Worlds Awaiting

Reading with Writing (3:37)

In a perfect world for children, learning to read would come hand-in-glove with learning to write. Taking notes about things we hear or read makes it easier for us to remember and even helps in developing good character traits and virtues. Our first guest, Educator and author Mary Bigler, talks to Rachel about a great way to get added value from reading aloud to children. She recommends taking things just a little further, as she’ll explain. She also has some great book recommendations. Once a pre-school teacher and now a professor, Bigler has spent her life promoting literacy and celebrating the joys of teaching. She’s an award-winning professor in the Department of Teacher Education at Eastern Michigan University and author of Lessons Learned.

Reading Tips for College (15:29)

Next, Rachel welcomes Literacy Learning Specialist, Marné Isakson who talks about what we can do as adults to help our teens prepare for the reading rigors of college. Freshman often experience quite a shock when they encounter the kinds of books that await them in the world of higher education. Isakson earned a master’s in Educational Psychology and Research from Bucknell University and a Ph.D. in Instructional Science and Literacy Education from Brigham Young University. She has an English as a Second Language (or ESL) endorsement and has been involved in a seven-year research project exploring college reading.

 

Favorite Places to Read (23:14)

Finally Mark Burns, Host of “Special Collections” on BYURadio, talks to us. Mark recently conducted an informal survey about people’s favorite places to read. Maybe he’ll even tell us about where he likes to read!

Learning Technical Skills through Minecraft (3:33)

Video games are sometimes a solitary activity but at other times it can be a social activity with others. The expert we’re about to hear talks about how the latter kind of gaming, where young minds participate in groups, can become a healthy learning experience as well. Dr. Mimi Ito co-founded and directs a program called Connected Camp. The program partners 8-13 year old kids with high school students who teach them technical skills while playing Minecraft. Dr. Ito is a cultural anthropologist of technology use, specializing in children and youth’s changing relationships to media and communications. She’s Professor in Residence and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Chair in Digital Media and Learning at the University of California. Mimi has co-authored the book, Hanging Out, Messing Around, and Geeking Out: Youth Living and Learning with New Media which recommends interest-driven learning fueled by games, social media, and digital tools.

Family Reading (13:31)

Next, Rachel welcomes Dr. Richard E. West, professor of instructional psychology and technology at BYU, who is joined by his daughters Karli and Danika. They talk about what reading looks like in their family and the kinds of things they do as a family to encourage it. Dr. West researches how to teach group creativity and design thinking (see http://bit.ly/RickWestGScholar), and is co-chair of the BYU Creativity, Innovation, and Design group (see http://innovation.byu.edu). In his personal life, he’s an avid reader across multiple genres, with a compelling desire to use literature to help his children become awesome future adults. 

Library Visit (23:59)

We finish up the show today with Cole Wissinger, part of the Worlds Awaiting team. Cole recently decided to have some radio fun talking with random library goers about what they’re reading these days.

Learning Technical Skills through Minecraft (3:33)

Video games are sometimes a solitary activity but at other times it can be a social activity with others. The expert we’re about to hear talks about how the latter kind of gaming, where young minds participate in groups, can become a healthy learning experience as well. Dr. Mimi Ito co-founded and directs a program called Connected Camp. The program partners 8-13 year old kids with high school students who teach them technical skills while playing Minecraft. Dr. Ito is a cultural anthropologist of technology use, specializing in children and youth’s changing relationships to media and communications. She’s Professor in Residence and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Chair in Digital Media and Learning at the University of California. Mimi has co-authored the book, Hanging Out, Messing Around, and Geeking Out: Youth Living and Learning with New Media which recommends interest-driven learning fueled by games, social media, and digital tools.

Family Reading (13:31)

Next, Rachel welcomes Dr. Richard E. West, professor of instructional psychology and technology at BYU, who is joined by his daughters Karli and Danika. They talk about what reading looks like in their family and the kinds of things they do as a family to encourage it. Dr. West researches how to teach group creativity and design thinking (see http://bit.ly/RickWestGScholar), and is co-chair of the BYU Creativity, Innovation, and Design group (see http://innovation.byu.edu). In his personal life, he’s an avid reader across multiple genres, with a compelling desire to use literature to help his children become awesome future adults. 

 

Library Visit (23:59)

We finish up the show today with Cole Wissinger, part of the Worlds Awaiting team. Cole recently decided to have some radio fun talking with random library goers about what they’re reading these days.

