ROLE OF LITERATURE IN THE CURRICULUM - REVIEWED

Integrating literature has proven to be very beneficial to students. The importance of the integration of Literature in the school`s curriculum has been highlighted in the International Reading Association’s Adolescent Literacy Commission’s position statement, which notes that “adolescents deserve access to a wide variety of reading material that they can and want to read” (Moore, Bean, Birdyshaw, & Rycik, 1999, p. 4). In other for this integration to be successful we need to encourage students to read and expose them to a wide range of “high-powered young adult literature” texts which focus on “content-area concepts and interpretive activities” and “discussions that engage students” (Bean, 2002, p. 37).  Students should also learn to analyze, interpret and develop an awareness or appreciation for literature. As this filters into the school and becomes part of its niche, students become sentient about the premium the school places on literature and reading and reacts positively with the environment.  Educators have established a strong correlation between students’ reading abilities and success and have advocated that teachers allow students to be engaged in independent readings of “good young adult literature” texts. Bean sums up this view nicely when she posits that “If educators are serious about developing students’ lifelong love of reading, they need to incorporate in the curriculum literature that is captivating and issue-based”.

According to Richardson and Miller (2001) incorporating literature in the curriculum has four main benefits. Literature in the curriculum

YHelps students become emotionally involved with events and people

Y Aids students in understanding reality,

Y Provides stories with satisfactory endings, and

YProvides a common, shared experience for the teacher and all students.

Furthermore, other persons have noted some additional advantages of having literature integrated into the curriculum. These were mentioned as comments to the initial blog entry and I thought they should be included. These are:

I The skills learnt through literature are such that allow students to view life, concepts etc from multiple perspectives and not just “the literal point of view”. ( Shera Edward)

I “A very important advantage of literature is the focus on developing critical thinking skills. If students are exposed to literature throughout secondary school, then their ability to think critically would determine the kinds of decisions that they make in life.” (Mansha Charlery)

Literature can be integrated in almost all subject areas if not all. For example literature can be integrated in science in which case it helps students in “finding and pursuing their own question rather than only providing information” (Harlen, 1989).  Literature should in no case take over any discipline but rather, it should complement the subject. For instance literature should not take the place of experiment and observation in science but it should support inquiry in ways that textbooks cannot.

Though not an easy task, integrating Literature in the curriculum can make a vast difference in the school as students’ attitudes towards the different subject areas will improve.