Looking for good ideas

At this point in the cycle of IB sessions, we are all likely looking for either a great and magnetizing new angle for our students preparing to write the two papers that finish off the Literature course or we are looking for stimulating ideas with which to infuse our teaching as the fall term begins.

While many of you may be familiar with the site, the EMC English and Media Centre  might be a good one to explore. I’ve had workshop participants who have enriched the whole experience with ideas they have picked up from this site.  Below is a sample of good source material:

DOING CLOSE READING – ACTIVITIES • ANTHOLOGY • ANALYSIS
Supports advanced level English Literature students in understanding what it means to analyse texts closely, through practical activities on a wide range of texts and close readings by leading academics and critics.
What is close reading? What is good close reading?This publication supports advanced level English Literature students in understanding what it means to analyse texts closely, providing: – activities to develop and hone skills of close reading in different ways – a set of practices and a methodology that they can confidently useIncludes: • 20 approaches for developing the skills of close reading, ranging from close stylistic analysis to re-creative writing, with a focus on language, structure and form • 58 texts (prose fiction, poetry, drama, non-fiction) from Sir Philip Sidney to Billy Collins, Shakespeare to Sam Shepard, Jane Austen to Hilary Mantel and Mary Wollstonecraft to Alan Clark • 20 close readings by academics, critics and writers including Emma Smith, Nigel Wheale, Sean McEvoy and Professors John Mullan, Judy Simons, Nicolas Tredell and David Punter – and the winning entries from the emag close reading competition for advanced level students • CD with full publication in PDF format, plus printable A5 anthology of texts.
Reviews ‘This well-planned and very timely book brilliantly combines an anthology of excellent examples with activities and explanations of the core skills and approaches you need.’ Robert Eaglestone, Professor of Contemporary Literature and Thought at Royal Holloway, University of London

There are many resources here on teaching literature, so you may want to check it out. ‘In the interest of full disclosure,’ I have no financial connection to this site….it just looks like a good one to me.  Others may want to comment.