Literature-based program across curriculum areas
I BELIEVE that, to achieve the goals of language instruction, first we develop students who can read – students who can master a series of skills. Second, we develop students who will read – students who enjoy reading and who will pursue their love of reading for a lifetime.
Literature- based Instruction is more of a principle than a strategy. The teacher believes that for a child to learn well, his
affective dimension should be given emphasis first. This program aims to develop positive attitude of l earners towards reading/ learning by leading students to immerse themselves in literature. Through this program, comprehension is developed. Comprehension is developed because students read out of a habit and able to think critically about the text they read and the life they live.
WHY LITERATURE?
Shall we turn our gaze on to other ways of teaching the English subject or any other subjects? Recent researches have established correlation between LiteratureBased Instruction and the increased abilities in reading.
Literature is a better substitute for worksheets
Reading is best developed when texts engage all of a child’s schema and abilities. Worksheets are usually unrelated and hardly tap into a child’s schema of the world.
Literature provides for individual differences
Children work at different rate or speed. They have diverse interest and may have different ways of learning. Using literature can allow teacher to target or fit the different
needs and abilities of a child
Literature provides opportunities for personal growth
A character in a story or book will remind children of their own lives. Literature will provide them with their own realities or experiences so they will be able to hurdle problems in life.
Literature enriches other curriculum areas
Literature can be a source of social or scientific contexts. It can be used as springboard for other subject areas.
Literature provides models and inspiration for writing
Students will l earn how a character is developed, how the plot is arranged and what words should be used.
Literature provides aesthetic experience
Literature is simply the cheapest form of enjoyment. But the beauty of learning the language is profitable.
Literature provides avenue for social cohesion
Stories are easily shared among friends.
Literature demonstrates how ethical responsibilities are met
In a story, one can see the struggle of a character and how she was able to solve or overcome her problem.
I believe that to increase the academic achievement of the child, a teacher must first develop a child’s reading skills. Through this program, a teacher will bring back the love for learning among the children of today. So if we want to raise the quality of education, we need to develop a generation of readers. (