Literature curriculum design.  PTs need to be familiar with different ways of framing or designing the literature curriculum.  In doing so, they need to extract the principles and assumptions defining the selection of particular texts and methods, as well as the larger goals driving the curriculum.  Many literature curriculums are organized around a combination of genres and historical or literary periods, a structure reified by the organization of textbooks into genre/historical/chronological approach.   A typical high school curriculum may be teaching the short story, novel, drama, and poetry genres in the ninth and tenth grades, an historical survey of American literature is taught in the 11th grade and an historical survey of British or world literature in the 12th grade.       

    In contrast to these coverage models shaping the literature curriculum, PTs could envision alternative ways of organizing the curriculum based on inquiry-based approaches related to issues, topics, themes, or genres, as well as integrating understanding and production of literature, as well as critical pedagogy approaches related to critical analysis of literature.

They also need to be familiar with state standards in English/language arts so that they can align their instruction with those standards, as well as how these standards can be read as prescriptions for how to achieve standards, but without a clear sense of the larger purposes or objectives.

Further reading on literature curriculum design:

Agathocleous, T., & Dean, A. C.  (2003). Teaching literature: A companion.  New York: Palgrave.

Applebee, A. N. (1996). Curriculum as conversation: Transforming traditions of teaching and learning. Chicago, IL:

    University of Chicago Press.

Barrie R. C. Barrell, B. R. C., Hammett, R. F., Mayher, J. S., & Pradl, G. M.  (Eds.).  (2004). Teaching English today:

    Advocating change in the secondary curriculum.  New York:Teachers College Press.

Burke, J.  (2003).  The English teacher's companion: A complete guide to classroom, curriculum, and the profession. 

    Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

Chambers, E., & Gregory, M.  (2006). Teaching and learning English literature.  Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Gere, A. R., & Shaheen, P. (Eds.).  (2001).  Making American literatures in high school and college.  Urbana, IL: National

    Council of Teachers of English.

Pope, R. (1998).  The English studies book.  New York: Routledge.

Showalter, E.  (2002).  Teaching literature.  Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.

Smagorinsky, P.  (2002). Teaching English through principled practice.  Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.