Believing in Living Literature

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Believing in Living Literature

• Chapter 1

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"A teacher's most important role (in my humble
opinion) is first to teach the art of reading
then to foster a child's enjoyment of books."
Dick King-Smith
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What it means to "Live Literature"
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Children's Literature

• Backbone of the reading program
• Major source of content knowledge
• Can increase our understanding of ourselves
  and our place in the world
• Potential for transformative experiences

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Share children's literature to develop effective
readers and writers.
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Share literature to foster a life-long enjoyment
of books and reading.
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Living Literature Classroom
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Examining Beliefs
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What we believe and how we teach have long-term
effects on students.
If we believe all children will learn, then we
will teach differently.
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Do you believe that all children can learn?
A guided reading lesson with a deaf child
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Valuing Literacy
Some books are currently considered "dangerous"
for children. Understand why people may object
to certain types of reading materials.
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Teaching is a scholarly act

• Keep current with new children's literature
• Read and keep professionally active
• Learn the professional discourse (the terminology
  of literacy)

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Goals for Living Literature
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Teaching children to read
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Teaching children to WANT to read
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1. Surround children with literature instead of
just textbooks.
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2. Allow students to teach others.
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3. Allow students choice in their reading.
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4. Provide opportunities for students to discuss
books with others.
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What we know about poor reading attitudes

• Generally, teenagers' interest in reading
  declines.
• Interest declines when reading is limited to
  prescribed texts and quality literature is not
  included.
• Students in lower ability groups are usually not
  motivated to read.

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Living Literature Principles
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Children learn what they live.
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Living Literature Framework
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Provide students with the best children's
literature.
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Design experiences that incorporate the six
language arts.
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Teachers use strategic and explicit teaching.
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Teachers encourage experimentation as children
respond to literature.
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Teachers use focused, specific feedback to
children.
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Curriculum is integrated and inquiry based.
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• See the CD-ROM which came with this text for
• Tips for working with school public librarians
• Lists of professional print resources
• Visit the COMPANION WEBSITE for
• Organizations and their websites
• Professional journals and websites