Much of teachers’ attention these days is focused on having students read closely to ferret out the author’s intended meaning and the devices used to convey that meaning. But we cannot forget to guide students to have moving engagements with literature, because they need to make strong personal connections to books of merit if they are to become the next generation of readers: literate people with awareness of and concern for the diversity of human beings around them and in different times and places. Fortunately, guiding both students’ personal engagement with literature and their close reading to appreciate the author’s message and craft are not incompatible goals. This book enthusiastically and intelligently addresses both imperatives, first surveying what is gained when students are immersed in literature; then celebrating and explicating the main features of literature students need to understand to broaden their tastes and deepen their engagement, at the same time they meet external standards; then presenting a host of active methods for exploring all major genres of children’s books; and finally presenting suggestions for interdisciplinary teaching units grounded in literature. Created by noted leaders in the fields of children’s literature and literacy, the book is enlivened by recurring features such as suggested reading lists, issues for discussion, links to technology, and annotations of exemplary books.

This book is the result of understanding literature as a central part of children’s education. Fiction and nonfiction literary works constitute a source to open young minds and to help them understand how and why people – themselves included – live as they do, or to question through critical lenses whether they could live otherwise. By integrating philological, cultural, and pedagogical inquiries, Thinking through Children's Literature in the Classroom approaches the use of literature as a crucial factor to motivate students not only to improve their literacy skills, but also to develop their literary competence, one that prepares them to produce independent and sensible interpretations of the world. Of course, the endeavor of forming young readers and fostering their ability to think begins primarily by having well-read teachers who are enthusiastic about teaching and, secondly, by having students who are willing to learn. To encourage and sustain them through the critical turns of their own thinking processes, educators must surely display a sound pedagogic knowledge apart from deep literary expertise.

′The text is clear and accessible and gives a fascinating overview of how drawing can help children to learn and understand the thinking of others...It is highly recommended for all students and practitioners interested in understanding more about how children express their ideas and theories about the world′ - Early Years Update ′This book is an invaluable resource for anyone who recognises the potential of ′drawing′ as an essential element for developing thinking and learning in the Primary Classroom...and a ′must read′ for those who are sceptical!....This is a fascinating read that invokes a variety of feelings including a sense of wonder and curiosity about the many facets of drawing, which leaves you with a thirst to try out more and explore ways of releasing the untapped potential of ′drawing′ in your own classroom′ - thinkingclassroom.co.uk Children use drawing as a means through which they create, develop, communicate and record their thoughts and ideas. Whether it′s to play, or to express feelings and meaning, drawing enables them to learn about the world, explore their imaginations, and to invent and present new ideas. With an extensive background in teaching and researching children′s uses of drawing, Gill Hope describes the ways in which multiple forms of drawing are used by Primary school children. She explains why it should be actively promoted as a means of supporting thinking and learning across a wide range of subject areas, and provides practical support for teachers. Demonstrating the importance of drawing, and combining a thematic approach with practical guidance, this informative and enjoyable book: - widens teachers′ understanding of the multiple uses of drawing; - shows how children can be guided to use it to support thinking and learning; - explores the range of applications in which drawing can be used across all areas of the curriculum; - looks to the future and at the ever increasing importance of graphic literacy. Providing a fresh insight into the uses of drawing as a powerful tool which supports children′s thinking and learning, this book will be of interest to everyone involved in the development of children′s capabilities, including teachers, student teachers and teaching assistants.

These dynamic literature-based activities will help you energize the social studies curriculum and implement national (and many of state) standards. Fredericks presents hundreds of hands-on, minds-on projects to stimulate actively and engage students in positive learning. Each of these 33 units offers book summaries, social studies topic areas, critical thinking questions, and dozens of easy-to-do activities for every grade level. The author also gives practical guidelines for integrating literature across the curriculum, lists of web sites useful in social studies classes, and annotated bibliographies of related resources.

Fredericks presents hundreds of hands-on, minds-on projects that actively engage students in positive learning experiences. Each of the units offers book summaries, social studies topic areas, critical thinking questions, classroom resources, and lots of easy-to-do activities for every grade level. The author also provides practical guidelines for collaborative ventures with school librarians, tips for integrating literature across the curriculum, lists of relevant web sites useful in social studies curriculum. Everything is linked to the social studies standards.

“This stellar book extends teachers’ thinking well beyond 'book spaces' and into 'digital spaces' by offering theorized approaches to analyzing children’s literature across media, and careful descriptions of effective learning activities that are rich in detail and practical advice. This book (and its digital spaces) is an indispensable guide to engaging with children’s literature and new digital media.” Michele Knobel, Montclair State University, USA. “The book overall is exciting, informative and practical, outlining important theoretical perspectives and ideas while also providing much wisdom and advice to teachers about how to transform their literary programs.” Frances Christie, Emeritus Professor of Language andLiteracy Education, University of Melbourne and HonoraryProfessor of Education, University of Sydney, Australia. This book connects classroom teaching of children’s literature with the digital age. It celebrates the charm of children’s literature and its role in literacy development, as well as the appeal of information and communications technology (ICT) to students and its capacity to enrich students’ learning and enjoyment of literary texts. The authors outline the ways in which children’s literature is developing new dimensions, for example: The re-publication of children’s books on CD ROM and the world wide web Web resources for working with literary texts, including e-mail discussion groups Children’s participation in the collaborative construction of online narratives The book provides practical guidance for teachers who areinexperienced with ICT. It describes and discussesimplementation of activities that extend traditional approaches toliterary texts and take advantage of available technology.

Drawing from 30 years of teaching and professional development experience, this book offers a roadmap for using children's literature to provide authentic learning. Featuring a storytellers voice, each chapter includes a case study about how a particular fiction or nonfiction work can be used in an early childhood classroom; a series of open-ended questions to help readers construct their own inquiry units; and a bibliography of childrens literature. This book provides a unique synthesis of ideas based on constructivist approaches to learning, including the importance of positive dispositions and learning communities, the nature of higher order thinking, and the relationship between methods such as guided inquiry in the sciences and balanced literacy.