Hello, fellow educators! Today, let’s talk about literary skills. Literacy is the ability to read and write. Together, these skills form the basis for what we call literary skills. However, is that enough to describe these literary skills?

As explained in the Australian Curriculum, literary skills lay the foundation for communication in verbal, written, or any other medium, fostering a lifetime of learning and curiosity. Through these skills, children comprehend and communicate their feelings, needs, and everything that a human needs to survive. 

In an English classroom, literary skills are fundamental to mastering the art of reading and interpreting literature effectively. These skills not only enhance students' understanding of texts but also cultivate their ability to think critically and express their thoughts coherently. In this blog, explore with us the importance of literary skills, what differentiates them from basic reading skills, and dive into effective strategies and stages for developing these capabilities among students. But, first, let’s dive deeper into the importance of literary skills. 

The Importance of Literary Skills in Understanding and Interpreting Literature

Literary skills are crucial for students to appreciate, analyze, and interpret literature deeply. These skills go beyond mere reading; they involve understanding themes, symbols, and the complex layers of meaning embedded within texts. This comprehensive grasp enables students to connect with works of literature on a personal and intellectual level, fostering a lifelong appreciation for reading.

Differentiating Between Basic Reading Skills and Literary Reading Skills

While basic reading skills focus on phonetics, vocabulary, and basic comprehension, literary reading skills delve deeper. They include the ability to interpret figurative language, recognize thematic elements, and understand character development and plot complexities. These advanced skills are essential for engaging with literature in a meaningful way.

Before we dive into the strategies to help you teach literary skills to children, let’s first understand the stages of developing literary skills in young learners so they comprehend literature better.

Stages of Developing Literary Skills

Developing literary skills in students is a gradual process, akin to guiding them through increasingly complex layers of understanding and interaction with texts. Each stage builds on the last, refining students' abilities to engage with and appreciate literature on a profound level. Let’s look at these stages more closely. 

• Basic Reading: Enhancing Imagination and Initial Response to Texts

The first stage in developing literary skills involves encouraging students to imagine and react to what they read. This foundational step is about getting students comfortable with visualizing scenes and forming initial emotional responses to the narratives.

• Reflective Reading: Employing Deeper Engagement

At this stage, students select key details and track information throughout the text. Reflective reading fosters a deeper connection with the material, enabling students to recall specific elements and understand their significance within the story.

• Analytical Reading: Interpreting Figurative Language and Analyzing Meanings and Effects

Analytical reading requires students to interpret the use of figurative language and analyze the underlying meanings and effects of literary elements. This stage is critical in developing the ability to evaluate and critique texts, providing a deeper understanding of literary works.

• Assembling: Organizing Understanding into Coherent Interpretations

The final stage involves assembling all understanding into coherent interpretations and expressing these ideas through writing or oral presentations. This stage is about synthesizing information and articulating one's perspective clearly and effectively.

Are you ready to dive deeper? Okay, so let’s move ahead and understand the key components of literary reading skills.

Key Components of Literary Reading Skills

Literary reading skills are built on several key components that enhance students' engagement with texts and enrich their understanding. These components work together to transform students from passive readers into active explorers of literature, equipped to tackle complex ideas and themes. Here’s a detailed look at these literary components. 

• Imagining & Responding

Engaging with texts through imagination, empathy, and personal response is vital. This component helps students connect emotionally with the material, enhancing their overall reading experience.

• Interpreting Figurative Effects

Students must learn to understand the rhetoric of structure, the role of imagination, and the impact of textual transactions. This skill is essential for appreciating the stylistic intricacies of literature.

• Interpreting Meaning

Focusing on the text's overall significance, including its impacts, characters, plot, and symbols, is crucial. This skill helps students grasp the broader themes and messages of the literature.

Alright, time to move on from theory and talk some strat. Sometimes it can be challenging to teach literary skills to young learners as they might find it boring. Here are some strategies to help you incite your students’ interest in literature and teach them literary skills. 

Strategies for Teaching Literary Skills

Teaching literary skills effectively involves a blend of diverse texts, interactive discussions, and targeted exercises. By using these strategies, you'll equip students with the tools they need to analyze and appreciate literature on a deeper level.

• Incorporating Various Texts

By using a diverse range of texts, including modern fiction, classic literature, poetry, and dramatic works, students can experience and practice different literary forms and genres. This exposure helps them understand and appreciate the unique elements each type of text brings, from narrative techniques to poetic devices, thereby enriching their literary skill set. Check out some books for children of all age groups here. 

• Encouraging Active Reading and Imaginative Engagement

Active reading is crucial for deep literary comprehension. Encourage students to engage with the text by making predictions, asking questions, and visualizing scenes as they read. Techniques such as think-aloud, reading journals, and discussion groups can foster an immersive reading environment. Imaginative engagement helps students form personal connections with the material, making the literature more memorable and impactful.

• Teaching Students to Scan for Specific Information and Interpret Figurative Language

Develop students' ability to identify key details and interpret figurative language by highlighting metaphors, similes, and symbolism in texts. Use targeted exercises like close readings, where students analyze passages to uncover deeper meanings and discuss how language contributes to the text’s overall effect. This not only improves their analytical skills but also enhances their appreciation for the craft of writing.

• Guiding Students in Organizing Their Understanding

Teach students to synthesize their insights from texts and articulate them clearly. Use strategies such as graphic organizers, outlines, or concept maps to help students structure their thoughts. Encourage them to express their interpretations and critiques through essays, presentations, or discussions. This process not only aids in comprehension but also sharpens their ability to think critically and argue effectively, key skills in literary analysis.

While these strategies can be modified and applied to any class group, younger students might require something more engaging and exciting. If you teach a younger class, check out some literacy activities here.

One of the most important things while teaching is assessing if the learning outcome is as desired or not. This makes literary assessments even more important. However, you don’t have to stick to traditional assessments. Since you are evolving your teaching techniques, why not evolve assessing techniques as well? So, here’s how you can assess literary skills in your class. 

Assessing Literacy Skills in the English Classroom

Assessing literacy skills in the English classroom involves more than just testing for comprehension; it requires a nuanced approach to evaluate students' ability to analyze, interpret, and engage with texts. Here’s how you can ensure that the learning outcome aligns with your teaching motive. 

• Designing Multifaceted Assessments

Utilize analytical essays, thematic analysis, and interpretive responses that challenge students to explore and articulate the deeper meanings within texts. Include open-ended questions to encourage critical thinking and nuanced interpretation.

• Providing Targeted Feedback

Offer constructive feedback that pushes students to engage more profoundly with texts. Focus on their ability to uncover and discuss underlying themes, figurative language, and connections to broader literary contexts.

• Evaluating Expressive Skills

Assess students' written commentaries and oral presentations to evaluate their analytical and reflective reading skills. This helps measure their ability to support their arguments with evidence and present their insights convincingly.

Concluding Thoughts

And there we have it! As we wrap up our journey through the world of teaching literary skills, remember that these strategies aren't just about reading and writing. They're about opening doors to new worlds, sparking imaginations, and empowering students to think deeply and critically. We hope these strategies and tips will help you teach literary skills to your students in a more engaging way. 

Whether you're encouraging students to dive into diverse texts, guiding them through their analytical paces, or providing feedback that pushes their boundaries, your role is crucial in shaping how they interact with literature—and with the world.

If you are a parent looking for resources to enhance your child’s literary journey, tune into the FunFox Program. Perfect for kids aged 3 to 12, Funfox specializes in interactive online tutoring that makes learning reading and writing skills a joy.