Encourage students to extend personal interpretations and understandings of literature selections by sharing their thoughts, feelings and questions with partners, small groups or the class. Encourage students to discuss personal experiences that are similar to those portrayed in the literature selection. What Students Learn about Language and Literature Thoughts, ideas, feelings and questions can be communicated through writing. Personal interpretations of literature vary as they are determined by one's previous knowledge and experiences. Story setting, plot and characters are related.
Relationships exist between stories and life experiences.
Adaptations and Applications A collaborative class reading log could be used to introduce the procedure. Students may keep reading logs to record reactions to literature read independently or to selections read to the class. Reading log entries may provide direction for in-depth study or instruction. E.S.L. students may write reading log entries in their first language. They could share their thoughts and feelings orally with the teacher in a conference or with their peers in a discussion.