From Afghanistan and Nigeria to Denmark and England, my World Literature students are reading fiction and non-fiction about places and people all over the world from inside their inner-city classroom.
There is a great need to set a geographical context of the literature we teach in the English classroom. Giving students a visual reference of where "Hamlet" (Denmark), "Things Fall Apart" (Africa), "Night" (Europe), "The Stranger" (Europe and Africa), "Waiting" (Asia) and other novels are set, helps students who may have never left their neighborhood see first, how large the world is, but more importantly, how shared human experiences make us all feel much closer.
By having a world map on display in the World Literature classroom, students will be able to locate the setting of what they are reading and see the relation to their own home and the locations of other things they've read in English class as well as what they've learned in History classes. A greater knowledge of world cultures, traditions, history and geography will prepare them as they soon set off for college where they will certainly meet students from all over the world.
Your help will ensure that my students see that the world is a big place that they have learned a lot about. Having a large classroom map on display in the English classroom with empower them to identify the countries and cities about which we will read all year long. Also, connections will be made between what they learn about the world in their literature classes and history classes as well! As students enter college in just one year, it will also give them confidence as more "worldly" students, even if they have not yet left their own neighborhood.
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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