Tricks to Teaching Literature

A funny thing happened on the way out of my Lit. class... courteously of Dr. Kelly Roberts of the Meredith College English Department



10. Ignore the back of the book (“read; answer questions”)Avoiding reading and answering questions that can be done by anybody

9. Entice like there’s no tomorrow (because there will be lots of them!)
Make sure that you can entice students. Our job is 1. Give them the basics of how to read and comprehend 2. To keep them reading. Set their hearts and minds on fire.

8. Divide the pages and multiply the review.
Three weeks designated for a unit; steady stream of realistic reading. Cycling back will make it stick in their head (responsibility).
*It is discriminatory not hold students with the responsibility doing homework. Set homework expectations; life skill way beyond the skills.

7. Have respect; don’t dissect (esp. when it comes to assessment)

6. Read Alouds

5. Keep your bag of tricks handy
No dissecting! Keep a steady supply of active learning strategies

4. Remember how porcupines make love
Very carefully :
- Keeping the main idea, the main idea
- Scaffold: pre-reading, during-reading, post-reading activities

3. Everybody loves a book club; somebody always hates The Book
It's important to remember that uou will always have someone that will dislike The Book; encorporate choice in the classroom through activities such as literature circles and choice reading.

2. Consider integration – it is integral to the integrity
Incorporate writing, grammar AND literature. Why not tie in art? social studies? science? math?

1. Remember only one thing: Keep ‘em reading!!