Teaching Literature is a fascinating yet challenging task to do. Things are needed to be considered so teaching literature will be effective, nevertheless your goal to transfer the learning from the piece to your students will be a failure. There are many things that need to be covered in giving your students the knowledge they needed to understand literature.

First, become familiar with the many different genres. Literature covers nearly every subject imaginable. Like other literature, it comes in forms such as fiction, nonfiction, fantasy, biographical and traditional.

Second, read each genre. All literature books are entertaining, but teach the student something precise. For instance, poetry may teach the fundamentals of rhyme and meter, literature may teach morals or social behavior, while other literary books may extend the students upper level thinking skills.

Third, supplement the literature with suggestions from the literary writers. Many books have songs that can accompany the literature, reader’s theater ideas or staging directions to tell the story through puppets. Know how to help the students get the most out of the text for their age appropriate level.

Fourth, Know how to use literature to educate the students in other aspects of their schooling besides reading and writing as many books also discuss abstract concepts, science and even some incorporate math properties in the writing. Historical fiction and nonfiction works have fantastic potential to be relevant in other subjects the child may be learning about.

Hence, to know whether you are using and giving the students a nice and effective literary pieces where they can learn a lot, analyzing the reading materials is also a help.

By: Ms. Renila L. Cornejo | Teacher III | Mariveles National High School – Poblacion