The discussion about how to set boundaries in a library and deal with those who continuously act out was extremely informative. Hearing everyone’s input and comparing it with the strategies that I rely on helped me to examine what I do and what about it is effective and what can be improved. Working at a summer program with a group of 9th to 12th graders who I must escort around the campus of Brooklyn College managing their behavior is on my mind often. Having done this for a few years I’ve gotten to experience managing vastly different groups of teens and seen just how challenging some can be and how easy it can be for others. I’ve learned you really never can tell what a group on a given day might be like and have to constantly change your approach accordingly from friend to drill instructor to everything in between.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Tyrell. Going into it I wasn’t really sure what to expect but as I got into the story I realized how much I connected to the character Tyrell. He seemed so real and relatable in his quest to fix the situation that he has found himself in and begins to succeed while making a number of mistakes along the way. The manner in which he was presented was extremely believable and seemed to capture the attitude of a teenage boy very well which seems to be lacking in a lot of the young adult novels I have read.
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Sometimes I think the only way to learn to manage a group of teens is to just jump in there headfirst and get your feet wet--sounds like you've had lots of experience at Brooklyn College. I'd say you probably will have similar experiences in libraries--though maybe less controlled since the teens will be there on a voluntary basis--that is, if you're in a public library.
ReplyDeleteAlso glad you liked Tyrell...