The Primary English Encyclopedia: The Heart of the Curriculum, Third Edition
See also response
This refers to a human being’s understanding of how to relate to others in a constructive and sensitive way. It also has to do with consciousness of our own needs and the effects on others of our behaviour and attitudes. Many factors are likely to affect the level of emotional literacy an individual develops. One of these factors may be the special insights children develop from cumulative exposure to quality fiction: developing sensitivity to the subtle messages in texts may play a part in helping them grow and develop as responsive human beings. Of course we must be wary of simple linking of cause and effect here – there is no evidence that students of literature and the Arts are morally superior beings!
But let me give an example of how I think fiction may help.
A student teacher read Grace and Her Family to her eight year old class (Hoffman and Binch, 1995, Frances Lincoln). This wonderful picture book tells the story of Grace’s journey to meet her father’s new partner and their children and in doing so explores her ambivalent feelings about this second family. The children particularly liked Grace’s image of herself ‘like gum stretched out all thin in a bubble’ as she struggles to find the emotional resources to be part of two families. It showed them how it was possible to reconcile conflicting feelings and tolerate situations they would not have chosen. There are some subtle messages: we see an illustration of Grace reading fairy stories as her stepmother offers her food. The children came to understand that Grace’s reading gave her insights into other people’s dilemmas and challenges and this helped her with her own problems.
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