Thread: A Basic Question about Teaching Novels

You could borrow a full length version on audio CD/tape from the library. That at least saves your voice...

I'm dreading THE NOVEL next year because students don't read any more.

It is also useless showing them the video because they write everythinga bout the video which may/may not contain the thngs in the book.

My students do almost all of their reading aloud in class, mainly because they won't read on their own. And if students do read on their own, it's the top students and the lower students don't read. So the higher students climb higher in reading abiltities and the lower students sink lower. Reading aloud let's me even it out a little bit. Of course, I've spent the past three weeks reading a novel in a block class. It's a bit much, but at least everyone's reading.

I read fast, so I often read novels aloud to the kids. I read two to my sixth graders last grading period, and I only had them for 8 weeks. I also buy a lot of the books on tape. The kids really like those.

I just taught Animal Farm with one set of books, and the kids largely read on their own. I would tell them to get to a certain chapter, and then have a quiz. If you make the quiz at the end of the period, that gives them more incentive to read. I also got a lot of grading done while they were reading. Also, books on tape rock!

Those of you who are recommending books on tape: do you have them listen to the entire book on audio and follow along with their copies of the book? Do you stop it to discuss it? I've never seen a teacher use an audio book, but it seems like a great idea.

I'm on a block schedule -- I meet my classes every other day for an hour and a half. It just seems like we can never get anything done!!

An Hour and a half is excellent! You'd get thru the novel FAST if you did it on tape. Just stick the tape in and follow it in the book. It's like a movie only they have to imagine the pictures.

Personally though I would stop it at crucial points to ask questions, do quizzes, look at plot structure, character development etc etc the usual novel stuff.

It is really unfortunate to hear you say that you dread reading/teaching novels to them.

I know many of us don't have much say in what we teach the kids, but I always keep this in mind when choosing novels.

Would I have wanted (or been interested) in reading this when I was there age?

If the answer is a resounding no, I move onto somethign else. And when I don't have much of a choice, I try everythign in my power to make it viceral and interesting.

I am currently teaching ENder's Game and the kids are eating it up b/c it is such a good book. Does it have the same "literary value" of Lord of the Flies, maybe, maybe not...but it doesn't matter b/c they are reading something that they can learn from and in turn be a better person b/c they did read it.

My 2 cents,
CR

Um...I don't think I said I dread reading/teaching novels to my students. If I did, I certainly didn't mean to. I love teaching novels and I love sharing them with students. Of course subjective taste comes into it, and I personally would hate teaching Ender's Game. I always have Independent Reading projects so students can choose their own novels in addition to what we do in class, but I have to tell you -- I find To Kill a Mockingbird to be an important novel that actually should be taught, and many students love it.

My problem is not the teaching of novels itself -- it's how to get through the novel from a time standpoint, particularly when you only have one class set. Sorry if I didn't make that clear.

Um...I don't think I said I dread reading/teaching novels to my students. If I did, I certainly didn't mean to. I love teaching novels and I love sharing them with students. Of course subjective taste comes into it, and I personally would hate teaching Ender's Game. I always have Independent Reading projects so students can choose their own novels in addition to what we do in class, but I have to tell you -- I find To Kill a Mockingbird to be an important novel that actually should be taught, and many students love it.

My problem is not the teaching of novels itself -- it's how to get through the novel from a time standpoint, particularly when you only have one class set. Sorry if I didn't make that clear.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to come off like I was attacking you...that wasn't my intention--yesterday was one of those days that make you question ever entereing into this profession so I was a little on edge.

I understand the time issue--I only have 45 minutes per period. It is hard if each student doesn't have a copy of the book to take home. During my internship I read all of The Lord of the Flies to my class. It took almost the entire 9 weeks, but we got through it, and they understood it.

TKAMB is an excellent book and YES they should learn it. How much time do you have to spend on this novel? Is that an issue...I have begun learning that depth vs. breadth is sometimes a good thing.

I apologize if my post sounded snarky yesterday.

CR