Traci Bowles

Date Approved

10-5-2010

Embargo Period

3-3-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.S.T. Teaching

Department

Teacher Education

College

College of Education

Advisor

Madden, Marjorie

Subject(s)

Fantasy fiction--Juvenile literature; Children--Books and reading

Disciplines

Elementary Education and Teaching

Abstract

The purposes of this exploratory investigation were to determine how fantasy literature helps children explore, process, and discuss real world issues and topics and what other applications the genre had in the classroom. This study was conducted by implementing a genre study in a fifth grade classroom. Seventeen students participated in the research model. Data collected included audiotaped discussions, student projects and artifacts, and my personal teacher research journal. The data was analyzed recursively across all data sets to determine patterns and themes. Data was coded according to the four main patterns and counted across data sets. If the pattern was found to be prevalent across all data sets and with the majority of the students it was found to be conclusive. Disconfirming data was also analyzed and included under the pattern that it disconfirmed. Implications of the genre are discussed including its facilitation as it pertains to identification of themes, text-to-self connections, discussion of real world issues, and enthusiasm and autonomy over learning.

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