Thinking Through Children S Literature In The Classroom

This book is the result of understanding literature as a central part of children’s education. Fiction and nonfiction literary works constitute a source to open young minds and to help them understand how and why people – themselves included – live as they do, or to question through critical lenses whether they could live otherwise. By integrating philological, cultural, and pedagogical inquiries, Thinking through Children's Literature in the Classroom approaches the use of literature as a crucial factor to motivate students not only to improve their literacy skills, but also to develop their literary competence, one that prepares them to produce independent and sensible interpretations of the world. Of course, the endeavor of forming young readers and fostering their ability to think begins primarily by having well-read teachers who are enthusiastic about teaching and, secondly, by having students who are willing to learn. To encourage and sustain them through the critical turns of their own thinking processes, educators must surely display a sound pedagogic knowledge apart from deep literary expertise.

Much of teachers’ attention these days is focused on having students read closely to ferret out the author’s intended meaning and the devices used to convey that meaning. But we cannot forget to guide students to have moving engagements with literature, because they need to make strong personal connections to books of merit if they are to become the next generation of readers: literate people with awareness of and concern for the diversity of human beings around them and in different times and places. Fortunately, guiding both students’ personal engagement with literature and their close reading to appreciate the author’s message and craft are not incompatible goals. This book enthusiastically and intelligently addresses both imperatives, first surveying what is gained when students are immersed in literature; then celebrating and explicating the main features of literature students need to understand to broaden their tastes and deepen their engagement, at the same time they meet external standards; then presenting a host of active methods for exploring all major genres of children’s books; and finally presenting suggestions for interdisciplinary teaching units grounded in literature. Created by noted leaders in the fields of children’s literature and literacy, the book is enlivened by recurring features such as suggested reading lists, issues for discussion, links to technology, and annotations of exemplary books.

Teachers can have a profound influence on children’s reading behaviour and attitudes to literature. Whether it’s to broaden children’s knowledge and understanding, or encourage reading for pleasure, reading in the classroom is becoming an increasing priority. This book looks at a wide range of children’s literature from picture books to classics to poetry. A diverse array of books is recommended for teachers to use in a broad variety of contexts to enhance learning across the curriculum, featuring beloved authors such as Michael Morpurgo, Tove Jansson and Kenneth Grahame, as well as introducing some who may be new to teachers. This book: •Recognises the key role of children’s literature within the curriculum and learning development •Explores examples through case studies of classroom practice and highlights children’s literature’s role in Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education •Celebrates the range of voices and contexts that literature can represent in the classroom •Includes a ‘For your bookshelf’ section in each chapter which summarises key titles •Dedicates a chapter to the importance of creating children’s literature with and for children The authors place emphasis on creating a literate environment in which children’s literature is a central feature. This is a must-read for teachers at all levels, as well as anyone who volunteers in schools to support readers. “Read on to enrich your practice right across the curriculum and find diverse books to engage and inspire children. Enjoy!” Professor Teresa Cremin, The Open University, UK “How do we make sure children today recognise the value of reading for pleasure when so many other mediums are competing for their attention? The answer lies within this excellent text.” Megan Stephenson, PGCE Primary ITT Lead, Leeds Trinity University, UK “It is an essential book for the primary school – needed now more than ever before.” Adam Bushnell, Author of Modelling Exciting Writing and Descriptosaurus: Story Writing Rosemary Waugh is a retired teacher who has written extensively on children’s literature, spelling, punctuation and grammar. She is an avid collector of children’s literature. She works with David to lead workshops for reading volunteers in schools for the Open University, UK, and the charity Coram Beanstalk. David Waugh is a former deputy headteacher, education adviser and head of department, who is currently a professor at Durham University, School of Education, UK. He has written more than sixty books on primary English as well as six children’s novels, two of which were written with groups of children.

This accessible text will show students and class teachers how they can enable their pupils to become critical thinkers through the medium of picturebooks. By introducing children to the notion of making-meaning together through thinking and discussion, Roche focuses on carefully chosen picturebooks as a stimulus for discussion, and shows how they can constitute an accessible, multimodal resource for adding to literacy skills, while at the same time developing in pupils a far wider range of literary understanding. By allowing time for thinking about and digesting the pictures as well as the text, and then engaging pupils in classroom discussion, this book highlights a powerful means of developing children’s oral language ability, critical thinking, and visual literacy, while also acting as a rich resource for developing children’s literary understanding. Throughout, Roche provides rich data and examples from real classroom practice. This book also provides an overview of recent international research on doing ‘interactive read alouds’, on what critical literacy means, on what critical thinking means and on picturebooks themselves. Lecturers on teacher education courses for early years or primary levels, classroom teachers, pre-service education students, and all those interested in promoting critical engagement and dialogue about literature will find this an engaging and very insightful text.

How can you help children to develop a love of reading and books? Which books are the best ones to use in primary teaching? How do you make the most of children's literature in teaching across the curriculum? Trainee and experienced primary school teachers need an advanced knowledge of children's literature. This is your guide to the range of and scope of children's literature for the primary classroom. Through the exploration of different genres it covers a wide range of literature and helps you to consider what we mean by literature. Case studies that model good practice are included with suggestions for practical activities using literature to enhance teaching across the curriculum. Throughout, book recommendations show how specific texts can be used for teaching in exciting and innovative ways. What's new to this edition? - updated in line with the new Primary National Curriculum - includes new content on supporting children for whom English is an Additional Language - an extensive list of book recommendations for primary teaching - how to get more out of classic texts - introduces new texts and new children's authors

Big Ideas for Little Kids includes everything a teacher, a parent, or a college student needs to teach philosophy to elementary school children from picture books. Written in a clear and accessible style, the book explains why it is important to allow young children access to philosophy during primary-school education.

Offers a fresh perspective on how to implement childrens literature across the curriculum in ways that are both effective and purposeful. It invites multiple ways of engaging with literature that extend beyond the genre and elements approach and also addresses potential problems or issues that teachers may confront.

“This stellar book extends teachers’ thinking well beyond 'book spaces' and into 'digital spaces' by offering theorized approaches to analyzing children’s literature across media, and careful descriptions of effective learning activities that are rich in detail and practical advice. This book (and its digital spaces) is an indispensable guide to engaging with children’s literature and new digital media.” Michele Knobel, Montclair State University, USA. “The book overall is exciting, informative and practical, outlining important theoretical perspectives and ideas while also providing much wisdom and advice to teachers about how to transform their literary programs.” Frances Christie, Emeritus Professor of Language andLiteracy Education, University of Melbourne and HonoraryProfessor of Education, University of Sydney, Australia. This book connects classroom teaching of children’s literature with the digital age. It celebrates the charm of children’s literature and its role in literacy development, as well as the appeal of information and communications technology (ICT) to students and its capacity to enrich students’ learning and enjoyment of literary texts. The authors outline the ways in which children’s literature is developing new dimensions, for example: The re-publication of children’s books on CD ROM and the world wide web Web resources for working with literary texts, including e-mail discussion groups Children’s participation in the collaborative construction of online narratives The book provides practical guidance for teachers who areinexperienced with ICT. It describes and discussesimplementation of activities that extend traditional approaches toliterary texts and take advantage of available technology.