Collaborative Explorations of Character Experience: Reading Actively in Middle Grade Language Arts

In the past 50 years, middle grade novels have focused on the personal experiences of a single adolescent character, typically in realistic or period settings. Collaborative Explorations of Character Experience: Reading Actively in Middle Grade Language Arts explores how middle grade students can learn about a prominent adolescent character by focusing on their personal experiences, benefiting from reading assigned novels with a sustained focus on character experience, and how teachers can help their students engage with these novels.

Format: Hardback
Length: 180 pages
Publication date: 17 March 2022
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Over the past 50 years, a significant trend in middle grade novels has emerged, with a notable focus on the personal experiences of a prominent fictional world individual aged 10-14. This singular concentration on a single adolescent character, maintained throughout the entire novel, is most prevalent in contemporary realistic or period novels. To delve into the personal experiences of a prominent fictional young person with middle grade students, teachers will choose novels that exclusively revolve around the lived experiences of one fictional world individual aged 10-14, and then guide students in developing comprehensive and nuanced understandings of these individuals.

Collaborative Explorations of Character Experience: Reading Actively in Middle Grade Language Arts takes a unique approach by drawing upon the personal experiences of eight fictional young people. This book aims to answer three crucial questions: What insights can middle grade students gain about a prominent adolescent character in a middle grade novel by emphasizing their personal experiences? In what ways do middle grade students benefit from engaging with assigned novels that maintain a sustained focus on character experience and the personal experiences of fictional young individuals? How can middle grade language arts teachers assist their students in effectively reading and analyzing novels that prioritize character experience?

In exploring these questions, the book offers valuable insights into the educational potential of middle grade novels. By focusing on the personal experiences of fictional young people, middle grade students can develop empathy, compassion, and a deeper understanding of the complexities of human emotions and relationships. These novels can also foster critical thinking skills, as students engage in active reading and analysis, questioning the motivations, actions, and outcomes of the characters. Moreover, the sustained focus on character experience can help students develop a lifelong love for reading, as they become more invested in the characters and their journeys.

Furthermore, the book provides practical strategies for middle grade language arts teachers to facilitate effective reading and analysis of novels with a sustained focus on character experience. Teachers can use guided reading techniques, small-group discussions, and writing prompts to engage students in meaningful conversations about the characters and their experiences. They can also incorporate multimedia resources, such as videos, podcasts, and interactive presentations, to enhance students' understanding and engagement with the text.

In conclusion, Collaborative Explorations of Character Experience: Reading Actively in Middle Grade Language Arts is a valuable resource for teachers and students alike. By emphasizing the personal experiences of fictional young people, this book offers a unique approach to teaching and learning middle grade literature. Through active reading and analysis, students can develop a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them, while teachers can utilize practical strategies to facilitate effective teaching and learning in the language arts classroom.

Weight: 440g
Dimension: 227 x 159 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781475859997