Children’s literature

1. Children’s literature Stage 3

2. The place of literature in the classroom • The use of children’s literature is the practice of all aspects of literacy. • Not just reading and writing but also, as significantly, speaking , listening and viewing.

3. Students, by the end of stage 3, should be… • Knowing readers (not just the skills to read but with knowledge and expectation of how texts work, of how great the reading experience is, of its infinite capacity for variousness, of its personal rewards and its infinite challenges, and a deep sense of satisfaction that comes from persevering with texts that appear at first to be difficult).

4. Implications of the previous slide… • NEED a large repertoire of literature. • A repertoire that gives them a clear understanding of what a book is, what it does, of its codes and conventions, narrative patterns, thematic structures, its word-pictures of narrative time and place. • A repertoire that provides opportunities for simple –to –complex concepts and ideas.

5. The use of literature in the stage 3 classroom • Prime opportunity is the literacy block time • As part of an integrated unit • DEAR program

6. Planning for the use of literature in the classroom • MUST consider a wide range of activities that will allow all 4 roles of the reader to be practised. • MUST include activities that use all literacy modes – reading, writing, speaking and viewing. • The inclusion of activities that use ICT’s is an imperative. Refer to pg 212 – 238 of K – 6 Science and Technology syllabus (from Board of studies website for ideas)

7. Activities…reference- Winch 2001 Literacy: Reading, Writing and Children’s Literature • Language lessons (pg 365 - 371)

8. More strategies Create a Novel Showbag • One means by which students can recommend a novel that they have read and enjoyed is to create a showbag. • Students create a showbag by filling it with a range of interesting material related to the novel. Students can recycle a used paper gift bag with handles, purchase one from a discount store or make their own. see http://cathysmith.edublogs.org for more information about this strategy

9. More… • The resource BLUEBACK by Tim WintonBlueback.doc An English unit of work developed with grades 7 and 8 students in mind. Provides many varied examples of the types of activities that could be planned for a literature unit (see the blog for the resource)

10. More still… (look at the blog) • A Beaut Idea for the novel Edward Britton.doc • In exploring this novel by Gary Crew, students learn about the Point Puer Boys’ Prison at Port Arthur, Tasmania. • The novel, Edward Britton, introduces students to the Point Puer Boys’ Prison at Port Arthur. Paul Becker designed these activities for his Grade 8 English class at Ogilvie High School. They encourage students to read and respond to the text critically and to explore some of the issues surrounding convict transportation to Tasmania.

11. And some more still… • Reading Book covers.doc (strategies developed by Scott Johnston Find this on the blog

12. More resources From the DET – State Literacy strategy • http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/policies/literacy/material/index.htm All are downloadable – can be saved to your desktop (These are fabulous resources) Example: Teaching Reading in Stage 3reading_3whole.pdf(this one and a Writing doc can be found on the blog)

13. Additional info… • Ideas for the classroom space reference- Winch 2001 Literacy: Reading, Writing and Children’s Literature • Page 373 - 374 • Assessment reference- Winch 2001 Literacy: Reading, Writing and Children’s Literature • Page 374 - 387

14. An update on what’s on The Blog http://cathysmith.edublogs.org/ • Session 6 materials • Materials I promised to provide you - from our discussions during session 4 • Materials from Saturday’s session