As teachers, we realize that literature plays a major role in student learning. Different literature lends itself to different reading strategies and literary analysis skills that we are responsible for teaching our students. However, after experiencing this course, I ve truly gained a deeper understanding of the role literature plays in the classroom. Literature does much more than serve curricular needs and goals. Literature enables students to emotionally connect with something outside of themselves; it allows them to explore perspectives and lives other than their own, thus gaining a deeper and richer understanding of their own world. At a young age, picture books are childrens first exposure to literature. There are many complex components to picture books that allow young readers to emotionally connect to them. One characteristic of picture books that does this is the illustrations. For example, in Heckedy Peg, the illustrations draws in the reader, allowing them to emotionally connect and empathize with a family. For example, the contrasting colors Wood used really contrasted each setting, and reflected the distance Heckedy Peg's home was, making the reader "feel" that the kids were far from their town. The author/illustrator chose to use multiple double-paged spreads at significant parts in the text, usually at climactic events in the story. Examples of double-paged spreads include when the children began playing with the gold, when the witch was about to sit down for supper, when the mother sat down at the table of food, and when the kids turned back into themselves. All scenes were powerful, and needed to be represented this way, so that readers connected and became engaged in the events. In the picture book Rose Blanche, colors in the illustrations heavily correlate and reflect the mood of the story, helping readers understand and emotionally connect more
to the storyline. At one point, the narrator writes There was a shot. The page is illustrated with dark, dreary colors, reflecting a very sad and depressing image. Two pages later the illustrator depicts the exact same scene, but filled with beautiful flowers, green grass, and bright colors. The colors used in the illustrations help readers connect more to the theme, or message in the text. For example, in Rose Blanche, the message is that compassion to others is a beautiful trait like the compassion Rose demonstrated to those struggling, her beauty is depicted on the final page. In both books, the power and role the illustrations play is a huge part of literature the illustrations engage readers, allowing them to feel emotionally connected and involved in the stories. As children mature and grow as readers, they begin to explore different genres. One genre that is very common to children s literature is traditional literature. Besides providing children with a framework of storytelling (Johnson, 121), traditional literature allows readers to learn lessons and morals about life. For example, in the picture book Yeh-Shen, a Cinderella story from China, kindness, generosity, patience, endurance, and gratitude (Johnson, 133) are all themes and ultimately lessons learned in the picture book. However, because students construct these themes on their own as they are reading, what they learn about life is much more significant. This way of thinking is reflected in the following Chinese proverb, Tell me and I will forget. Show me I ll remember. Involve me, I ll understand. Because readers are engaged and involved in the text, their understanding of deeper issues is more internalized. In the classroom, another genre that is important to use is fantasy. As readers, we are aware that the fantasy genre strongly taps into students imaginations
however, it does much more than that, it allows readers to explore perspectives and lives other than their own, giving them a deeper understanding of the world they live in. An example of this can be found in different formats of Coraline the novel written by Neil Gaiman, the movie, and the graphic novel adapted by Craig Russel. In each of the stories of Coraline, it allows them to learn something about life. In The Joy of Children s Literature, the author Denise Johnson states, Well-written fantasy is simply a metaphor that illustrates the truth about life in a way that realistic fiction or informational writing cannot (Johnson, 153). In each form, readers are intrigued with the characters and learn a lot from them. They learn that everyone is unique and different and that those unique qualities are so important in understanding each other, and appreciating each other. Readers become aware of the role of courage, and how it helps someone get through circumstances in life. And lastly, readers are able to learn to appreciate what they have, and although it may be hard to notice at times, there is beauty and love in the every day happenings of life. What fantasy can do for readers, speaks more generally to what literature does for readers it allows them to explore worlds other than their own, gaining a deeper understanding about what is important in life. Poetry is another genre that elicits a strong emotional connection from readers. Not only does poetry serve curricular purposes such as learning literary devices, language, imagery, and visualizing, but it also truly puts readers in someone else s shoes. Locomotion, by Jacqueline Woodson is more than just a verse novel. Locomotion tells a story about a fifth grade boy whose parents died in a fire, which resulted in him being separated from his sister, living in an orphanage, and then being adopted by a foster parent. The content and issues are deep. IDue to the form and