Discerning Quality in Media (4:19)

Are kids capable of understanding the beautiful and the complex? Perhaps we should give them more credit than we do. Are they able to discern quality in media? How can we help them sift and sort? Illya Kowalchuk, Director of Education of the Pop Culture Classroom, talks to Rachel on today’s Worlds Awaiting about how he used video game design and comics in his Middle School classes to generate interest in learning other subjects. Kowalchuk also shares how he feels adults can help children become discerning media critics. Illya Kowalchuk hails from Long Island where as a child he avoided schoolwork by playing outside, reading comics, and mastering video games. Buckling down for college he later earned a BA in History, a K-6 Teaching Certification, and a Masters of Education. His teaching career was spent at Horizons K-8 School in Boulder, Colorado. Bringing his experience with pop culture together with his expertise as an educator, he co-founded Pop Culture Classroom and the Denver Comic Con.

Microsaurs (15:31)

Next, Rachel chats with children’s book author Dustin Hansen about a series that he wrote and illustrated titled, Microsaurs. The idea for the book was fueled by his passion as a Dinosaur nerd. The premise, as he’ll explain, came to him during an unexpected stay in the hospital. What if dinosaurs didn’t become extinct, but just got smaller? Think Honey, I Shrunk the Kids meets Jurassic Park!

Book Review (25:59)

Now, we finish up with Margaret Neville, Book Buyer at the King’s English Bookshop in SLC, who reviews I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy.

Discerning Quality in Media (4:19)

Are kids capable of understanding the beautiful and the complex? Perhaps we should give them more credit than we do. Are they able to discern quality in media? How can we help them sift and sort? Illya Kowalchuk, Director of Education of the Pop Culture Classroom, talks to Rachel on today’s Worlds Awaiting about how he used video game design and comics in his Middle School classes to generate interest in learning other subjects. Kowalchuk also shares how he feels adults can help children become discerning media critics. Illya Kowalchuk hails from Long Island where as a child he avoided schoolwork by playing outside, reading comics, and mastering video games. Buckling down for college he later earned a BA in History, a K-6 Teaching Certification, and a Masters of Education. His teaching career was spent at Horizons K-8 School in Boulder, Colorado. Bringing his experience with pop culture together with his expertise as an educator, he co-founded Pop Culture Classroom and the Denver Comic Con.

Microsaurs (15:31)

Next, Rachel chats with children’s book author Dustin Hansen about a series that he wrote and illustrated titled, Microsaurs. The idea for the book was fueled by his passion as a Dinosaur nerd. The premise, as he’ll explain, came to him during an unexpected stay in the hospital. What if dinosaurs didn’t become extinct, but just got smaller? Think Honey, I Shrunk the Kids meets Jurassic Park!

Book Review (25:59)

Now, we finish up with Margaret Neville, Book Buyer at the King’s English Bookshop in SLC, who reviews I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy.

The Emperor’s Ostrich (3:37)

Any story about a bad monarch should probably end in one of two ways: the author either needs to kill him off or banish him. Well, maybe there’s a third way: you could try to reform him. In her latest book, The Emperor’s Ostrich, author Julie Berry opts for reform. She talks to Rachel about writing The Emperor’s Ostrich, or rather, how she let the story write itself. Berry is the author of the 2017 Printz Honor novel The Passion of Dolssa, the Carnegie and Edgar shortlisted All the Truth That’s in Me, and multiple other well-known titles. She holds a BS from Rensselaer in communication and an MFA from Vermont College.

Book Chat (14:33)

Next, Rachel chats with Jessica Verzello and Olivia Hales about a graphic novel by Marissa Meyer entitled, Wires and Nerve. All three work together in the BYU Education and Juvenile Literature Library.

Impact of Literature (24:21)

Now, we finish up with author and educator, Margaret Blair Young, who talks to Rachel about the impact of literature in her life and the passion she has for sharing it with her posterity and her students. Young's published works include the novels House Without Walls; Salvador; and Heresies of Nature. She also co-authored a trilogy of historical novels about Black Mormon pioneers titled Standing on the Promises.

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:03:37 - The Emperor's Ostrich

00:14:33 - Book Chat

00:24:21 - Impact of Literature

The Emperor’s Ostrich (3:37)

Any story about a bad monarch should probably end in one of two ways: the author either needs to kill him off or banish him. Well, maybe there’s a third way: you could try to reform him. In her latest book, The Emperor’s Ostrich, author Julie Berry opts for reform. She talks to Rachel about writing The Emperor’s Ostrich, or rather, how she let the story write itself. Berry is the author of the 2017 Printz Honor novel The Passion of Dolssa, the Carnegie and Edgar shortlisted All the Truth That’s in Me, and multiple other well-known titles. She holds a BS from Rensselaer in communication and an MFA from Vermont College.

