Linking literature : Learning to teach children's literature using 'real world' bookclubs

"Linking Literature", is an innovative program for first year higher education students, comprising social learning through "real world" book clubs. This program provides the professional knowledge requirements for education students, but notably its strategies require purposeful interaction with peers and, in so doing, promotes social inclusion for first year students. Underpinned by social learning theory (Vygotsky 1978) and a "real world" learning framework (Jameson 2009), "Linking Literature" was developed as an innovative process to acquire literary knowledge and inspire aesthetic appreciation of literature using real world, social learning as a vehicle for pre-service teachers at an Australian university. "Linking Literature" uses real world bookclubs featuring small group reflective learning to encourage positive relationships and confidence in first year pre-service teachers. This paper reports on the program and draws on case study data from students participating in the program. Qualitative data from questionnaires are interspersed throughout this article to illuminate students' experiences in the program and positive changes to reading attitudes. Whilst the program was devised for education students, the social learning strategies are generalizable across faculties to foster relationships and confidence amongst first year students in higher education.