When I taught American-Jewish fiction at Michigan State, I did a whole class on the different religious branches, Jewish identification, and a primer on European Jewish history. Students needed all that since they had no prior knowledge.
I have the opposite problem but the same solution: I'm a history teacher who is always trying to work more engaging reading into my classroom, so I'm all about historical fiction as well. I just read a few pages of Maika and Maritza Moulite's DEAR HAITI, LOVE ALAINE to my 10th graders who are studying the Haitian Revolution and now a few kids are arguing over who gets to borrow my book first. Success!
Love your approach so much! I teach foreign languages, but, as I have a soft spot for literature, I always try to include fiction books and short stories in my classes.
When I taught American-Jewish fiction at Michigan State, I did a whole class on the different religious branches, Jewish identification, and a primer on European Jewish history. Students needed all that since they had no prior knowledge.
Your lessons sound fantastic. I wish I were in your class
I have the opposite problem but the same solution: I'm a history teacher who is always trying to work more engaging reading into my classroom, so I'm all about historical fiction as well. I just read a few pages of Maika and Maritza Moulite's DEAR HAITI, LOVE ALAINE to my 10th graders who are studying the Haitian Revolution and now a few kids are arguing over who gets to borrow my book first. Success!
Love your approach so much! I teach foreign languages, but, as I have a soft spot for literature, I always try to include fiction books and short stories in my classes.