
Classic Texts in Contemporary Classrooms
Engaging Today's Students with Timeless Literature
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Will be published approx. on 10. August 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
260 pages
978-1-032-98870-2 (ISBN)
Description
Every Language Arts teacher knows the struggle: How do we make classics like Animal Farm, The Great Gatsby, and To Kill a Mockingbird feel urgent and relevant to students whose worlds of TikTok, influencers, and teenage angst feel so far removed from these celebrated novels? How do we honor literary heritage while honoring and amplifying contemporary student voices?
Classic Texts in Contemporary Classrooms introduces the Big Fundamental-a simple but powerful way to help adolescent readers find meaning in classic literature. Instead of asking them to hunt for symbols they don't care about, this approach helps students discover powerful lenses for reading each text, inviting them to explore the classics through ideas that matter to them such as:
Coping with trauma in The Outsiders
Influencers in Animal Farm
Careless people in The Great Gatsby
Ghosts in To Kill a Mockingbird
Filtered reality and gatekeeping in The Giver
Found Family in Of Mice and Men
This isn't another book telling you why classics matter. It's a practical guide showing you how to make them matter, complete with guided classroom application, discussion protocols, writing opportunities, assessment strategies, and guidance for addressing problematic content.
Whether you're teaching whole-class novel studies, facilitating book clubs, teaching an AP Literature course, or supporting independent reading, you'll discover how to establish Big Fundamentals that bridge past and present, connect classics to contemporary crossover texts, build transferable analytical skills students can apply to any book, and move from teacher-led analysis to student independence-all while making space for both canonical texts and student choice.
Classic Texts in Contemporary Classrooms introduces the Big Fundamental-a simple but powerful way to help adolescent readers find meaning in classic literature. Instead of asking them to hunt for symbols they don't care about, this approach helps students discover powerful lenses for reading each text, inviting them to explore the classics through ideas that matter to them such as:
Coping with trauma in The Outsiders
Influencers in Animal Farm
Careless people in The Great Gatsby
Ghosts in To Kill a Mockingbird
Filtered reality and gatekeeping in The Giver
Found Family in Of Mice and Men
This isn't another book telling you why classics matter. It's a practical guide showing you how to make them matter, complete with guided classroom application, discussion protocols, writing opportunities, assessment strategies, and guidance for addressing problematic content.
Whether you're teaching whole-class novel studies, facilitating book clubs, teaching an AP Literature course, or supporting independent reading, you'll discover how to establish Big Fundamentals that bridge past and present, connect classics to contemporary crossover texts, build transferable analytical skills students can apply to any book, and move from teacher-led analysis to student independence-all while making space for both canonical texts and student choice.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Professional Practice & Development and Professional Training
Illustrations
4 farbige Zeichnungen, 39 farbige Tabellen, 8 farbige Abbildungen, 4 Farbfotos bzw. farbige Rasterbilder
39 Tables, color; 4 Line drawings, color; 4 Halftones, color; 8 Illustrations, color
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 191 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-032-98870-2 (9781032988702)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Travis Leech | Sasha L. Jaramillo | Tony Perez
Classic Texts in Contemporary Classrooms
Engaging Today's Students with Timeless Literature
E-Book
approx. 08/2026
1st Edition
Routledge
€37.99
Available for download

Travis Leech | Sasha L. Jaramillo | Tony Perez
Classic Texts in Contemporary Classrooms
Engaging Today's Students with Timeless Literature
E-Book
approx. 08/2026
1st Edition
Routledge
€37.99
Available for download
Persons
For two decades, Travis Leech has worked in various education roles, from middle school teacher to instructional coach and curriculum designer. He is a co-author for the Patterns of Revision and Patterns of Power series and shares practical literacy practices as a speaker and teacher educator. Travis lives in San Antonio with his wife and two rescue pups, where he enjoys experimenting with recipes and exploring Texas.
Sasha L. Jaramillo is the English Department Coordinator at Louis D. Brandeis High School in San Antonio. She has spent the last 24 years in Northside ISD. teaching all levels of high school English, including AP Literature and Composition, and coaching teachers. When she isn't reading or listening to Brandi Carlile, Sasha can be found watching Indiana Fever or San Antonio Spurs basketball. She lives in San Antonio with her husband and three cats.
Anthony Perez is High School District ELA Coordinator for Northside ISD in San Antonio, in his 19th year of education. Passionate about bringing literacy's joy to students and teachers, he loved discussing stories and writing with kids as a teacher. Anthony enjoys playing basketball with his sons Dante and Manu, running with his wife, Laura, cooking, and cheering on the Spurs.
Sasha L. Jaramillo is the English Department Coordinator at Louis D. Brandeis High School in San Antonio. She has spent the last 24 years in Northside ISD. teaching all levels of high school English, including AP Literature and Composition, and coaching teachers. When she isn't reading or listening to Brandi Carlile, Sasha can be found watching Indiana Fever or San Antonio Spurs basketball. She lives in San Antonio with her husband and three cats.
Anthony Perez is High School District ELA Coordinator for Northside ISD in San Antonio, in his 19th year of education. Passionate about bringing literacy's joy to students and teachers, he loved discussing stories and writing with kids as a teacher. Anthony enjoys playing basketball with his sons Dante and Manu, running with his wife, Laura, cooking, and cheering on the Spurs.
Content
1. The Big Fundamental Approach Part I Whole Class Novel Study 2. How to Stay Gold: Coping With Trauma in The Outsiders 3. Easy Steps to Being an Influencer with Animal Farm 4. Beyond the American Dream: Revisiting The Great Gatsby 5. Haunted by Ghosts in To Kill a Mockingbird Part II Book Clubs and Independent Book Selection 6. Who Controls the Narrative? Anchoring Book Clubs with The Giver 7. Finding Family and Your Footing with Of Mice and Men and Book Clubs 8. Your Book, Your Lens: Independent Book Selection Conclusion Appendices Professional Bibliography Blibliography of Connected Texts Index