Less is More: Teaching Literature With Short Texts, Grades 6-12

Kimberly Hill Campbell defines several kinds of short texts. She then applies the same reading strategies to all of them. If you want to know about strategies, read Strategies That Work by Harvey and Goudvis or anything by Laura Robb. The majority of the recommended reads in this book, particularly the short stories, are tired and over-anthologized. The most agonizing thing about this book, though, is that Campbell never misses a chance to reference how she rose above the texts and curriculums imposed upon her to become a special teacher. This book is absolutely not worth reading.

I am a student teacher and have found this book to be an invaluable resource in my classroom. This is such a refreshing alternative to the numbing onslaught of longer texts (novels) currently at the forefront of language arts curriculum. Why aren't we using shorter texts (short stories, essays, memoirs, poetry) more often? It is important for me, as a language arts teacher, to inspire in my students a love and appreciation of literature. I have recognized and acknowledged that an over-emphasis of longer texts has the tendency to do just the opposite. Less is More provides clear, intuitive ways to incorporate shorter texts into the curriculum with as much success as novels.
The book is a joy to read and is worth its price for the resources alone. As a student teacher in a teacher education program, I have waded through numerous "teacher resource" books. I have found none of them to be as applicable than Less is More. I would urge anyone reading this to have a "look inside".

I was a little skeptical about getting this book because I do not like to read this type of text. There are so many books like this out, and they all just seem to involve the latest "fad" of teaching. "Less is More" is not like that at all. This book is the one resource that will forever change my teaching style and my classroom. As a Middle School Teacher, I had been frustrated with being forced to teach short texts, partly because I felt like I didn't know "how" to incorporate standards in such short lesson plans. This book has so many good ideas and teaching methods to incorporate short texts into the classroom. If your curriculum insist you teach novels, or certain authors, Campbell has lists in the book of alternative shorter texts by the same authors as some of the great novelists. This book is amazing and I think every middle school or high school english teacher needs it for their classroom!

I wanted to be in this author's classroom. She gave practical and eloquent reasons for using short texts to access rigorous concepts and higher order skills. Using these texts gives teachers the opportunity to go deeper with student learning and the students with more frequent practice.