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Teaching Adolescents’ Literature!
July 7th 2015
The “Canons”
•  How do you define a ‘canonical text’? What are
three guidelines you would include in your
definition?
•  What is the appeal of the canonical texts? I.e.
Why teach it?
•  Is the ‘canonical era’ now over? I.e. would
contemporary texts such as perks of being a
wallflower or Maus ever be considered
canonical?
•  Does the classification of ‘the canon’ exist in
younger grades?
•  Is it problematic that teachers tend to rely on
the canon? Canonical Texts
•  Distinction of what students should read
and what they can read (Barlow, 2002). •  The notion that by not allowing students
to read canonical texts, it declines their
ability to read (Barlow, 2002). To Kill a Mockingbird
•  RR
•  What are some significant issues you
need to address before, during and/
or after reading the texts?
•  Connecting to other texts. •  How can you make the themes of this
book relevant to the 21st century
student?
•  John Daly
To Kill a Mockingbird
•  Visualizing To Kill a Mockingbird
Finch family
Radley family
Miss Maudie
Miss Dubose
Calpurnia’s
church
Cunninghams
Ewells
Miss Crawford
Jailhouse
Courthouse
Atticus’ Office
The School house
Town Dump
Link Deas
Direction to Finch’s Landing Banned/Challenging Books
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*sigh* LA Times The Guardian Sherman Alexie’s response John Green To Kill a Mockingbird