[LIT] Grading novels?

[Alison Thela]

I also have students keep a reading response journal for text they read. They are able to choose from a list of topics as you have descibed, or any ideas of their own that they have about the book. I found that reading students work and modeling good responses does really help them so they are not just giving a retelling or copying small details that they remember. I usually use Friday's as a conference and share day, where I can conference with students one on one about their journals, or they can share an entry with the class. Making the students responsible for their journals by having them conference and share usually will produce better entries. 
  Alison 

Barbara Punchak <bpunchak at verizon.net> wrote:
  I, too, require a "reading response journal" from my students. What I do is
type a list of "topics" students could write about. (i.e. theme, character
traits, T-S, T, W connections, predictions, surprising twists, etc.) Then I
fold the sheet and tape the list on the front cover of their reading
journals. I emphasize that they are not to retell the story, teach how to
respond, model it often, and read other students' wonderful entries. Yet, I
still have many who simply "retell" the %$#@& book! *aarrgghh*
Barbara

-----Original Message-----
From: lit-bounces at literacyworkshop.org
[mailto:lit-bounces at literacyworkshop.org] On Behalf Of Horne, Jane
I like the idea of writing a reflection once a week-due on Monday. Do you
discuss the novel in groups or whole class? I also give them the starter
sentences to help them get started. I am trying to get them to go back into
the text to find supprt to back their ideas. 
Jane



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