Middle Ground: Exploring Selected Literature from and About the Middle East

Reviews principles of cross-cultural pedagogy and offers both novice and experienced grade 6-12 teachers multiple activities for studying selected texts from and about the Middle East.

For years, literature from and about the Middle East has largely been missing from middle and high school curricula. Changing demographics and global citizenship necessitate a better understanding of Middle Eastern history, culture, and literature. Recognizing this need, veteran teachers Sheryl L. Finkle and Tamara J. Lilly offer a comprehensive review of the theory and practice of teaching Middle Eastern literature. In this book, they review principles of multicultural/cross-cultural pedagogy; describe principles for selecting quality texts and explain the importance of teaching both contemporary and ancient literature of the region; illustrate how using these texts can engage young readers and help develop their language and literacy skills; and provide activities, lessons, and materials for various print and nonprint texts, including books such as Habibi, The Kite Runner, and Behind the Burqa: Our Life in Afghanistan and How We Escaped to Freedom and the films Osama and Reel Bad Arabs. Studying literature from and about the Middle East not only enables students to gain a deeper understanding of the world around them but also allows them to develop crucial critical thinking and literacy skills that can be applied outside the English classroom.