Discuss how you might coach an American History teacher in integration of adolescent literature (historical fiction, jounrals, war realia) and text book reading. Indicate how this might be of benefit to the reluctant or struggling readers.
Using realistic fiction in the American history classroom can have many benefits. Not only is realistic fiction usually quite accurate as far as setting, events occurring, manner of dress, etc., it adds a more personal element of humanism to the subject matter. Oftentimes, young adolescents struggle through history class (or for any class, for that matter), not seeing the relevance or understanding why they need to learn the information. Adding a human element through the use of historical fiction helps to breathe new life into the discussion. Students are more able to relate to the characters and come to view the concepts on a more personal and deeper level. These books can serve as windows and mirrors for them! For students who are reluctant or struggling readers, using a book geared more towards their reading level will assist with learning about history. Books can also be listened to on tape or CD, which is a great way to help these readers. Another way to use historical fiction is to assign the reading as an extension or an enrichment, especially when teachers are feeling crunched for time and needing to teach just the bare bones. With the pressure to pass the standardized tests, reviewing these books and discussing fact from fiction is excellent preparation. Finally, realistic fiction is an exceptional way to discuss different perspectives from various groups of people (slaves in bondage, Japanese in internment camps), and provides plenty of opportunity to develop critical literacy.
I like how you describe historical fiction as using "windows and mirrors" for students. They can relate to the characters in the story and feel a personal connection to them, making it a "mirror" story. They learn about a different time and place as they are reading, making it a "window" story. That was a great thought.
Integrating historical fiction or another type of literature into an American History class would make the learning much more meaningful for all the students. By including historical fiction, the students will have the opportunity to read about a character during the time/situation they are currently learning about. This will personalize the learning for them, and allow them to feel the connection. They will feel the bridge between present and past and feel an emotional connection to the learning. For example, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. By reading this novel while learning about the segration and tragedy of the Deep South will allow students to feel a personal connection to this time, and they will also have the opportunity to see through the eyes of a young person. Having a historical fiction novel to read to complement the learning will make the learning much more meaningful for all the students, and they will enjoy it much more. Another book that comes to mind is The Diary of Anne Frank. This book would be a great way to learn about the Holocaust- looking through the eyes of a young person. When researching to find books for my bibliography, I was amazed at how many books there are out there that would be great to use with Social Studies lessons! This knowledge would be a great tool for a content area teacher to make the learning more meaningful, relevent, and enjoyable. Providing students with literature in content area classes is a fabulous idea for us as literacy coaches to share with middle and high school teachers.
I remember reading The Diary of Anne Frank in school. I thought it was interesting at the time, but I really don't remember much about it. So, I think besides the access to the books, the teacher needs to make connections to the content through meaningful activities.
If you can get the students engaged in learning their past and where this country has come from, it is a spectacular thing to have students understand and enjoy how far this country has come with all the challenges and obstacles that we have had to overcome. As you stated, “The Diary of Anne Frank, is a great book to bring to reality and get the students involved in the Holocaust and looking at it from a young women’s perspective! One of my favorite books!
Historical fiction is great for use in social studies because it puts a sometimes abstract event or time in history into an easily accessible and readable format for students. It can make learning about things much more fun and interesting because it conveys many ideas students need to know but it is not a textbook and is in a narrative format that they are familiar with. Journals and war realia bring a much more human side to history, but still in an accessible format. The realia in particular creates real, tangible images for the students. All of this is essential for the reluctant and struggling readers because it makes history accessible to them in a number of ways: familiar format, easier to read, visuals, connections, less intimidating, and less pressure to read and understand something that may be too challenging for them.
In coaching the teacher, I would start by creating a list of books that relate to the topics in their curriculum. This could be anything from WWII to European History to Ancient Greek mythology. I would then talk with the teacher about where one or two of these books would fit best in the curriculum as a place to start. We could look at places where the curriculum can be covered by both a textbook and adolescent literature as well as places where videos or other activities/projects can be replaced or combined with literature to create a stronger link for the students. As good as the books can be, it essential to create meaningful activities for the students to participate in and create a higher likelihood of the students remembering the material.
