Literary Imagination and Professional Knowledge Using Literature in Teacher Education

Literary Imagination and Professional Knowledge: Using Literature in Teacher Education establishes a foundation for expanding the use of literature in teacher education curricula. The contributors to this collection have a wide variety of education and experience, thus bringing a richness to the content of the volume.

Literature can be a valuable means for illuminating subject matter in college courses focused on educational psychology, educational foundations, human development, educational assessment, and other areas critical to the development of future teachers. When literary excerpts are incorporated into the presentation of content, the resulting connections can serve to enhance--in both quality and scope--student understanding and classroom discussions.

This book is intended to provide specific suggestions and outlines for incorporating literature (e.g., fiction, poetry, and narrative) in teacher education courses. A variety of genres, historical contexts, and specific applications are represented. Among the literary works highlighted are Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Milton’s Paradise Lost, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, Homer’s Odyssey, Dante’s Inferno, The Sum of Our Days by Isabel Allende, the Gilgamesh legend, the poetry of Jason Reynolds, the writings and artwork of William Blake, and classic folk and fairy tales. They are used as frameworks for introducing or exemplifying concepts typically covered in teacher education curricula. One chapter also describes a research investigation into the effects of using literature on pre-service teachers’ beliefs and attitudes about cultural diversity.

Perfect for courses such as: Educational Psychology │ Educational Foundations │ Child Development │ Teaching Methods - Elementary │ Teaching Methods - Secondary │ Student Teaching

Jeff McLaughlin is Professor Emeritus at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. A former elementary school teacher, he received his B.S.Ed. at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and began his teaching career at Horace Mann Elementary School in Indiana, Pennsylvania. Later, Jeff earned his M.S. (Curriculum and Instruction) at The Pennsylvania State University and Ph.D. at Temple University (Psychological Studies in Education), as he also transitioned from teaching elementary school to higher education. Prior to West Chester University, Jeff taught at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, and the State University of New York at Oneonta. His research interests have included teacher identity, teacher authority and autonomy, and unconventional teaching methods. Utilizing a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods, Jeff has published and presented research on the development of teacher identity over time. He has also published research on the attitudes of graduate students toward quantitative research methods and interpretation of quantitative research results. When straying from the pedagogical universe, Jeff plays guitar and enjoys many kinds of music. He also loves to wander in the natural world, dabble in junk art creations, and write fiction. Some of these extra-curricular details are available at www.moondogmotel.com.