Literacy behind Bars

Mary E. Styslinger is an associate professor of English and literacy education at the University of South Carolina where she directs the Midlands Writing Project. Her research interests include interweaving literacy into the English curriculum and serving marginalized and at-risk youth; she has published articles in English Journal, Voices from the Middle, Language Arts, Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, and Kappan.Karen Gavigan is an associate professor in the School of Library and Information Science at the University of South Carolina. She and Mindy Tomasevich are co-authors of Connecting Comics to Curriculum: Strategies for Grades 6-12 (Libraries Unlimited), and Karen and Kendra Albright are co-editors of the graphic novel, AIDS in the End Zone. Kendra Albright is Professor and Director of the School of Library and Information Science at Kent State University and Editor of Libri, International Journal of Libraries and Information Studies. Dr. Albright’s interdisciplinary research addresses issues of information ethics and social justice for minority and disenfranchised populations.

Written by professionals with experience working with incarcerated people, this resource is for educators and librarians who engage youth and adults ‘behind the fence’ in the English language arts…. The foreword and preface present a well-documented overview that connects poor literacy skills to incarceration. The editors introduce their text with a strong rationale that explains the literary deficits and unique needs of the incarcerated…. Well-written, insightful, timely, applicable across place and audience, this book is a fantastic resource for librarians and teachers working with incarcerated populations. These lessons are easily adaptable to an urban, general education setting and may improve the literacy skills of those at risk.

• ForewordAcknowledgementsList of FiguresList of TablesPrefacePart I. Supporting Writers1.Word by Word: Teaching Poetic Economy Behind BarsDeborah Appleman2.Teaching to the Heart: Fostering Empathy through Writing WorkshopTimothy R. Bunch3.Composing Public Service Announcements: Using Digital Mentor Texts to Support Student Writers in a Juvenile Detention FacilityKristine E. Pytash4. Writing About the Secrets of Gang LifeKendra S. AlbrightPart II. Encouraging Readers 5. Call-and-Responsive Reading: Street Literature as Agency for Incarcerated ReadersVanessa Irvin 6. Books Behind the FenceSusan McNair7. Creating a Community of Writers Using Graphic NovelsKaren W. Gavigan8. The Places We Can Go: Book Clubs for Social JusticeJennifer L. Doyle, Elizabeth M. Bemiss, Mary E. StyslingerPart III. Inspiring Partnerships9. Theme for English B: Teaching and Learning with Incarcerated YouthPeter Williamson, Megan Mercurio, Constance Walker10. Reading Buddies: A School-University PartnershipMary E. Styslinger, Timothy R. Bunch11. Building Bridges Across the Disciplines: Professional Development Behind the FenceVictoria A. Oglan, Janie R. GoodmanAbout the Editors and ContributorsIndex