PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MATTERS

Many works of both classic and modern literature are based upon traditional oral folklore and historical anecdotes. Providing students the opportunity to hear these tales told, and then to explore the origins and processes contributing to the evolution of a particular text (be it novel, short story, play or poem) can make a piece of literature come to life and provoke deeper understanding. This session will focus on one work commonly studied in Middle School English classes and present various oral, written and visual storytelling exercises, which workshop participants will actively engage in, to explore the themes, structure and thought processes of that piece of literature. This will provide a model for how other literary works can be delved into and taught.