Book Chat (14:33)

Next, Rachel chats with Jessica Verzello and Olivia Hales about a graphic novel by Marissa Meyer entitled, Wires and Nerve. All three work together in the BYU Education and Juvenile Literature Library.

Impact of Literature (24:21)

Now, we finish up with author and educator, Margaret Blair Young, who talks to Rachel about the impact of literature in her life and the passion she has for sharing it with her posterity and her students. Young's published works include the novels House Without Walls; Salvador; and Heresies of Nature. She also co-authored a trilogy of historical novels about Black Mormon pioneers titled Standing on the Promises.

A Night Divided (3:38)

Truth can be stranger than fiction. And often more fascinating. Many a Young Adult novel begins with a compelling story from history – something that really happened. Our first guest, Young Adult book author Jennifer Nielsen became interested in the Berlin Wall and the many personal stories defined and shaped by it. She soon discovered that there were no children’s books about the Berlin Wall in English. This moved her to write her own book called A Night Divided that focuses on a family separated by The Wall. Jennifer Nielsen is the New York Times Bestselling author of The Ascendance trilogy – beginning with The False Prince, The Mark of the Thief series, and A Night Divided.

Making Math More Approachable (14:05)

Next, Rachel talks to Dr. Eula Monroe, a long-time professor of Mathematics Education at BYU, who has endeavored in her teaching career to help kids (and adults) get over the fear of math. In fact, she’s written Mathematics Dictionary: The Easy, Simple, Fun Guide to Help Math Phobics Become Math Lovers!. It’s part of her goal of making math more approachable. Monroe has another book in progress designed to help math instructors as they work to reduce math anxiety in children. She’s also received lifetime awards for contributions to mathematics education in both Kentucky and Utah.

Teachers Using Books (23:53)

We finish up with a couple of teachers from Provost Elementary School in Utah who talk with Cole Wissinger, a member of the Worlds Awaiting team, about how they use books every day in the classroom.

A Night Divided (3:38)

Truth can be stranger than fiction. And often more fascinating. Many a Young Adult novel begins with a compelling story from history – something that really happened. Our first guest, Young Adult book author Jennifer Nielsen became interested in the Berlin Wall and the many personal stories defined and shaped by it. She soon discovered that there were no children’s books about the Berlin Wall in English. This moved her to write her own book called A Night Divided that focuses on a family separated by The Wall. Jennifer Nielsen is the New York Times Bestselling author of The Ascendance trilogy – beginning with The False Prince, The Mark of the Thief series, and A Night Divided.

Making Math More Approachable (14:05)

Next, Rachel talks to Dr. Eula Monroe, a long-time professor of Mathematics Education at BYU, who has endeavored in her teaching career to help kids (and adults) get over the fear of math. In fact, she’s written Mathematics Dictionary: The Easy, Simple, Fun Guide to Help Math Phobics Become Math Lovers!. It’s part of her goal of making math more approachable. Monroe has another book in progress designed to help math instructors as they work to reduce math anxiety in children. She’s also received lifetime awards for contributions to mathematics education in both Kentucky and Utah.

 

Teachers Using Books (23:53)

We finish up with a couple of teachers from Provost Elementary School in Utah who talk with Cole Wissinger, a member of the Worlds Awaiting team, about how they use books every day in the classroom.

Fictional Worlds of Peril (3:28)

Of all the worlds awaiting our youth, dangerous worlds can pack the biggest wallop. Dangerous settings in fiction abound, because they make compelling stories. But just how dangerous should they be? BYU English professor, Jon Ostenson, talks to Rachel today on Worlds Awaiting about the popularity of fictional worlds of peril, dystopia, and apocalypse. Jon specializes in literature for teens and young adults. He’s taught Junior High and High School English, and presently teaches courses in adolescent literature and publishes on the topic.

Book Characters with Disabilities (13:45)

Next, Rachel visits with Tina Dyches, professor in the BYU School of Education, and founder and current chair of the Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award. She talks to Rachel about creating this award that began with her desire to encourage better fictional depictions of young characters with disabilities. Dr. Tina Taylor Dyches has worked in the field of education for 30 years, as a special educator, professor, and administrator. Her scholarship has resulted in three books about using children’s literature that include characters with special needs.

A few previous winners and recommendations from Dr. Dyches: 

Rain, Reign by Ann M. Martin 

My Brother Sammy by Becky Edwards 

My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peet and Ryan Elizabeth Peet 

BYU HAROLD B. LEE LIBRARY – SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

Author Tips (24:24)

We finish up the show today with three authors – Wendelin Van Draanen, Breeana Shields, and Ann M. Martin – who offer some guidance for youth and adults who want to enter the world of writing. We hope some of what they say will spark some new ideas for your own use as a teacher, writer, parent, or mentor