Hi Leslie I have been utilizing a variety of novels for book clubs for several years now in my 6th grade LA classes. I worried about how will I know what is going on in all these books that different book clubs are reading. It worried me when I first started. I found it isn't a problem I can usually pick up on the gist of the story by listening in on the students conversations during their discussion days. Plus, I create areas of focus each time my students embark on a new book club reading. We might focus on the main character and their development throughout the story or how the author sets the scene and brings the reader into the story and what that does for us as a reader, etc. I always have them respond to prompts each time they read and this gives them jumping off points for discussion the next day.
I can see that I am at a slight advantage in that my media specialist is amazing and keeps our shelves stocked with great novels in a variety of genres with multiple copies and, will even hunt down more from other sites in our district if I need them. Additionally she keeps a variety of levels below, on and above grade level. This year I found four mentor texts I used to teach everything I wanted to teach and the students kept them in their writing folders to reference and use when I taught mini lesson for writing. I am always on the lookout for good text to share with my students in the news or in books. You are so right though there is so much out there! Hope this helps, Susan On Tue, May 6, 2008 at 10:55 AM, STEWART, L <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > This year I am realizing that the text that you choose is critical to > generating meaningful discussions in book clubs and mentoring student > writing. I am finding our reading department is lacking books that > would create a rich dialogue or model a strong essay. I think it would > be incredibly helpful if this group would put together a recommended > book list for book clubs, etc. It is impossible to read all of the > books that are published and some of the on-line book lists are just a > list of age or grade level appropriate books. I bought a text on using > mentor texts for writing but I have not found a similarly useful book > for book clubs, at least in the primary grades (third). Any ideas or > suggestions are welcome. > Thanks. > Leslie > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
