Integrating Young Adult Literature in the curriculum

What’s the Big Idea? Integrating Young Adult Literature in the Middle School. Marshall A. George

Literature written for young adults needs to contain specific component that not only interest students, but elements that relate directly to real situations adolescents face and contain authentic and empathetic characters. As Barbara Samuels claims adolescent literature “provides a perfect vehicle to help adolescents cross the bridge between literature into the curriculum”. Therefore, there are many strategies which teachers can use to successfully integrate young adult literature into the curriculum.

The first strategy which can be used is approaching curriculum planning thematically. This is done by selecting multiple genres of literature such as poems, novels, plays which focus on a similar theme in teaching the subject. For example a poem can be used to introduce a short story which enables students to make the connection among the various texts.

Another, method that can be used is the interdisciplinary curricular integration. This is the process by which teachers collaborates with teachers of other subjects to help students transfer knowledge from one subject to another to gain a better understanding of the text. This method of integration as well as the first method helps prevent student from studying the text in isolation.

The teacher can also make use of literature circles by which each student is placed into groups to discuss a particular text. Each student is given a specific role for instance Discussion Director, Literary Luminary, Summarizer and Connector. Roles can be rotated in subsequent classes so the routine do not become boring. Also, book clubs can be used where students form groups of four or six people. This strategy generates discussion among students who are reluctant to speak in class. Similarly, jigsaw groups can be used which entails students making the connection with characters and sharing their own experiences with their classmates. All of these strategies allow students to share their responses on the text. It motivates students as well in the studying of literature. 

Integrating adult literature in the curriculum may seem a difficult task however there are many strategies which can be used to help teachers effectively achieve this.  These methods allow for discussion among students, the development of critical thinking skills, motivates and caters to student’s interest.