Literature allows children to build vocabulary and experiences through reading and experiencing stories and pictures. It is so important to have an environment where books are accessible to children. In my classroom, I will not only have books in a classroom library, but books available to children throughout the room and throughout their day. Allowing children to feel free to read and to consider it to be a pleasurable activity is important in their development as readers and as children. The role of literature in an elementary classroom is unlimited. I hope to instill the importance of reading and exploring in each and every student I have walk through my classroom doorway.
Literature can be connected to nearly anything one may encounter. There are books and poems to accommodate nearly any lesson. For example, if you are teaching a lesson on fractions, there are countless poems and books that will help build children’s vocabulary regarding fractions and to lighten the idea of math. As the main focus of my classroom library, I will have a selection of books related to the current lessons, most recent lessons and the following lessons. Allowing the focus of current lessons, opens up the learning and studying to a variety of learners and keeps the material relevant. Showcasing books from previous lessons allows them to review anything they may need to and allow them to have sufficient prior knowledge to read through the book independently. I would also have books for lessons that are coming up so they can familiarize themselves with new material.
I will not divide students into reading levels, nor will I discourage any student from picking up a book that may be “out of their level”. No child should feel that they are unable to explore and read freely. After all, children learn best through experience. Therefore, it is important not to limit their experiences. Encourage them to read anything and everything and make all subjects and all forms readily available to each student.
Each day, I will begin and end the school day with reading a book to the class. We can also read books together as a class; have students create their own literature and illustrations and book studies. One thing that I experienced in school that may have turned me off to reading at some point, was the required silent reading. Reading shouldn’t be forced, particularly independent, silent reading. Children learn best through one another. I may set up centers and allot a time for reading, but I will allow children to sit where they please, rather than force them to sit quietly, only a book on their desk and read. I will allow those that choose to, to read together or to read aloud to one another, others may choose to create their own picture books or stories in the author’s area and others may still choose to sit at their desks and read silently. It is important to allow each student to choose their own way.
I will not force kids to read at night and have their parents obliged to sign a slip vouching that their child read for “x” amount of time the night before. I can remember feeling so annoyed that I even had to bother with asking my mother to lie on a sheet of paper. The nights that I was not asked by my teacher to read, I would read chapter after chapter, there is just something about being forced to read that takes the pleasure right out of it. I will encourage parents to read to, with and listen to their children read before bed. I will encourage them to have their children read and select items on the menu at a restaurant, then order independently. It is important to build confidence and independence that will take them farther than reading.
It is imperative that you connect literature to every aspect of life. Each child’s future is greatly dependent on literacy. They need to be prepared for everyday life and their future careers, family and education. The more literature they experience and the more ways that they experience it, will prepare them for the real world.