Since the current trend of evaluation requires students to respond in writing rather than simply choosing the correct answer, teachers are looking for ways to improve higher level thinking skills in their students. Literature response goes beyond merely answering questions about a story, allowing for personal reflection and an opportunity to explore varying perspectives. The purpose of this presentation is for participants to experience literature response as a starting point for a written piece. Using children's literature as an inspiration for creative writing and Readers' Theater, participants will also analyze the significance of a character's point of view and integrate their findings into an original writing endeavor. Students read, comprehend, and respond to a range of materials using a variety of strategies for different purposes.
Students write competently for a variety of purposes and audiences.
Students read, analyze, and respond to literature as a record of life experiences. When teachers eliminate the division between reading lessons and writing lessons, they begin to provide students with an opportunity to make personal meaning out of literature. This workshop emphasizes the use of parallel journaling, which is one way teachers may blend writing with literature in order to engage more effectively students with the text. Participants will experience parallel journaling for themselves, thus learning how to implement the journals in their classrooms. Students write competently for a variety of purposes and audiences.