Getting Kids Excited About Reading Literature

One of the most important aspects of teaching literature to adolescents is helping them understand how individual stories can relate to their lives specifically. More and more, the stigma that literature is a lofty abstract that has no connection to the day-to-day lives creeps into schools. This stigma creates an environment where apathy flourishes and care disappears. As teachers, the number one goal today, seems to be first getting students to care about reading. No matter how dynamic or revolutionary a teacher's methods or philosophies are, if a student does not care, that student will not learn. So, when looking for possible novels that one would use in the classroom, one main question must always be asked; how will this novel be taught differently, to ensure a number of students will actually care?

Since students do not learn in a vacuum, thought must be given to the issues and circumstances that are constantly shaping their lives when choosing a novel to cover in class. Secondly, the teacher must enjoy the material being taught as well. If a teacher lacks enthusiasm about the material, how can a student be expected to get excited over it? Third, there must be room for choice within a structured environment. Even though the entire class may be reading the same book, evaluation, projects and exercises can be varied to ensure students feel as though they are making decisions for themselves. If these concepts are applied to the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, its value and relevance can still be clearly seen.

Since getting a student excited about the text key to them reading and understanding it, relating the events and characters of the novel to those students is the first step. The overriding theme in Mockingbi...

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..."light reading" or "children's literature."

To Kill a Mockingbird may not work as a novel to get students excited about reading in every class, in every school. However, the tools to educate are not exclusive to specific novel, or for that matter, English literature. Helping students connect, understand, and apply the themes, concepts and ideas they are confronted with in the classroom is a priority that should be number one among all teachers, of every subject. The universal force opposing this goal in nearly every classroom in the country (or perhaps world, for that matter) is apathy. Reading can be fun. Literature can be accessible to students of all ages. Before apathy can be battled, this must be acknowledged and hopefully, over time, new generations of teachers can new generations of active and passionate readers who will in turn, inspire others.