content of the verse-novel, Locomotion compels readers to reflect on Lonnie s life, creating feelings of empathy toward him, ultimately developing their empathy skills. Other collections of poetry serve similar purposes they allow readers to explore and see perspectives other than their own. In the poetry collection Brownhoney and Broomwheat Tea, the author Joyce Carol Thomas allows readers to experience the life of a young African American girl through her perspective. The reader learns that her perspective is greatly shaped by the strength, experiences, and beliefs of her family. The poetry collection My Man Blue by Nikki Grimes, illustrates the culture and climate of an urban city where an African American family resides, and readers become aware of this family s experiences such as violence, tragedy, and broken families. Readers of all cultures can gain perspective about the different upbringings individuals have, while at the same time connecting to universal elements found in the text. The genre of poetry emphasizes information about the world that is gained from looking at a different perspective. In the chapter about poetry in Johnson s book, she states, poetry speaks to adults and children in ways that cause us to pause and reflect (Johnson, 232). In both of these examples, young readers are given the opportunity to pause and reflect about the worlds they experience through literature, ultimately comparing it and relating it to their own lives, giving them a deeper understanding of the world they live in. Throughout this course, I have also gained a new understanding for multicultural literature and the role it will play in my classroom. Multicultural literature is not defined as a genre of text, but instead, text that is about literature of multiple cultures (Cai,
313). Because these texts reflect events, perspectives, and information about multiple diverse cultures, it gives readers the opportunity to understand the world they live in better. As more Americans are interacting in school, jobs, and life, with people from cultures other than their own, it is imperative that students can learn to be able to recognize, respect, and appreciate those qualities that make us different and unique. Young individuals also need to recognize perspectives and beliefs other than our own, and come to an understanding of how different individuals beliefs are shaped based on their cultural identifies. In Selecting Literature for a Multicultural Curriculum, the author, Rudine Sims Bishop states, All students need to recognize the diversity that defines this society, learn to respect it, and see it in a positive light (3). Multicultural literature is imperative to the world of literature; it sets a great foundation for a world of understanding and empathy in our students. Joseph Bruchac s novel, The Dark Pond, is an example of multicultural literature. Readers learn about the main character Armie who is half Indian and half Armenian. Throughout the story we learn how Armie s culture creates and shapes who he is as a character. For example, we learn about his strong relationships with nature and animals. Many questions readers may have about the Native American culture are addressed in the text, allowing them to explore different cultures. We learn that the character Armie has long hair because his hair is part of his culture. At one point in the text his mother states, It is part of our tradition that a young man be allowed to grow his hair long (30). This brief issue that is addressed in the novel allows readers to have more of an understanding and respect for those who have different cultural beliefs and ways.
Hidden Roots, a historical fiction novel written by Joseph Bruchac not only is a wonderful example of historical fiction, but also is an example of multicultural literature. It addresses stereotypes and gives readers insight and understanding of cultures other than their own, serving an important role in the classroom. In Hidden Roots, a stereotype is addressed when Sonny is speaking of Indians. Sonny says, I didn t know much about Indians, except what I heard in school or saw in the movies. I know they were mostly all gone, dead, or had run off to the West (32). Sonny s only knowledge of Indians came from the media, just like the information many individuals attain. However, Bruchac brilliantly integrates new and accurate information about the Native American culture throughout the novel, allowing readers to draw conclusions about the inaccuracies of the stereotypes readers once held. This illustrates a major purpose of literature it allows individuals to understand the world they live in more clearly and accurately. Towards the end of Hidden Roots, as the family s history and truth is finally revealed, readers hearts go out to this family. They have learned about the struggles they faced because of their heritage, and they greatly empathize with them. Giving my students opportunities to explore and feel empathy for others is a major goal of literature. Literature enables students to emotionally connect with something outside of themselves, and explore perspectives and lives other than their own. Ultimately, using literature in the classroom gives children a deeper and richer understanding of their own world. In Speaking My Mind by Donald Smith, I think he says it best when he states Literature matters because it is who we are (20). In the classroom, literature provides opportunities for students to explore multiple perspectives and ideas. In doing so, they
can compare, contrast, and adjust their knew beliefs to their existing ones, ultimately painting a more complete picture of the world they live in and who they are.