Bringing Sports Culture to the English Classroom

Book excerpt: Learn how to use literature and informational texts related to sports as an alternative or a supplement to a canon-centric English classroom. This practical book promotes an instructional approach that honors students' knowledge of, interests in, and experiences with sports culture to advance literacy learning. Informed by his own experiences in high school classrooms, the author documents the distinct methods employed by four secondary English teachers in rural, urban, and suburban schools. Each narrative features the voices of teachers and students and details a range of activities that readers can adapt for their unique contexts. Whether teaching traditional English courses or those focused on the study of sports literature, teachers can use this book to tap into students' sporting interests and foster critical readings of sports culture as a mirror to our greater society. Book Features: Adaptable methods for using sports-related content to foster the six language arts: reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing, and visually representing. Actionable ideas for going beyond sports fandom and, instead, reading sports culture through a critical lens. Implications for incorporating sports culture into the English curriculum, whether teaching traditional courses or a stand-alone sports literature class. Answers to frequently asked questions that can support teachers as they bring sports culture to the English classroom.