What was the most meaningful and useful for you...

"YA Literature allows you to build a solid classroom library that includes a variety of genres and styles to meet the interest of every type of reader. The modules in YA Lit are extensive, meaningful and provide teachers with a solid foundation for teaching reading with best practices in mind." ~ Carolyn Mertz, Menomonie Middle School, Menomonie, Wisconsin

"This has been the most valuable course I have taken in several
years.  I have learned so much that it will be difficult to share it
all." ~ Julie Weller, LD Specialist/READ 180 Teacher
D.C. Everest Senior High

"The most valuable things I gained through the course were new book titles, new ideas and new perspectives. I will be able to use virtually everything we read and discussed – this has probably been the most useful class I've ever taken! I also enjoyed the online format." - Wendy K. Baldwin, M.A. English degree student, Nashville, Tennessee

"This has been a terrific course. And great fun! Interesting material, I was able to read and look at lots of books and was exposed again to U.S. educators and practice in the states."
~ Linda Rogde, Middle School Librarian, Seoul, South Korea

"In short, I have found this course -and my classmates' comments - thought-provoking, interesting, enlightening, and a lot of fun!"
~ Katherine Ruppel, Librarian, Holy Family University, Newtown, Pennsylvania

"I cannot express in words how much I have enjoyed this class and I am sure that the knowledge gained will stay with me forever. I'm so glad I waited for this class."
~ Sandra Lawrence, High School English Teacher, Tulsa, Oklahoma

"This course is an excellent portal into the world of Young Adult literature.  Well organized and filled with valuable information, the readings and assignments help build a strong foundation in literature while encouraging additional exploration, growth and application for everyday use.  While I initially took the course as a requirement for my library certification program, I got hooked on Young Adult literature in the process!"
~ Kathryn Wick, Library Media Assistant Prince William County Schools Virginia

"What I will take most from this course is the idea that there is an endless amount of literature out there for students.  It doesn't matter the age, gender, or interest.  It's a matter of finding the books, peaking their interests, and encouraging them to try all different genres. I know that I will use literature in my classroom in many different ways. Knowledge is power, and I have a lot more knowledge about literature to empower me as a teacher.."
~ Rhonda Thesing, Title I Reading and Math, Minnesota

Young Adult Literature was an excellent class to take for my first completely online/distance learning experience.  Sharron was an expert beyond my expectations.  Additionally, the process of learning was very manageable - of course - this was my only class.  I would recommend it highly and would add that Sharron's text is well worth adding to any teacher/media specialists collection. 

~ Kate Rogers, Masters Student, Little Rock, Arkansas

"My students will benefit (even more than me) from all of this "exploration" as I will be booktalking all of these books within the next month. And, so, thank you, too for providing so much information .....for opening my eyes to many new books. It has been a great experience!!!!"
~ Evelyn Campbell, Middle School - Language Arts and World Geography Teacher, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

"The knowledge and ideas gained in this course have been some of the most beneficial of all the courses I have completed for a Master's in Library and Information Science."
~ Dena Zamora,Library Information Specialist, Stott Elementary, Arvada, Colorado

"... it felt like I was talking face to face with the other people. It was easy to find my way around the [web] board, and it was great to hear from people who were scattered all over the world. I was able to get perspectives I may not have had if the class was held in a traditional classroom setting. "
~ Amy Jeffery, Lake Region Middle School Media Specialist
Naples, Maine

"The greatest impact this class has made on me during the course is sparking my interest in new types of literature and having fun by reading and sharing the books. This will have a long lasting impact on my library media center."
~ Becky Stouten, Mounds View High School Library Media Specialist, Arden Hills, Minnesota 

"One of the responsibilities I take very seriously in my position as a high school librarian is materials selection. I pour over reviews from reputable review sources, I solicit recommendations from students and teachers, and I browse the shelves of my local bookstore on a regular basis. Even with all these strategies, I know I miss some wonderful books to which my students need access. Therefore, I have made a conscious decision to enroll in either a young adult literature workshop or class on a regular basis. This class has been a high point."
~ Cyndi Bowman, Library Media Specialist, Hutchinson High School, Hutchinson, Kansas

"I have to admit that I almost didn't take this class at all, because I had come to think of YA lit as being either too lame or too controversial. The reading I've done this semester has convinced me that today's teen lit is anything but insipid, and if it's a bit edgier than I'm comfortable with, then maybe I need to remember that my readers are not pollyannas, and they probably like their books on the gritty side.

There were so many valuable activities: teen culture investigations, reading across the genres, book packages, booktalks, the final project. For me, the requirement to read so widely and so much was the best part of the class. But the module on multiculturalism gave me a real "Aha". As I said in my posting, my minority girls are really dedicated readers, and I think it's because they're looking for role models and a peer group. I feel a very strong duty to provide them with the finest literature I can find now that this realization has hit me.

If my determination to be more tolerant of the new face of teen lit waivers, I'll just reread Jami Jones' article, "Too Hot to Handle," and remember that my teens need these books!

Thanks for a very rewarding class!"
~ Marie Baker,High School Library/Media Specialist
Marlboro, New York

"I am teaching a demo lesson for my school media internship in a couple of weeks and the topic is poetry. Thanks to this course and the lists, I have tracked down some great poetry sources and I have the comments of all the other students to draw from as resources. I feel that when I walk away from this course, I'll have a huge file of ideas to try out when I am in my own media center. I couldn't ask for more."
~ Anne Corsetti, School Media Intern, Mamaroneck, NY