Hi Janice,
I too have struggled with this. Here is a copy of a letter I sent (back in
2000). I can't remember where I got this from. (I think I adapted it from
another teacher.)
___________________________________
Just as with playing a sport or musical instrument, reading also
takes practice. Therefore, we will be reading a lot this year. Every week
your child will have the opportunity to do independent, free-choice reading.
We have many books in the school library (as well as our small classroom
library) from which to choose. Some students prefer to bring their own
books from home, purchase new books, or get them from the public library.
It has been my experience that in order to develop lifelong
readers, students must enjoy the books they read. Because it will be
difficult for me to monitor every book every student reads, I have told your
child that all free-choice books must have your approval.
PLEASE CHECK ONE:
_____ I have discussed book selection with my child and I give him/her
permission to read any school-appropriate book that he or she chooses.
_____ I have discussed book selection with my child and we will work
together to choose age- and school-appropriate books for independent
classroom reading.
Please sign and return this letter. It will be placed in your child's
reading folder.
______________________________ Class
period: _____
Student's full name
______________________________ Date:
___________
Parent's/Guardian's signature
----- Original Message -----
From: "Janice Hise" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, August 16, 2008 1:43 PM
Subject: [LIT] PG-13 and R rated books
>I teach 7/8 English and reading for a small Catholic K-8 where it seems
>most of the middle schoolers are allowed to watch those awful r-rated
>slasher movies. My problem is what to do about "PG-13 or R-rated" books.
>Some of the books I read over the summer, such as Paranoid Park and I Am
>the Messenger are just the books I need to interest some of my non-readers,
>but so far I have not done any booktalks on them because of the content
>(pre-marital sex, graphic violence, curse words, etc.) My parents are
>definitely not prudes, but I don't want to preempt their ability to monitor
>at what age their child starts to read about these issues.
>
> Has anyone sent home a generic notice or permission slip regarding what
> books parents are comfortable letting their children read? If so, could
> you send me an electronic file of your notice/slip? Or just describe how
> you handle this in general? Do you avoid giving booktalks on anything you
> rate even slightly questionable for all readers? This excludes a lot of
> good books! I really want to share these books with the class but I don't
> want to set up a lumbering, time consuming system of censorship. Help!
>
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