[LIT] Whole Class Novels

[May Dartez]

Hi Bill,

I have heard you speak about the students voting on their own units 
several times. I have always been intrigued by this but somehow have 
never thought to ask.

For example, the personality unit sounds like a very relevant one for 
middle schoolers. Yet, how do you guide them to the point where they 
are choosing themes like this? Do you choose some and then give them 
choices, or do you use a completely different process? I am fascinated 
and would love to hear more about this.

Thanks!

May
6th, GA
On Sep 10, 2006, at 7:36 AM, Bill IVEY wrote:

> Hi!
>
> My Humanities course includes both independent reading and novels read
> either by the whole class or in small group. I actually choose the 
> novels
> by topic - the kids are using democratic principles to design most of 
> the
> units for the year, and as they set the themes I come up with ideas for
> what novels they can read in support of those topics. In the case of 
> small
> group novels rather than whole class, I usually read the first page of
> each before I ask the students to make their choice. Our work on 
> literary
> vocabulary and techniques usually manages to naturally emerge from any
> novels I choose.
>
> Take care,
> Bill Ivey
> Stoneleigh-Burnham School
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org
>
> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to 
> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org.
>