Providing the teacher with a list of books is a great idea- they will be more apt to intergrate literature into their lesson if the resources are available for them and easy to find. Great thoughts! And I agree with you about the activities being meaningful. Like you said, the students will take much more away from the learning and remember it in the future if the learning is meaningful.
American History can be the one subject that could be quite difficult for many students in middle school and high school. Though interesting, students many times don’t see the relevance in learning about the past that they don’t care to take the time to understand what it is that makes this country who we are today. As a Soldier in the U.S. Army, it is imperative to know the history of our forefathers and to know what we have done in the past so that we may learn from it and try not to repeat it. By bringing in real life experiences, knowledge, and visuals inside the classroom, you are more likely to engage your students in learning about where people came from and how we manage to be so successful in our society. I would encourage teachers to dig deep inside American History and find people and significant events that have truly changed the way our society and economical forefront is presented these days. If students are able to bring in an experience or relate their lives of their families’ lives to something similar that has happened in the past, it is much easier for them to learn and understand what this country is made up of. For example, ask your students who has family that was or is in the military. Ask them if they went to war and what service they represented. If need be, have them go home and talk to their families to find out that information so that you can relate the history of wars, military, and politics into your discussions. Not all American history is about the military, but a big chunk of what has occurred has been influenced by the way out military is constructing and our nation being defended. There are so many books, studies, papers, and pictures that go along with our history, you have to find the ones that stand out and will motivate your students to learn about the kinds of things the generations before us did in order to have a patriotic country with our lives within the lines of freedom.
The topic that came to mind right away was Native American literature. So many times students read history only from the "white" point of view. What they don't realize is what they are missing out on - as are teachers of history. I find the story of American very interesting when I read a selection from the Native American point of view. One of the best ways is through the use of picture books to emphasize the culture and belief systems. The need is there to help students distinguish between sterotypical and realistic portrayals concentrating on accuracy and authenticity. One book I love using is "Brother Eagle, Sister Sky" by Susan Jeffers and "Fox Song" by Joseph Bruchac. I find both authors to be very authentic. These would, along with the text being used, be so good for a lesson on critical literacy. Linda Pulchinski
Using realistic fiction in the American history classroom can have many benefits. Not only is realistic fiction usually quite accurate as far as setting, events occurring, manner of dress, etc., it adds a more personal element of humanism to the subject matter. Oftentimes, young adolescents struggle through history class (or for any class, for that matter), not seeing the relevance or understanding why they need to learn the information. Adding a human element through the use of historical fiction helps to breathe new life into the discussion. Students are more able to relate to the characters and come to view the concepts on a more personal and deeper level. These books can serve as windows and mirrors for them! For students who are reluctant or struggling readers, using a book geared more towards their reading level will assist with learning about history. Books can also be listened to on tape or CD, which is a great way to help these readers. Another way to use historical fiction is to assign the reading as an extension or an enrichment, especially when teachers are feeling crunched for time and needing to teach just the bare bones. With the pressure to pass the standardized tests, reviewing these books and discussing fact from fiction is excellent preparation. Finally, realistic fiction is an exceptional way to discuss different perspectives from various groups of people (slaves in bondage, Japanese in internment camps), and provides plenty of opportunity to develop critical literacy.
ReplyDeleteI like how you describe historical fiction as using "windows and mirrors" for students. They can relate to the characters in the story and feel a personal connection to them, making it a "mirror" story. They learn about a different time and place as they are reading, making it a "window" story. That was a great thought.
DeleteIntegrating historical fiction or another type of literature into an American History class would make the learning much more meaningful for all the students.
ReplyDeleteBy including historical fiction, the students will have the opportunity to read about a character during the time/situation they are currently learning about. This will personalize the learning for them, and allow them to feel the connection. They will feel the bridge between present and past and feel an emotional connection to the learning. For example, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. By reading this novel while learning about the segration and tragedy of the Deep South will allow students to feel a personal connection to this time, and they will also have the opportunity to see through the eyes of a young person. Having a historical fiction novel to read to complement the learning will make the learning much more meaningful for all the students, and they will enjoy it much more.
Another book that comes to mind is The Diary of Anne Frank. This book would be a great way to learn about the Holocaust- looking through the eyes of a young person.
