Making American Literatures in High School and College. Classroom Practices in Teaching English, Vol 31

Editor(s): Anne Ruggles Gere, Peter Shaheen

Offering classroom-tested ideas for helping students explore crucial issues, this book addresses five major themes:

working creatively with and against anthologies to explore the multiple literatures that make up “American literature”;
evolving one’s practice by listening to students;
helping students use critical reading and writing to situate themselves in the world;
using literary pairings to enrich the study of “classic” and contemporary texts;
and meeting the challenges of professional development and curriculum revision.

Individual chapters cover specific concerns such as: including students in curriculum and syllabus decisions; exploring “Whiteness” as a racial category; helping students write themselves into local histories and explore the idea of “place” in their lives; pairing texts (print or otherwise), e.g., The Great Gatsby and Passing, alternate translations of a Yiddish poem, or print and screen versions of The Grapes of Wrath; planning curriculum change while allowing for flexibility.

Filled with lively and compelling teaching ideas, this book supports new and experienced teachers who want to make informed and principled choices for classroom practice.
Classroom Practices in Teaching English, Vol. 31. 226 pp. 2001. Grades 8–College. ISBN 0-8141-3042-9.
No. 30429

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ISBN: 0-8141-3042-9

Grade Level(s): Middle, Secondary, College