On 7/02/09, 1styearteacher wrote:
> My student teaching was with high schoolers, and my first
> job is teaching 8th graders in reading. Any advice about
> how things change from 12th graders to 8th graders? :) I
> know, a loaded question! I am mainly concerned with the
> curriculum. Any suggestions about how to read novels in the
> classroom? I am not sure how reading a novel as a class
> will go.... I know a little bit about Literature Circles,
> but I am open to learning more. Most teachers tell me to
> read out loud a lot, or to play tapes. I know there are
> more things that I can do.

When I teach 8th, I focus on the literature's relation to
life - we look at some of what the author does and the effect
of the book is created but primarily we discuss what the book
is suggesting about life - is it right? Literature reflects
life - do we agree with the author's portrayal of life? Is it
accurate? Or not?

Some kids will Love a book - it speaks the truth to them.
Others will despise it as a book - it's poorly written, it's
silly, it's not interesting or - it doesn't work.

My best example might be Thunder Road - written in 1973 it
was the first book in American literature for a young
audience to feature an African American family. What's the
big deal my students ask now in 2009? Reading that book -
which they don't like much - gives a lot of room to
understand the role of literature and how things have changed.

Stones in Water is a book my students find powerful - too
powerful at times - but it trails off almost without an
ending. The Breadwinner opens doors for us into understanding
the Muslim world and is set in Afghanistan. Farewell to
Manzanar is one I use - another rich opportunity to look
through literature and see your own country.

When I've taught high school, I focus more on plot and
characters as they fashion the literature but for Middle
School, I find my literature and society connection to work
much better. We have good discussions and the kids are very
welcoming of being asked their opinions and not having to
treat every book as a sacred tome.

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