We feel it is important to outline some of the expectations which inform the work we do on literature with student teachers. For example, we assume that:
student teachers are learning to teach pupils to read, study and enjoy reading literature for its own sake, not merely to meet statutory requirements
student teachers have a diverse range of literary knowledge and specialisms to share
student teachers will read as widely as possible beyond the literature they already know, within a variety of cultures and traditions
student teachers will relate their developing knowledge about literature to professional knowledge and professional skills
student teachers will reflect critically on the practices they encounter in schools as well as justify their own approaches
student teachers will recognise the value of pupils making connections between literature and other art forms
student teachers will reflect critically on the potential for literature teaching of working in out-of-school contexts such as theatres, museums, galleries or local sites of historical and geographical interest.
