Children's And Adolescent Literature:

What I find most fascinating about children and literature is the never ending path of
exploration that expands each child's world differently. Helping children to discover the
world through a balance of literary and informational text is the job of the teacher and
this idea is clearly embodied in WI Teaching Standards 1, 3, 4, 7 and 10 as well as
INTASC Standards 4, 5, and 7. Knowing current content foci as well as future
background knowledge students will need to develop to navigate successfully as they
mature, is the hallmark of creating solid text sets that can connect content across
disciplines. Using essential questions will help focus students in a topic study, while
using a variety of text can give students an anchor to attach their new thinking as well as
a filter to disseminate the important from the trivial.
Creating meaningful learning experiences which incorporate both verbal and nonverbal
strategies, effective and discriminate use of technology, community connections, and the
use of formal and informal assessments will push students to reach their highest potential,
while creating an even greater hunger and curiosity for independent knowledge seeking.

Students who are engaged in a variety of literature and text, have some choice of topics,
and can express their findings in a variety of ways, are more likely to become successful
readers who can critically think about world events and how they themselves may
someday influence those events. Fostering creative thinking and problem solving,
adapting lessons/tasks/products in response to student needs, and constantly monitoring
and adjusting strategies helps all learners achieve. Student motivation that moves from
extrinsic to intrinsic is the goal. Self-directed learners are more able to make learning
decisions for themselves while using the teacher as a support when needed.

In working with other teachers in grade level and cross-grade groupings, we have been
able to create essential questions to use with students. Connecting science and social
studies topics to literacy, students have gained a better understanding of core content, and
have become increasing critical in their discussions about text. Listening and speaking
skills are simultaneously developed, and students are more excited about their research -
both through the use of traditional texts and books as well as through more refined
searches using technology. Technology has also played an important role in some of the
ways students have chosen to present their learning to their peers.