1. Pop Culture in the Language Arts Classroom Susan Buckert

2. Why pop culture? Helps bridge the gap between what students know and what teachers want them to know Engages students in meaningful classroom discussion Encourages students to develop intertextual links Increases students’ critical thinking and literacy skills

3. Film in the Classroom According to NCTE, critical thinking must extend beyond print Viewing now considered the “fifth language art” Use film … To introduce a literary work As a basis for comparison As a work of literature

4. Creating Intertextual Links: The Natural and Huckleberry Finn: Both are about characters learning how to relate to society and A Separate Peace: Both are about coming of age, letting go of old goals, reevaluating friendships and Walden Pond: both value individual worth and nature; both illustrate the healing power of nature

5. Music in the Classroom Use music to teach literary elements Requires that students “listen” Students can share songs that relate to the lesson Helps students make connections between music and literature (to move from song to text)

6. Creating Intertextual Links: Don Henley Themes in American literature & “The End of the Innocence” Freedom Initiation into Reality American dream/nightmare The journey Moral struggle http://www.donhenley.com/sound/innocence.wma http://www.donhenley.com/sound/innocence.rm http://www.donhenley.com/sound/innocence.r

7. Other forms of Pop Culture Comics Television shows/clips Contemporary essays Magazine articles