Mrs. Dudek

Mrs. Dudek grew up in Colorado. She graduated from Western State College of Gunnison, CO. with a degree in English & Elem. Ed. Mrs. Dudek taught 5th & 6th grades in Colorado for 7 years. Next she came to St. Andrews in 1993 and taught kindergarten for 7 years before changing to 4th grade in 1999 and is currently teaching middle school. She enjoys teaching these “golden age” students. In addition, she moderates the Future Educators Association club at St. Andrew. Her son & daughter attended St. Andrew from kindergarten through 8th grade. Mrs. Dudek enjoys family get-togethers, the great outdoors, & travel.

 

Literature

There are many ways of defining literature. Our ideas about what should be included have changed over time; definitions vary a bit from culture to culture, from critic to critic, and from reader to reader. In our classes we think of literature as the imaginative shaping of life and thought into the forms and structure of language. Where appropriate, we consider the pictures as well as words, asking how both sets of symbols work to produce an aesthetic experience. How do they help the reader perceive pattern, relationships, and feelings that produce an inner experience of art? This aesthetic experience might be a vivid reconstruction of past experience, an extension of an experience, or the creation of a new experience. Literature illuminates life by shaping our insights.

The powerful influence of books on children’s language and literacy continues throughout their formal educational years. It is clear that experiences with literature can benefit children in many ways. Research validates and explores how reading and writing skills develop together. Studies show that reading aloud can result in significant increases in students’ reading achievement. Children develop a sense of book language and listening to stories introduces children to patterns of language and extends vocabulary and meaning. The more experience children have with literature, the greater their ability will be to grasp the meaning of the text and understand the way the author tells it. This helps them become successful readers by developing fluency and understanding. The reading of many books is essential to the development of expert readers and diverse reading experiences are directly linked to proficiency and comprehension.

Literature should be valued in our homes and schools for the enrichment it gives to the personal lives of children, as well as, for its proven educational contributions. First and foremost, literature provides delight and enjoyment. Storytelling is as old as human history and as new as today’s gossip. Literature develops children’s imagination and helps them to consider nature, people, experiences, or ideas in new ways. The experiences children have with literature give them new perspectives on the world. Good writing can transport readers to other places and other times and expand their life space. By it’s very organizing properties literature has the power to shape and give coherence to human experience. So much of what we teach in school is concerned with facts. Literature is concerned with feelings; the quality of life. It can educate the heart as well as the mind. (Huck, Hepler, Hickman, & Kiefer, 1997)

Literature

Grade 6
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Grade 7
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Grade 8
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Writing

Grade 6
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Grade 7
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Grade 8
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