This presentation was delivered on Nov. 20, 2009 in Philadelphia, PA at the NCTE Annual Conference. Dr. Wegmann presented with other Commission on Literature members.

1. Caring in Literature Dr. Susan Wegmann University of Central Florida Slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/Swegmann Twitter: DocWegmann National Council of Teachers of English Annual Conference November 20, 2009

2. 11/18/2009 2 “Care” “a state of being in relation, characterized by receptivity, relatedness, and engrossment.” (Noddings, 2002)

3. 11/18/2009 3 Sympathy: “the affective state of attention in caring” Robert cares for Ernesto. Robert acts on his care for Ernesto. Ernesto recognizes that Robert cares for him.

4. 11/18/2009 4 Caring for: face-to-face, nurturing relationships in which one cares directly for another. Caring about: involves a benign neglect, unless personal relationships are established.

5. How can teachers nurture a “caring for” attitude? 11/18/2009 5

6. 11/18/2009 6 Nurturing Care in classrooms: I Poems, (Kucan, 2007) Social narrative writing (Heffernan & Lewison, 2003) Writing (Nelson, 2000) Social awareness can be found in the nexus of developmental theory and classroom practice.

7. 11/18/2009 7 A decision: to care/not care.

8. Roser, N., Martinez, M., Fuhrken, C., & McDonald, K. (2007). Characters as guides to meaning. The Reading Teacher, 60, (6). 548-559 11/18/2009 8

9. 11/18/2009 9 Character feelings Oliver Button Is a Sissy by TomiedePaola. (1979, Harcourt Brace). Wemberley Worried by Kevin Henkes. (2000, Greenwillow). Coming on Home Soon by Jacquelyn Woodson. E.B. Lewis. (2004, Putnam). Yoko by Rosemary Wells. (1998, Hyperion). The Day of Ahmed’s Secret by Florence Parry Heide & Judith Heide Gilliland. T. Lewis. (1990, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard). Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto. E. Martinez. (1993, Putnam).

10. 11/18/2009 10 Character motives Eloise by Kay Thompson. Ill. H. Knight. (1955/1983, Simon & Schuster). The Old Woman Who Named Things by Cynthia Rylant. Ill. K. Brown. (1996, Harcourt Brace). Harry and the Terrible Whatzitby Dick Gackenbach. (1977, Clarion). Miss Rumphiusby Barbara Cooney. (1982, Viking). The Mysterious Tadpole by Steven Kellogg. (1977, Dial). Doctor Desoto by William Steig. (1982, Farrar, Straus and Giroux). Saving Sweetness by Diane Stanley. Ill. G.B. Karas. (1996, Putnam).

11. 11/18/2009 11 Character-rich picture books Character relationships Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles. Ill. J. Lagarrigue. (2001, Atheneum). Ticoand the Golden Wings by Leo Lionni. (1964, Pantheon). Mrs. Katz and Tushby Patricia Polacco. (1992, Bantam). Now One Foot, Now the Other by TomiedePaola. (1981, Putnam). Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman. Ill. C. Binch. (1991, Dial). Chicken Sunday by Patricia Polacco. (1992, Philomel). Amos and Boris by William Steig. (1971, Farrar, Straus and Giroux). (Roser, Martinez, Fuhrken, McDonnold, 2007)

12. 11/18/2009 12 Genuine discussion Members join together in addressing a question of common concern, exchanging and examining different views to inform their answer, enhancing their knowledge or understanding, their appreciation or judgment, their decision, resolution, or action over the matter at issue. . . People do not discuss experiences whose meaning is plain to them, nor their indisputable feelings or incontestable values. When they do discuss these things, they have some question about them and they join with others to form an answer. (Dillon, 1994, p. 8)

13. A Connected Stance 11/18/2009 13

14. 11/18/2009 14 Moves found in a connected stance: Challenging the text Questioning Wondering Speculating Humor Giving information Building rapport Intertextuality

15. 11/18/2009 15 Buchanan, L. (2009). The Fat Boy Chronicles. Cleveland, TN: Tin Roof Films. Gratz, A. (2009). The Brooklyn Nine: A Novel in Nine Innings. New York: Dial. Levine, E. (2007). Henry’s Freedom Box. New York: Scholastic. (Ill. Kadir Nelson)

16. Caring in Literature Dr. Susan Wegmann University of Central Florida swegmann@mail.ucf.edu Slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/Swegmann Twitter: DocWegmann National Council of Teachers of English Annual Conference November 20, 2009

17. 11/18/2009 17 References Bercaw, L.A., & Wegmann, S. J. (2001) Literature discussions, Participant stance, and the discussion filter. American Reading Forum Yearbook. Retrieved May 3, 2007: americanreadingforum.org Dillon, M. (1994). Using discussion in classrooms. Philadelphia: Open University Press. Heffernan, L., & Lewison, M. (2003) Social Narrative Writing: (Re)Constructing Kid Culture in the Writer’s Workshop. Language Arts 80 (6). 435–443. Hebert, T. P., & Kent, R. (2000) Nurturing Social and Emotional Development in Gifted Teenagers through Young Adult Literature. Roeper Review, 22 (3). 167-71. (EJ606610) Kucan, L. (2007) “I” poems: Invitations for students to deepen literary understanding The Reading Teacher,60 (6). 518–525. Kurkjian, C., & Livingston, N. (2007) The importance of children’s literature in a global society. The Reading Teacher, 60 (6). 594–602. Lobron, A., Selman, R. (2007) The interdependence of social awareness and literacy instruction. The Reading Teacher, 60 (6). 528–537 Nelson, G. Lynn. (2000) Warriors with Words: Toward a Post-Columbine Writing Curriculum. English Journal 89 (5), 42–46. Noddings, N. (2002). Starting at Home: Caring and social policy. Berkeley, CA: University of California press. Probst, R. E. (2001) Difficult Days and Difficult Texts. Voices from the Middle, 9 (2). 50–53. Roser, N., Martinez, M., Fuhrken, C., McDonnold, K. (2007). Characters as guides to meaning. The Reading Teacher, 60 (6). 548–559. Selman, R.L. (2003). The promotion of social awareness: Powerful lessons from the partnership of developmental theory and classroom practice. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.