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Literature Teachers Chatboard

Teaching Literature!

by newteacher

Feb 26, 2011

Literature Teachers,

I've never really been a big fan of literature, and I was a little disappointed to find out how much of high school English teaching is devoted to teaching literature. I like the linguistics, grammar, and writing aspect of English class, as well as its ability to give students a voice and promote self expression, and I was a horrible history student, even in college, and I'm finding it somewhat difficult to research the authors and writings in depth and explain perfectly how to writer's life correlates with his or her work, like my cooperating teacher can. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? Are there special classes that help English teachers learn how to teach literature more effectively? I really wish they were separate classes. I would rather be allowed to teach grammar, general reading and comprehension skills, poetry, creative writing, and expository writing.

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Sam J I don't of any place to teach you how to teach literature, but you could easily study periods of literature and the great literary works of that time.

If you are interested in teaching grammar, writing, etc. I do believe that you will find plenty of jobs where you can teach what you like. I think that in many junior-high level schools Engl...See MoreI don't of any place to teach you how to teach literature, but you could easily study periods of literature and the great literary works of that time.

If you are interested in teaching grammar, writing, etc. I do believe that you will find plenty of jobs where you can teach what you like. I think that in many junior-high level schools English is still a separate class from Reading/Literature.

Another way to sell yourself into a writing and grammar position is knowing how to help students learn how to write more effectively. Advertise yourself as a writing specialist and show how you will help students in those areas.

If you do have to teach a mix of literature with grammar and writing, try to keep a balance and keep your perspective. I don't think any administration assumes that a teacher knows it all in their first year of teaching. Study the literature textbooks and novels before each unit you teach and you will be surprised by how much you will learn by teaching. Also, you should know that in every literature unit I teach, I incorporate writing skills and often have students write creatively or constructively using critical thinking skills.

On 2/26/11, newteacher wrote: > Literature Teachers, > > I've never really been a big fan of literature, and I was a > little disappointed to find out how much of high school > English teaching is devoted to teaching literature. I like > the linguistics, grammar, and writing aspect of English > class, as well as its ability to give students a voice and > promote self expression, and I was a horrible history > student, even in college, and I'm finding it somewhat > difficult to research the authors and writings in depth and > explain perfectly how to writer's life correlates with his > or her work, like my cooperating teacher can. Does anyone > have any suggestions for me? Are there special classes that > help English teachers learn how to teach literature more > effectively? I really wish they were separate classes. I > would rather be allowed to teach grammar, general reading > and comprehension skills, poetry, creative writing, and > expository writing.

Feb 26, 2011

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Mark NewTeacher: It sounds as if you're "stuck" on the concept of literature, rather than thinking about what really matters when teaching a high school English class.

As a high school English teacher, I focused on "critical thinking skills" and "effective communication." Students needed these skills to succeed.

When you teach writin...See More

Feb 28, 2011

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books4learning I'd rather teach literature than grammar and writing! Literature is easy to teach if you just learn how to ask the right questions!

First, I'd suggest a good text books about reading and evaluating literature. I find the Perrine Structure, Sound, and Sense helpful.

Second, you do not have to do tons of research, especially on th...See More

Mar 6, 2011

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Sara On 2/26/11, newteacher wrote:

Interesting post - I'd agree with you that Language Arts classes and certainly Lit classes both favor reading over writing. I've long advocated that they should be taught separately - have a Reading Class even into high school and a separate writing class.

But it's a tradition and a long story behind...See MoreOn 2/26/11, newteacher wrote:

Interesting post - I'd agree with you that Language Arts classes and certainly Lit classes both favor reading over writing. I've long advocated that they should be taught separately - have a Reading Class even into high school and a separate writing class.

But it's a tradition and a long story behind that tradition of why we try to teach writing by assigning essays about literature. When in your own classroom, you can 'tweak' things and more than a little. You'll get a reputation among the parents as 'the teacher who really teaches writing' and they'll fight to get their kids who can't write into your class.

Till then, bear up. Be careful who you tell theat 'you've never really been a big fan of literature'. (how is that? Literature has some remarkable writing in it - that has never intrigued you? Faulkner's long run-on sentences won him a Pulitzer Price)

You don't have to research the authors in depth - though when you know the little tidbits about the authors' lives it does make great stories to tell in class. But - the author's life does not always correlate with their writing - at all. Shirley Jackson denied her entire life that she had anything in mind when she wrote "The Lottery" and that the idea came to her as she pushed her baby home from the supermarket in her stroller. If you just look for how an author's life correlates with their writing, that is not even history - it's psychology. It's certainly not essential to literature to try to ascertain how the authors' lives connect to their writing.

Are your students excellent writers? Do you have something to teach them about writing? Would your co-op teacher allow you to teach some classes on writing?

If not, can you answer questions like - who is the best writer or who are the better writers just from the perspective of writing? (it's surely not Faulkner with all his run-on sentences) I've never considered that question before and some would say it can't be answered but don't let that stop you. Even questions without definitive right answers can still be asked.

Run that by your co-op teacher as a discussion question. Have a piece of writing by a recognized author at hand whose work you want to use as an example of excellent writing - totally aside from the literature that it is.

I was taught the editorial by Mary White's father written at her death was one of the greatest pieces of short expository writing. And it's March - isn't that still Women's History month? I know history's not your thing but what about the expository writing of the Women's Movements? Would she let you use that as examples of writing that in fact were not only good but effective in bringing change to society?

Let us know how it goes. You don't need to take a class in how to 'be more effective' - you need to find a way to include your expertise and your strength into the class. When you're teaching to your strength of interest, you'll be strong. (ps - if you want to take a class, take a class in either public speaking or acting - those classes help teachers more than any others.) > Literature Teachers, > > I've never really been a big fan of literature, and I was a > little disappointed to find out how much of high school > English teaching is devoted to teaching literature. I like > the linguistics, grammar, and writing aspect of English > class, as well as its ability to give students a voice and > promote self expression, and I was a horrible history > student, even in college, and I'm finding it somewhat > difficult to research the authors and writings in depth and > explain perfectly how to writer's life correlates with his > or her work, like my cooperating teacher can. Does anyone > have any suggestions for me? Are there special classes that > help English teachers learn how to teach literature more > effectively? I really wish they were separate classes. I > would rather be allowed to teach grammar, general reading > and comprehension skills, poetry, creative writing, and > expository writing.

Mar 11, 2011

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