Teaching Literature

remember to thank all the books you haven't read over the past three years

I love teaching literature. I’m not second-guessing my decision to move into technology. I really love working with technology, and I am excited that I’ll be able to do more of it. I’m also excited to be able to help my colleagues integrate technology or learn about technology. I will also still be teaching a British literature course and a writing course. However, as I teach British Romanticism, I have been thinking about how much I enjoy the material, and one thing I fear is that down the road, my school will decide not to let me teach it anymore. Frankly, I’m not sure I could let it go. I’m certainly not ready to let it go yet. I think it would be good for me to remain in the classroom, even in a diminished capacity, because it will keep me fresh for some of the ideas I want to help my colleagues implement. I am also happy at my school. I know that I can possibly team-teach some material with English teachers, but I must admit that if they remove me entirely from the English classroom, I will not know what to do with myself. At my core, I am a British literature teacher. It feeds my soul. Time will tell how it will work out, but I know I am not done teaching English.
Creative Commons License photo credit: ailatan

3 thoughts on “Teaching Literature”

  1. What a lovely post. It must be so wonderful to actually get to the literature part of teaching… I've been noticing that one of the hardest things to explain to kids in the population I work with (mostly gang-involved..) is the concept, essentially, of code-switching; that bursting into vulgarity in the middle of a classroom/professional setting is just.. something you're not supposed to do!

    I liked this take on the issue from a TFA corps member:

    http://twoyearsattheblackboard.blogspot.com/2011/

    1. I do teach in a different setting. I have taught in a setting more like the one you describe, and it's hell. No two ways about it.

  2. Your British Lit has always been enhanced with the technology you bring to it. I can see no reason why your technology focus won't be better for your love of your literature. That's how it works: it's all good. Have fun.

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