A+ SL White Paper

t he r ole of a uthentic l iterature The challenge for educators remains how to teach to the standards while immersing their students in an environment that engages them as they develop the behaviors and attitudes to prepare them for the college or career path of their choice. Literature is a powerful tool for bringing the world into the classroom; whether it be classical folk legends or an explanation of the latest technology. The Common Core is very clear in its expectations that students read “a diverse array of classic and contemporary literature as well as challenging informational texts in a range of subjects.” (National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Council of Chief State School Officers, 2012, p. 1). Coupling this with the complex analysis required by the Common Core, TEKS, and other rigorous state standards (National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Council of Chief State School Officers, 2010; Texas Education Agency, 2013; Commonwealth of Virginia, 2010), it becomes apparent that these goals can best be met by teaching with authentic literature. Research suggests that students who are regularly exposed to authentic literature through read-aloud show greater improvement in vocabulary and comprehension than those who are not (Beverly, Giles & Buck, 2009; Hassett, D.D., 2009). Although there is currently no research base supporting the use of a balance of literary and informational genres, there are a number of reasons to include informational texts in literacy instruction. The bulk of reading in college and the workplace is informational in nature, and there is evidence that literary and informational texts require different cognitive processes for reading (Shanahan, 2013). It would make sense to include a balance of texts in reading instruction, so that students will have ample opportunity to practice the processes and skills they need to be successful at any reading task they may face. “La pluma es la lengua del alma: cuales fueren los conceptos que en ella se engendraren, tales serán sus escritos”. —Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra