I know a re-read can be a very valuable experience for some students. I
guess I might offer the students who had read it the option. They could
still participate in the discussions of Hatchet, and re-read or read a
companion text. There will be some who might enjoy comparing a companion
rather than re-reading, and they might have some valuable insights to add
to the discussion. That being said, I don't think re-reading will hurt any
of them.

Judy, if you are doing a survival theme, check out the survival anthology
from the series I mentioned. It has great short stories and essays all
around central themes related to survival. It includes a Paulsen essay
about an Iditarod race that is hilarious. These selections would only work
for read aloud probably since they are designed for middle and high school,
but they are great.

PS. At the beginning of the year I do a book survey which lists the
possible books that we can do for whole class novel studies. I also do an
interest inventory about types of lit that kids like to read and base my
selections partially on that.

On 7/04/09, RD wrote:
> I did Hatchet last year with my 6th graders as a whole class novel.
> Some of them had read it already, but I'd say they got lots out of a
> deeper rereading of the text. It's really nearly impossible (unless
> you select a novel that had just recently come to print) to find a
> novel that no one has read. I like cavey/kim's suggestion to read a
> companion novel of Paulsen's, but I think rereading Hatchet is also a
> viable choice for you.
>
> RD (with her two cents)
>
>
> On 7/04/09, judy3ca wrote:
>> cavey, I actually meant to use it as a whole-class shared novel. Do
>> you mean I should have a small group doing something else while I
>> read with a big group? Right now I'm thinking read/reread Hatchet
>> whole group and then some kids can choose other Paulsen works in IR
>> or when I get to small book groups. So, for me, the choice really is
>> Hatchet or trying to find another book no one has read. But then I
>> wondered, how could I possibly find a book NO ONE has read? And how
>> would I know?
>>
>> Kim, I like the idea of doing a demo lesson (whether with Hatchet or
>> another book) where I pick up the book, think aloud 'wait, I read
>> this last year,' but then become completely engrossed again and show
>> the kids how my understanding deepens with a second reading. Are we
>> on the same page?
>>
>> Judy
>>
>>
>> n 7/04/09, Kim1ca wrote:
>>> I think re-reading is a good thing for fifth graders, especially
>>> for those who may not comprehend text as well as you would like.
>>> If there is room for improvement in their mosaic of thought,
>>> then rereading this classic and rich text will surely take them
>>> to the next level.
>>>
>>> You can set the tone by sharing your own experiences of
>>> rereading an old favorite and then make sure they know, not
>>> publicly of course, that you are looking forward to
>>> their "deeper insights."
>>>
>>> Just a thought.
>>>
>>> :-)K

On the Edge of Survival

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