During a unit on fiction, what instructional strategy helps students identify and understand the theme of a literary text?

Reading simple fairy tales before engaging with a more complex story is an effective instructional strategy for helping students identify and understand themes in literary texts. Fairy tales often present clear and recognizable themes such as good versus evil, love, and justice, which serve as foundational examples for students. By examining these straightforward narrative structures, students can grasp the concept of themes in a less complex context.

This understanding can be translated to more intricate stories that may contain multiple themes or deeper meanings. Familiarity with the themes in fairy tales allows students to approach literatures with a critical eye, enabling them to analyze and discuss the underlying messages and moral lessons in more complex narratives as they progress. Furthermore, this approach fosters improved comprehension skills and enhances students' ability to draw connections between various texts, enriching their reading experience.