In CA, part of the standards is writing a response to literature. I usually use short stories for this, but you could also use a novel. I really like "projects" that are centered around authentic reading and writing, so I usually do not do any sort of "book report" type thing. Response to Literature is a great way to get the kids thinking deeper about the book. And this is not just a free response, they must talk about theme, have a thesis, evidence, etc. to back up their point.
On 7/3/07, Lucinda Marcello <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > We used A Book Report in a Bag, etc. for a book report. Students wrote > details on index cards. See Ed. World for more info. > > We also created a resume for a main character. Many ideas are listed here. > > http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson109.shtml > > Lucinda > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Caroline Mooney" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2007 11:02 AM > Subject: [LIT] Novel projects > > > > my husband is at work, and my children are visiting their grandparents, > so > > you are hearing a lot from me for now. in fact, i'm using these two > weeks > > to plan out next years' lessons. > > > > besides teaching the ga standards for reading, i'd like to include word > > work, which we've already discussed, reading strategies (fountas and > > pinnell are my heros--as is nanci atwell) , writing (mostly responses to > > lit.), book clubs, and novel projects (for independent reading). > > > > my students have to read a min. of 20 min. a day for homework. it took a > > year and a half to figure out how to somewhat ensure accountability. i > > check out class sets of novels, students check out a book and read in > and > > out of class. they have to read a certain number of pages per week, > which > > i check weekly. this lets me know they are reading at home and in class. > > this year, our school got a bookroom, and we'll have even more choice. > By > > the way, dalton public school (dps) is integrating literacy > collaborative > > at the elem. and middle school level. at the middle school level, i > really > > like it. > > > > to assess my students' independent and group reading, i'd like to create > > different book projects, where they can choose among various tasks > > (differentiated instruction, which dps is focusing on this coming year). > > if anyone is willing to share their novel projects with me, i'd be so > > thankful. i'd like to come up with a generic project to fit practically > > any novel. so i'll be picking and choosing. be sure to put your name on > > the project, so i can give you credit when i write my best seller and > > speak at conferences:) Seriously, if you can send them via word > > attachments, that would help. > > > > seriously, in august, i begin my specialist degree in curriculum and > > instruction, so i'll be very busy. any help you experts out there can > give > > me would be greatly appreciated. i've only taught for 2 years, so i'm > > still at the stage where each year seems like the first. you probably > know > > what i mean:) > > > > caroline > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.9.14/883 - Release Date: 7/1/2007 > > 12:19 PM > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > -- - Heather "The world of books is the most remarkable creation of man. Nothing else that he builds ever lasts. Monuments fall; nations perish; civilizations grow old and die out; new races build others. But in the world of books are volumes that have seen this happen again and again and yet live on. Still young, still as fresh as the day they were written, still telling men's hearts of the hearts of men centuries dead." --Clarence Day "While the rhetoric is highly effective, remarkably little good evidence exists that there's any educational substance behind the accountability and testing movement." —Peter Sacks, Standardized Minds "When our children fail competency tests the schools lose funding. When our missiles fail tests, we increase funding. " —Dennis Kucinich, Democratic Presidential Candidate _______________________________________________ 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
