MY JOURNAL 1-2

JOURNAL ENTRY # 1

   Getting our students involve in the reading process has been a hard task. The reason is that they have not been exposed to reading in their earlier stages. This has been a problem not only in Puerto Rico, but also in the States. After reading chapter one of our text book, I am concern that the only way we can motivate our students to read is by choosing literature that they can emotionally and cognitively relate to their personal experience.

   It is certainly hard to teach our students to read nowadays, when we have to compete with advance technology like television, radio, computer games, and etc. This is the reason why teachers should be concern that young adults think and interact with and within their enviroment. Young adults enjoy reading stories when they can relate personal experience.

   After reading chapter one and two of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" I believe that this is a story young adults will enjoy reading. The story brings to life social problems, emotional struggles, and inter-personal relationship with adults and adolescents. The story covers the theories discussed in our text book.

   There are many reasons why adolescents will love reading this book. The characters of the story confront inter-personal problems. Harry lost his parents, he is living with his aunt and uncle. Harry is mistreated emotionally and physically. The book has a full range of conflicts and issues that grasp the reader's interest. Certainly they will like to find out what will happen in the next chapter.

JOURNAL ENTRY #2

   As I keep reading "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" I believe  this is a  book that will keep our students hooked. The author not only makes use of a vocabulary with a wide level range of meaning for all ages, but also takes the reader to an exploration of experiences. Adolescents can even share a life experience with the character Harry Potter or explore a new experience.

   As I read chapter three, I could almost feel the struggle that Harry was confronting, and his attempts to resolve them. He might be expelled from Hogwarts and his friends Ron and Hermione do not respond to his messages. This part of the story cetainly exhibits the moral and development stage of Hvighurst and Kohlbergs.

   In the other hand Carlsen says "that adolescent's readers seek situations that that parallel their own life situation and issues." In chapter three, Harry experiences  the sensation of freedom he says that "his heart was going to explode with pleasure" Harry sees the opportunity to escape from his foster parents mistreatment. Many adolscents can identify their personal experience with Harry's needs of liberation.

   In Chapter four one of Havighurst's stages is applied for example, "friends and society", which are conflicts that adolescents confront in their daily life. Harry gets mad at Ron and Hermione for not telling him wjhat has been happening.

   Gilligan's theory is applied to chapter four. For example Gilligan's says " men think in terms of rules and justice, and women think in terms of caring and relationship." An example of the theory is when Harry said "I got famous because he murdered my family but couldn't kill me!" " Who wants to be famous for that?" " We know" said Ginny earnestly. We can see that Harry wants justice and Hermione wants to help Harry and save their relationship.