Selecting Literature
Middle-grades teachers want their students to read good literature, i.e., literature that is well written, broadens adolescents' sense of the world, enhances their self-knowledge, and resonates with the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive changes they are undergoing.
Teachers select books to include as a key element of their curriculum, to extend their curriculum, and to build student appreciation of literature outside of school. Sometimes they require that certain books be read. Other times they give students choices from lists. They also make recommendations to students who like to self-select books. Regardless of who is making the selection and for what reasons, teachers need to consider what adolescents find appealing, engaging, and worthwhile. For example, adolescents are drawn to literature that contains themes dealing with:
- Finding one's self, the search for direction in their life, and becoming independent
- Resolving conflict, either within the self or with another person
- Learning about different places, cultures, times, and ethnicities
- Addressing problems in the social order
Usually they want to read books that focus on characters who are multidimensional and dynamic. They like the action to progress and stories told from a first person point of view with a serious tone.
Some students might not know what will appeal to them. Teachers have found that "book talks," such as those at nancykeane.com/booktalks/default.htm, are a wonderful way of helping students make selections. By providing students with a brief introduction to a selection of books, teachers can motivate and direct students to read books they would never select on their own.
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