In Foundations of Education: The Challenge of Professional Practice, R. F. McNergney and J. M. Herbert state that John Locke (1632-1704) proposed that "children should not simply read books but should also interact with the environment, using their five senses to accumulate and test ideas. Teachers should tailor instruction to the individual aptitudes and interests of each child; they should encourage curiosity and questions; and they should treat children as ... 'rational creatures.' Through reason, people might unlock life's mysteries...".

More than ever, educators are challenged to meet the needs of diverse learners. In this information age, societal changes place you in the position of preparing your students to learn skills that will allow them to take their place in the work force.

Objectives

In this section, you will identify the characteristics and elements of a variety of literary genres (e.g., short stories, poetry, or plays). You will explore genre terminology and the appropriate use of literary devices, discover guidelines for selecting multicultural literature, and identify appropriate techniques for encouraging students to respond to literature. You will also learn about levels of text complexity, as well as quantitative and qualitative techniques for understanding levels of text readability.