The design of this unit is to consider the student in all aspects—biologically, psychologically and socially. He is not only a psychological organism with biological mechanisms, but a social being who wants to belong and act within the social atmosphere of group life. This individual thinks, feels, interprets and acts, with a need for satisfying self definition for constructive relationships with others and some control over what happens to him.
For decades literature has been taught as a goal to help students develop an understanding of the ways in which man has responded to his experiences in all periods of time. The primary focus inevitably concerned itself with teaching students the content of the mechanics of “the models of literature”, and very seldom recognized and dealt with the students needs for satisfying a self definition. The curriculum was not designed to help students deal in personal terms with the problems of human conduct.
Remedial reading students are very often engaged in laborious reading activities which have no relevance to them. The materials selected are usually outside or poorly related to the students knowledge of his physical realm of experiences. The students feelings about his experiences may serve to involve him more deeply in the content of the subject. The teacher must determine attitudes about a given subject before moving them into a more analytical or cognitive realm.
My reading has indicated that a positive self is teachable. Selfdevelopment is a dynamic process and is open to change. The classroom should be a place where successful experiences are provided to produce feelings of adequacy. It should be a place that encourages exploration and discovery, which facilitates changes in self-perception.
When selecting suitable reading materials for students they should be relevant to the concerns they have. Concerns involve feelings and emotions, which are the most persistent ingredients of the underlying uneasiness that students have about themselves and their relation to the world.