It's been a few days since my last post. I had a crazy busy weekend and I'm still recovering from the sleepless nights. But I wanted to share some things my students and I have been doing for our in-class novel study.
I'm always on the lookout for new ideas and recently I ordered a grade 6 novel study from Scholastic. They have kits for the whole class in a set called "Movin Up". The books are great and they offer some blackline masters and ideas for teaching the unit.
I adapted my own novel study format, one the kids work on for their home reading, to make it work in class. There are basically three parts: a vocabulary assignment where students keep track of words they don't know or find interesting, a reading journal assignment which encourages students to think about what they're reading and requires a written response after each given section and lastly, a final project where students create whatever they want to show me they understand the book. The whole assignment is centered around performance based achievement and being innovative.
Now here's the problem: it's still lots of paper-pencil work. The kids mostly choose the written responses! How can I get them to be more creative? I have so many ideas of how I would do the assignments, but I don't want to sway them and I really don't want to tell them what to do. But I do want them to think outside the box! Help!
I'm always on the lookout for new ideas and recently I ordered a grade 6 novel study from Scholastic. They have kits for the whole class in a set called "Movin Up". The books are great and they offer some blackline masters and ideas for teaching the unit.
I adapted my own novel study format, one the kids work on for their home reading, to make it work in class. There are basically three parts: a vocabulary assignment where students keep track of words they don't know or find interesting, a reading journal assignment which encourages students to think about what they're reading and requires a written response after each given section and lastly, a final project where students create whatever they want to show me they understand the book. The whole assignment is centered around performance based achievement and being innovative.
Now here's the problem: it's still lots of paper-pencil work. The kids mostly choose the written responses! How can I get them to be more creative? I have so many ideas of how I would do the assignments, but I don't want to sway them and I really don't want to tell them what to do. But I do want them to think outside the box! Help!
I have heard of what is called a tic-tac-toe format.... students still get to choose... and you still provide the options. I will do my best to describe it. If you need clarification please let me know... my brain does not work well these days.
ReplyDeleteCreate a large tic-tac-toe board (and or smaller ones for the students to have to reference). Each column can be a different style of learning.... when students are choosing from the options (some written, some posters, some whatever your heart desires) When choosing students have to make a horizontal or diagonal line... (not vertical)
I think the idea is when you pick your line you are may have to do one assignment that steps you out of your comfort zone.
It does make a lot of work for you to create the board and come up with the assignments and marking rubrics or check list..... But I think the theory is choice with boundaries.
hope this helps