INTEGRATING LITERATURE INTO CONTENT AREA READING

BY

 MELISSA JO DECKER

MGE/SEC 444

Real books are wonderful.  These are the books you find in public places like libraries, bookmobiles, bookstores, and sometimes even in supermarkets.  Real books rest beside your bed, clutter the coffee table, and stand on shelves at the ready- waiting to be lifted, opened and brought to life by your reading.  Real books- each one with its own individual binding, each one sized just right for the story it houses-are written by authors who know how to unlock the world with words and to open our eyes and our hearts.  Each real book has its own voice- a singular, clear voice-and each speaks words that move us toward increased consciousness.  (Peterson and Eeds, 1990).

 

            Teachers need to help students develop reading habits that will last a lifetime.  Many strategies are out their for teachers to use to help develop this habit.  Good literature is out there, but as teachers, we must help find if for our students.  The resources listed below discuss the importance of integrating literature in content areas and introduces many of the strategies needed to accomplish the task at hand.

 

INTEGRATING LANGUAGE AND CONTENT INSTRUCTION: STRATEGIES AND TECHNIQUES

http://www.ncbe.gwu.edu/ncbepubs/pigs/pig7.htm

                This article reinforces that language and content integration is the responsibility of all teachers.  The article gives approaches, strategies, and techniques to implement language into instruction.  One section goes through ways to “prepare” you for integration.  The section to motivate students and provide background knowledge gave examples one of which a Family Consumer Science Teacher could use in foods/nutrition class.  Also, samples lessons are contained in this article to promote creativity while encouraging problem solving skills.

 

TEACHING READING: FROM PROCESS TO PRACTICE

http://www.storycart.com/Bookcart/Books5.html  

                Very similar to our textbook, you can find approaches to develop a reading program for students up to 8th grade.  Methods are shown that will show how to teach reading and increase students’ ability to read across the curriculum.  

 

            RESPECT

http://www.readingonline.org/critical/hoewisch/respect.html

 

            This site states that a lack of respect is shown towards the importance of children’s literature within teacher and children education.  Teacher preparation courses, like the MGE/SEC 444, are imperative to increase literature in content areas.  This course encourages teachers to RESPECT the need of integration across content areas.

 

DEVELOPING NEW LITERACIES: USING THE INTERNET IN CONTENT AREA INSTRUCTION

http://web.syr.edu/~djleu/content.html

            To better prepare students for the future using the Internet will be a large part of our life.  This site shows us challenges and opportunities to incorporate instruction to our students.  The site gives us observations to support the changing aspect of content area and reading.  From this site, one can go to their content area for specific resources to use in that area.   

                                                                       

CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION SUPERSITE

http://www.abacon.com/C&I/

            This site gives insights on curriculum and instruction in the classroom.  Helpful teaching resources can be found along with additional web sites that could be helpful in any particular content area.  The areas that are more specific are Language Arts, Social Studies and Science.  I particularly liked the teacher resources link that gave literacy information for all grades especially middle and secondary levels.  Also, a list of appropriate literacy books was given to use in many content areas.  Web links were provided in the literacy zone for young children.

            Alvermann, D. L. & Phelps, s. F. (1998). Content reading and literacy:

Succeeding in today’s diverse classrooms. (2nd Edition). Allyn & Bacon.

            Baltas, J. G. & Nessel, D. D. (1999) Easy strategies and lessons that build content

area reading skills.

Brozo, W. G. & Simpson, M. L. (1999).  Readers, teachers, learners: Expanding

literacy across the content areas. (3rd Edition).  New Jersey: Merrill prentice Hall.

McCloskey, M. L. (1990). Integrated language teaching strategies for middle and

high school ESOL. Atlanta: Educo.

            Miller, W. H. (2000). Ready to use activities and materials for improving content

reading skills.

            Richardson, J. S. (2000). Read it aloud! Using literature in the secondary content

classroom. 

            Ruddell, M. R. & Ruddell, R. B. (1992). Teaching content reading and writing.

(2nd Edition). John Wiley & Sons.

            Vacca, R. T. & Vacca, J. L. (1998). Content area reading: Literacy and learning

across the curriculum.