Re: Reading a novel...in class?

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High school teachers have students read novels in class or use a tape
for the kids to listen to because students do not DO homework anymore
even when it is assigned. Any work we want done by kids for a grade or
otherwise must be done in class. The honest truth is most kids do
not read for pleasure. You can tell this by looking at their writing.

On 10/22/10, P. Hays wrote:
> I teach 6-8 grade literature. I create a syllabus which lets
> students know what the reading and other assignments will be done on
> each day of the reading. (example:
>
> Syllabus: 2010
> Seventh Grade Girls “Becoming Naomi Leon” by Pam Munoz
> Ryan Mon. October 4 Read
> A Rabble of Yesterdays & Chapter 1 (pages 1-15) HW:
> “Things I Am Good At” (DUE Tuesday, 10/5) HANDOUT:
> Vocabulary for Chapters 1-4 (DUE Thursday, 10/7)
> HW: Study Guide Chapters 1-4 (DUE Thursday, 10/7)
>
> Tues. October 5 Read Chapters 2 & 3 (pages16-33) HW:
> Cast of Characters (DUE Thursday, 10/21) TURN IN: “Things
> I Am Good At”
>
> Wed. October 6 Read Chapters 4 & 5 (pages 34-51)
> Review Vocabulary Chapters 1-4 HANDOUT:
Vocabulary
> for Chapters 5-8 (DUE Tuesday, 10/12)
> HW: Study Guide Chapters 5-8 (DUE Monday, 10/11)
>
> During class we collect what is due to be turned in, discuss the
> homework/assignments/vocabulary, and then read the book in class.
> Any reading which is not finished in class is read at home, but this
> allows me to discuss the book with the students as we read
> (sometimes I read and sometimes they take turns reading aloud.
> Rarely, they read in class silently on their own.) I prefer to read
> so I can keep stopping to discuss a point and invite responses. We
> keep up with the syllabus and are able to read six or eight books a
> year this way, and still have time for essays, grammar, and short
> stories, poetry, etc., from the regular literature textbook.
>
>
>
> On 10/04/10, Sue wrote:
>> So, how do you assess their reading comprehension if they don't
>> read? Listening and following with one's eyes is not reading.
>>
>> How does what you do lead them to be able to indpendently read
>> when they leave school or go on to further if it is read aloud
>> for them?
>>
>> I ask because I see this as a common practice in high school
>> classes as well as middle school classes. When CAN students be
>> expected to read independently?
>>
>> On 10/04/10, Miss English wrote:
>>> Really, reading the novel during class time is necessary in
>>> order to ensure the students are comprehending the developing
>>> plot of the story. Also, the curriculum usually allows for big
>>> chunk of time to cover the novel. (Mine is 6 weeks) As well as
>>> including activities that can be used to accompany the reading.
>>> You can't expect middle school students to read the novel at
>>> home. I teach 9th grade and we read the novel aloud in
>>> class;(this is the unit were currently on actually) as we read,
>>> I do question the students to check for understanding, but also
>>> the students answer study guide questions and fill in character
>>> charts. However, I do add other activities in. I do a lot of
>>> "free writing predicting" where I give the students 5 minutes
>>> to write about what they think will happen next. Another
>>> activity I do is have the students create a collage on the
>>> novel's main character; I have magazines for them to cut from
>>> and they will paste words/pictures that symbolize the main
>>> character - they work on this throughout the course of the
>>> reading. I give them a few minutes a couple times a week to
>>> work on their collages. As they learn more about the main
>>> character, they can gradually add more to the collage.
>>>
>>> I know reading a novel in class may seem as if it is a waste of
>>> time, but really it is the best way to ensure they read and
>>> understand it. However, every day doesn't have to be all about
>>> reading; you can throw in other activities that relate to the
>>> novel.
>>>
>>> On 9/27/10, Mike wrote:
>>>> I was just wondering what some different ways are to teach
>>>> a novel to Middle School students. I was observing a young
>>>> teacher and want to give her some alternatives to having
>>>> students read to the class while she asks questions. This
>>>> seems like a good way to ensure the students read the
>>>> novel, but there has to be a better way to spend class
>>>> time. Does anyone have any suggestions?
 

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