Literature Based Approach

Literature Based Approach

1. a program that uses sets of children's books as a basis for providing instruction in literacy

2. advantages

   • teachers choose books they wish to use with their students
     • reading material is tailored to students' interests and needs

3. core literature

   • read by whole class or selected groups
   • cornerstone texts
   • builds community
     • shared experience
     • common ground for conversations about selections
     • point of reference for comparing and contrasting selections
   • boost self esteem of poorer readers
   • problems
     • children have diverse interests and abilities
     • overanalyzed

4. text sets

   • fosters the making of connections
   • deepen readers background
   • broaden readers framework for thinking about literature

5. thematic units

   • begin with overall plan
   • selections read have a theme of some sort
     • author
     • genre
       • mystery
       • picture
     • theme
       • heros
       • distant places
       • sports and hobbies
       • animals
       • teddy bears
       • friendship
       • plants
       • Westward Movement
   • advantages
     • helps students make connections
       • reading
       • writing
       • listening
       • speaking
       • viewing activities
       • among different pieces of literature
   • disadvantages
     • can lack depth
     • lacks unifying idea
       • create broad questions to be answered by students
   • procedure for creating and implementing
     • 1. select topic or theme to explore
     • 2. involve students in planning
     • 3. state overall ideas to emphasize
     • 4. decide on reading materials and activities
     • 5. list and gather resources
       • materials to read
       • centers to set up
       • audiovisual aids
       • websites
       • guest speakers
     • 6. unit opener to set the stage
     • 7. evaluate

6. transactional units

   • theme based
   • begin with overall plan
     • subject to modification depending on student interest and need

7. self selection

8. choosing materials

   • quality and appeal
   • reading ability
     • easy
     • average
     • challenging
   • genres
     • novels
     • short stories
     • poems
     • plays
     • myths
     • informational

9. advantages and disadvantages of literature based approach

   • advantages
     • books can be chosen to meet student need and interest
   • disadvantages
     • fine literature may be misused
       • being made simply a means for developing reading skills
       • books chosen may not be equally appealing to all students
       • may be too difficult for struggling readers

10. adapting a literature based approach

    • whole class
      • sense of community
      • builds a common background of knowledge
      • neglects individual differences in ability and interest
      • use on limited basis
    • small group
      • does not build sense of larger community
      • can better provide for individual differences
    • individually
      • provides for individual differences
      • fosters self selction
      • may be inefficient