[etni] The Wave - literature or extensive reading?

From: Avi Granit <judiavi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: ETNI <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, amyjoycefields@xxxxxxx
Date: Thu, 16 Jun 2011 12:13:28 +0300
Hi Amy,
Thanks for telling me about your very positive experience of reading "The Wave" 
in class.  I think that what you are describing is more like partial 'extensive 
reading' and I agree that "The Wave" is a brilliant book for extensive reading, 
similar to the graded readers that kids can read independently and relate to 
and enjoy.   Many schools, mine included, encourage extensive reading where one 
lesson or part of it is dedicated to silent reading where kids bring their own 
books of choice or a set book.

However, this should be different to the teaching of literature where I always 
believed, we as teachers have a more active role in helping the students 
negotiate original pieces of high quality material written by well known 
writers.   First we usually need to help them understand the general content 
and then go back and show them the depth of the writing with HOTS and by 
showing the writer's use of literary techniques.  In this case,  I am at a loss 
at how to do this with such a shallow book where, in my humble opinion,  the 
writing itself has absolutely no depth or merit.

I think the problem is with how we define "literature" and what the goals of us 
teaching "literature" really are in contrast to "extensive reading" goals 
whereby we want to encourage students to become independent and fluent readers 
who enjoy reading.   


Best wishes,
Judi G.

"Hi Judi,

I read your perspective on The Wave and I would like to provide
another one. I taught it for the first time this year to a class of
11th grade 5 point students instead of All My Sons. It was a complete
success with them. However, I would not have been satisfied with it
for a class of English speakers.

The reading level was such that they were able to read it ENTIRELY on
their own while still learning a great deal of new vocabulary. They
read one chapter each week and each chapter was an ideal length. The
book captured their attention completely! They were particularly
intrigued with the fact that it was based on real events. I concur
that it is not quality literature, but my goal is to get them engaged
in reading and this short novel did the trick.

I surveyed my class at the end of the unit, and they almost all wrote
that they couldn't believe they read an entire book in English on
their own and actually enjoyed it. They also wrote that they felt
their reading comprehension and writing skills improved. (We did
writing assignments along the way.) So, I give 2 thumbs up to The
Wave.

Amy Fields
Haklai High School"
[etni] The Wave - literature or extensive reading?

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