is as simple as 15 minutes of daily reading in a student's "zone of proximal development" – starting where they are and growing from there.
Ready to transform how we approach adolescent literacy? Subscribe to hear more conversations with innovative educators challenging the status quo and creating better outcomes for all students.
You can reach Dr. Valcine Brown using the following social media platform:
Website: https://drvalcinebrown.live-website.com/
Chapters
1. Introduction to Dr. Valcine Brown (00:00:00)
2. Challenges in Adolescent Literacy (00:07:05)
3. Research on Mirror Books (00:12:36)
4. Journey to Becoming an Educator (00:19:06)
5. Technology's Impact on Reading (00:25:31)
6. Advice for Educators and Students (00:31:03)
7. Credit Recovery Program Success (00:38:57)
8. Closing Thoughts and Contact Information (00:47:30)
156 episodes
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