In her book "On the Same Page" Janet Allen talks about using shared reading all the way up to 12th grade. My students do independent reading and literature circles, but I also like to do whole class novels so that we have a shared text for the study of author's craft, vocabulary, read aloud etc.(lots of great ideas in "Deeper Reading" by Kelly Gallagher) Often the whole class novels I use are at a higher reading level since I can give a lot of support. The reading strategies that I teach during the reading of a whole class novel carry over to independent reading. What has me sold on whole class novels is that I can read much of it aloud to the whole group and hook reluctant readers who rarely get through a novel on their own. Once I was reading aloud to a class and I said it was time to stop and work on something else. The whole class begged for more and when I asked why I should continue, one of the boys (14 years old) said, "Because this is the first time in my life that I've wanted to keep reading a book." I didn't need any better reason than that.
Maybe you could move these teachers toward independent reading and lit circles by slowly changing the way they teach the whole group novel. Janet Allen's book can give you a lot of ideas. She has a chapter called "Shared Reading as a Bridge to Independence" in which she discusses her own attempts at lit. circles (which didn't work at first.) and how she moved away from whole class novels to successful lit. circles and ind. reading. In any case I really feel that the shared reading of a whole class novel can be an important part of a reading workshop if it's done right (not simply assigning a chapter and a series of questions to answer). Helping teachers make changes can be tough! Good luck! Carla > > On Sat, 9 Sep 2006 11:14 , Watson, Patricia <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > sent: >>Hello, >> >>I am working with a group of middle school language arts and reading >>teachers. Several of them are really interested in moving toward the use >>of Literature Circles and Reading Workshop, but several of them are >>adamant that they want to keep using whole class novels. It will take a >>while for them to develop trust in me and see me as credible, so as we >>develop that relationship, I'd like to help them use whole class novels >>in the best and most developmentally appropriate ways. >> >>Can anyone suggest sources that address the effective and appropriate >>use of the whole class novel? Do you have specific suggestions that I >>could share with them? I have not personally used whole class novels in >>many, many years, but I know good teachers who do. I need to start where >>these teachers are, then gradually encourage more small group and >>independent reading. Advice? >> >>Thanks in advance, >>Pat Watson >> >>_______________________________________________ >>The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org >> >>To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to >>http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/ > lit_literacyworkshop.org. > > > > > _______________________________________________ > The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org > > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.2/442 - Release Date: 08/09/2006 > > _______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org.
