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Literature for All of Us has developed three core program areas:
Click here to read testimonials about how our book group program works.
Our book groups provide a safe place where young people can talk openly with each other and respond both personally and aesthetically to literature. The primary goal of our work is to have book group members become literate readers by engaging them with the literature. We also aim to empower teens to think of themselves as intelligent and creative citizens; provide literacy tools for teen parents to use with their children; increase public visibility and awareness of young people's voices; and share books and poetry across class, neighborhood, age, and racial lines.
Led by a professional book group leader, each group meets weekly for 90 minutes. The group activities include focusing rituals, discussion of selected text, reading aloud, poetry writing, and sharing the writing with the group. We select the texts and poetry that make up the curriculum for their "cultural literacy" traits and include settings, language, and themes that relate to the lives of the girls. Each month, every book group member receives 1 to 3 new books to read and discuss. They often share these books, in turn, with family, friends, and neighbors — creating a network of literacy beyond the book group border and building important social connections.
Toward the end of the school year, each group designs and produces its own poetry anthology. These young poets are proud to see their work in print. They are given opportunities to present their work at public poetry readings — a new and powerful experience for them. These readings are open to family, friends, neighbors and teachers, as well as other community members.
We currently offer 26 weekly book group programs in collaboration with:
- Bronzeville Academic Center, Bronzeville, Chicago
- Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS), Teen Parent Services, South Loop, Chicago
- Irene Dugan Alternative High School, Back of the Yards, Chicago
- Family Focus Nuestra Familia, Humboldt Park, Chicago
- Family Focus Our Place, Evanston
- Nancy B. Jefferson Alternative School, Juvenile Temporary Detention Center of Cook County, Chicago
- Schiller Elementary School, Near North Side, Chicago
- Second Chance Alternative High School, Back of the Yards, Chicago
- Theolene Simpson Academy for Young Women, University Village, Chicago
- Youth Connections Charter Schools, Chicago
Click here to read testimonials about how our book group program works.
We promote family literacy and provide parenting education for teen mothers through "Children's Literature for Parenting" workshops. Our curriculum is based on our experience introducing and discussing different children's books with teen mothers. We believe that children's literature is an excellent vehicle for teaching parenting skills to young mothers, such as the importance of nurturing, communicating and building self-esteem.
Children's literature provides a metaphorical way to teach young mothers about the emotional needs of their children. Parenting themes we discuss connect with the storybook theme and characters. We give them quality children's books to build a children's library in their own homes.
Motivate Young People to Become Engaged Readers & Critical Thinkers
Literature for All of Us offers a fun, experiential 3-day training program for developing and leading book groups using our award-winning and nationally recognized program model. This workshop is designed for teachers, librarians, counselors and others who work with young people and want to develop book group circles as part of the regular classroom day, as an after-school enrichment program, or a customized program for groups serving youth in non-traditional settings.
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