Engaging Students in Classic & Contemporary Literature K-12
Trainer: Engy Hammam
Duration: 20 Hours
Objectives
By the end of this professional development course, participants will be able to:
1. Understand the value of both classic and contemporary literature in the English curriculum.
2. Design inclusive and engaging literature units that bridge classical texts with modern themes and genres.
3. Select age-appropriate, culturally responsive, and diverse texts to meet the needs of all learners.
4. Implement instructional strategies that deepen literary comprehension and foster student voice.
5. Use literature to promote critical thinking, empathy, and real-world connections.
6. Apply differentiated approaches to teach literature across varying student reading levels.
7. Integrate media, digital tools, and interdisciplinary links into literature instruction.
Outline
Module 1: The Role of Literature in the K–12 Classroom
• Purpose of teaching literature in today’s world
• Classic vs. contemporary: Definitions and debates
• Literature as a tool for identity, empathy, and citizenship
• Addressing student disinterest or disengagement with literature
Module 2: Exploring Classic Literature
• Characteristics and significance of classic texts
• Challenges in teaching classics
• Strategies for modernizing classic texts
• Culturally responsive critiques of the literary canon
Module 3: Embracing Contemporary Literature
• Defining contemporary literature for youth
• Criteria for selecting high-quality contemporary texts
• Benefits of including diverse, current voices in the classroom
• Student choice and literature circles
• Engaging reluctant readers through contemporary genres
Module 4: Designing Thematic Units that Bridge Time Periods
• How to pair classic and contemporary works
• Themes across time
• Planning a unit with essential questions and enduring understandings
• Sample unit walkthroughs and collaborative planning
Module 5: Student-Centered Approaches to Teaching Literature
• Socratic seminars, literature circles, and reciprocal teaching
• Using graphic organizers, inquiry charts, and concept maps
• Promoting student voice through discussion, writing, and multimedia
• Culturally sustaining pedagogy in literature classrooms
Module 6: Differentiation & Assessment in Literature Instruction
• Scaffolding complex texts for struggling readers
• Using formative assessments: reading journals, exit tickets, reading logs
• Project-based assessments: literary portfolios, creative responses
• Rubrics and student self-assessment tools
Module 7: Literature & the Digital Age
• Incorporating digital and multimedia texts (podcasts, short films, blogs)
• Using AI tools and online discussion platforms to support literature analysis
• Creating student-led book reviews, podcasts, or digital storytelling projects
• Resources for online literature libraries and open-access texts
Module 8:Extensions:
• Literature Across the Curriculum
• Graphic Novels & Visual Literacy
• Censorship & Controversial Texts
• Global Literature