I agree we should keep it moving and mix it up. I have found novels can drag out and I like the idea of a theme.
Looking forward to the website you post, May. Thank you! ----- Original Message ----- From: "May Dartez" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades." <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, January 04, 1970 11:04 PM Subject: Re: [LIT] How long do you spend on novels? >I think this is a great question, Ashli! To me, seven weeks does sound > like a long time to > spend on one novel, but I do think that teaching the reading strategies > is more important than > taking comprehension quizzes, etc. which tend to only test, rather than > explicitly teach, strategies. > > What might seem more appropriate to me might be to spend six-eight > weeks on a theme or essential question, such > as, "What are the benefits and disadvantages of close friendships?" or > "How do people change as they grow older?" > > The novel, the Outsiders could be your whole-class novel and students > could read related books for lit circles and then > share their findings on the theme with the class. That way, all > students are getting the exposure of several novels each nine weeks, > making connections between various books, and thinking critically. You > could even tie nonfiction articles, etc. into the unit and then > have a culminating essay or research project, etc. > > My son is fussing to go to bed, but tomorrow I will try to post a > website that has a bunch of great theme or essential question-based > units that combine several units. > > May/6th/GA > > > > > On Mar 27, 2007, at 8:35 PM, Ashli and Paul Andersen wrote: > >> How long is too long to spend reading >> a novel? I think my activities help make connections and understand >> the >> book better. He thinks the questions/quizzes get the same point >> across. >> What do you all think? > > > _______________________________________________ > 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. > > Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.413 / Virus Database: 268.18.18/734 - Release Date: 3/26/2007 > > _______________________________________________ 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. Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive
