•  
  •  
 

Keywords

English language arts teaching

Preview

When my students complete reflections on their readings, my favorite responses usually say something along the lines of, “I never saw it that way before, but now I do.” As English Language Arts teachers, we are well aware that literature is more than mere stagnant text, rather it is dynamic. It is transformative. Perspectives, experiences, ways of being that might otherwise be shielded from our students are illuminated in the stories they read, allowing them in turn to see and understand the world around them in a new light. According to Steven Wolk (2009), “As educators, we need to help students see that inside these provocative books are stories that can help us to better understand ourselves, who we are and who we want to become. And by doing that within a community of learners we can help students (and ourselves) to learn to act to make a better world” (p. 672). Likewise, Kylene Beers states that “Reading changes us. It changes the way we think, the way we see the world, the way we process information and dream new thoughts” (p. 3). Reading transforms us.

Download

Share

COinS