When researching to find books for my bibliography, I was amazed at how many books there are out there that would be great to use with Social Studies lessons! This knowledge would be a great tool for a content area teacher to make the learning more meaningful, relevent, and enjoyable. Providing students with literature in content area classes is a fabulous idea for us as literacy coaches to share with middle and high school teachers.
I remember reading The Diary of Anne Frank in school. I thought it was interesting at the time, but I really don't remember much about it. So, I think besides the access to the books, the teacher needs to make connections to the content through meaningful activities.
DeleteRuth
If you can get the students engaged in learning their past and where this country has come from, it is a spectacular thing to have students understand and enjoy how far this country has come with all the challenges and obstacles that we have had to overcome. As you stated, “The Diary of Anne Frank, is a great book to bring to reality and get the students involved in the Holocaust and looking at it from a young women’s perspective! One of my favorite books!
DeleteHistorical fiction is great for use in social studies because it puts a sometimes abstract event or time in history into an easily accessible and readable format for students. It can make learning about things much more fun and interesting because it conveys many ideas students need to know but it is not a textbook and is in a narrative format that they are familiar with. Journals and war realia bring a much more human side to history, but still in an accessible format. The realia in particular creates real, tangible images for the students. All of this is essential for the reluctant and struggling readers because it makes history accessible to them in a number of ways: familiar format, easier to read, visuals, connections, less intimidating, and less pressure to read and understand something that may be too challenging for them.
ReplyDeleteIn coaching the teacher, I would start by creating a list of books that relate to the topics in their curriculum. This could be anything from WWII to European History to Ancient Greek mythology. I would then talk with the teacher about where one or two of these books would fit best in the curriculum as a place to start. We could look at places where the curriculum can be covered by both a textbook and adolescent literature as well as places where videos or other activities/projects can be replaced or combined with literature to create a stronger link for the students. As good as the books can be, it essential to create meaningful activities for the students to participate in and create a higher likelihood of the students remembering the material.
Ruth
Providing the teacher with a list of books is a great idea- they will be more apt to intergrate literature into their lesson if the resources are available for them and easy to find. Great thoughts!
DeleteAnd I agree with you about the activities being meaningful. Like you said, the students will take much more away from the learning and remember it in the future if the learning is meaningful.
American History can be the one subject that could be quite difficult for many students in middle school and high school. Though interesting, students many times don’t see the relevance in learning about the past that they don’t care to take the time to understand what it is that makes this country who we are today. As a Soldier in the U.S. Army, it is imperative to know the history of our forefathers and to know what we have done in the past so that we may learn from it and try not to repeat it. By bringing in real life experiences, knowledge, and visuals inside the classroom, you are more likely to engage your students in learning about where people came from and how we manage to be so successful in our society. I would encourage teachers to dig deep inside American History and find people and significant events that have truly changed the way our society and economical forefront is presented these days. If students are able to bring in an experience or relate their lives of their families’ lives to something similar that has happened in the past, it is much easier for them to learn and understand what this country is made up of. For example, ask your students who has family that was or is in the military. Ask them if they went to war and what service they represented. If need be, have them go home and talk to their families to find out that information so that you can relate the history of wars, military, and politics into your discussions. Not all American history is about the military, but a big chunk of what has occurred has been influenced by the way out military is constructing and our nation being defended. There are so many books, studies, papers, and pictures that go along with our history, you have to find the ones that stand out and will motivate your students to learn about the kinds of things the generations before us did in order to have a patriotic country with our lives within the lines of freedom.
ReplyDeleteThe topic that came to mind right away was Native American literature. So many times students read history only from the "white" point of view. What they don't realize is what they are missing out on - as are teachers of history. I find the story of American very interesting when I read a selection from the Native American point of view. One of the best ways is through the use of picture books to emphasize the culture and belief systems. The need is there to help students distinguish between sterotypical and realistic portrayals concentrating on accuracy and authenticity. One book I love using is "Brother Eagle, Sister Sky" by Susan Jeffers and "Fox Song" by Joseph Bruchac. I find both authors to be very authentic. These would, along with the text being used, be so good for a lesson on critical literacy. Linda Pulchinski
ReplyDelete