Absolutely! Here is the idea. There are kids out there that big books like Harry Potter terrify them. They want to read it, but the shear size of it? Way too big. You may have tried coaching them through telling them to take it slow.
I want you to consider ripping a book into chunks for that student. Pick however many chapters you think the student could handle and rip them apart. Keep the chunks in a ziplock bag and label them. Students take a chunk home, read it, then bring it back to you. Then you can discuss what happened in the chapters they read, check for understanding, and see if they can predict what will happen next.
This idea also works for teaching students to communicate and collaborate. Take a smaller chapter book, like Maniac Magee and rip it into equal parts and then give different parts of the book to a group of students. Their assignment is to take the book home, read it, and come back the next day prepared to share their portion of the book. They could outline what happend, noting who the characters were and the setting.
The group would then try to put the pieces together. This involves hearing others in the group and collaborating.
Getting the books ripped can be a little tricky. Arm yourself with a pair of scissors and bend back the spine. Select the chapters and then use the scissors to start cutting into the binding. From there you can either rip it or cut down the spine. Try to find books at garage sales or thrift stores to lessen the sickening feeling of cutting a book up. It sure made me feel better.
Alright, don't be mad that I suggested ripping up books! It really could change the way a student looks at those giant books now. By the way, I really love Maniac Magee-it was strange to rip the book up, but worth while.
hmm... risky. But, I LIKE IT! You're right.. breaking a larger topic into sub topics makes it more manageable for students. So, why not a book too? I bet more kids would read them! GREAT IDEA! :)
ReplyDeleteAlways A Lesson
Thanks Gretchen. It really does just feel wrong in the moment but when you see the student do better with chunks, the guilt just goes away :D Thanks for coming by.
ReplyDeleteI did this in the lower grades as one of my teaching evaluations, and received an exceptional evaluation! I used a Horrible Harry book, ripped out the chapters of the book, assigned one chapter to each group, who was responsible for reading, illustrating and summarizing their chapter; they then presented it to the class! And the response of the kids when they actually SEE you do this in front of them...priceless!
ReplyDeleteI have been ripping up travel guides for years to keep from lugging the whole thing on my trip. Never thought of it for my classroom or struggling readers. Good idea!
ReplyDeleteI do love Maniac Magee so much. I remember my 6th grade teacher reading it to us shortly after it was pubished. Then years later I used it in a literature circle teaching my 5th graders. This is a great idea and this book really lends itself to being split into chuncks! Thanks for the great idea.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words. Maniac is a super special book, but even giant books like Harry Potter would be a great one for a student who wants to read it, but the size terrifies them. Thanks for coming by.
ReplyDeleteSo, do you black out all the page numbers and chapter numbers?
ReplyDeleteYes, if you are dividing the book up for a group then you would want to black out the page numbers, chapter numbers.
ReplyDeleteGood idea Adrianne! I think it really would help the students who are reluctant to read those big books. I might have to give that a try!
ReplyDelete~Stephanie
Teaching in Room 6