[LIT] How long do you spend on novels?

[Judith Parker]

I think students benefit from exploring the nuances of the text more than taking comprehension quizzes, unless your learning objective is to use novel-reading as a reading comprehension learning activity alone. If you are exploring literary elements (characterization, setting, historical relevance, etc.) then the slower pace is strongly recommend. 
   
  As long as the activities are aligned with your state's learning standards and will help students grow as critical thinkers and interpreters of text, go for it. I do caution against taking seven weeks to read any novel, since students need a broad range of texts to digest in a year, it might be better to focus on developing one or two skills (characterization, motivation, point-of-view, etc) versus trying to cover all the bases in one fell swoop. 

Ashli and Paul Andersen <andersen7279 at gmail.com> wrote:
  A the other 8th grade reading teacher and I are reading the same books in
our classes, but he goes through his books much quicker than I do. I do all
sorts of activities with my students that he doesn't do. He gives quizzes
and tests, but just reads reads reads. He spent about 3 weeks reading The
Outsiders and I spent about 7 or so. How long is too long to spend reading
a novel? I think my activities help make connections and understand the
book better. He thinks the questions/quizzes get the same point across.
What do you all think?

Ashli
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Judith


"To gain knowledge, add things every day. To gain wisdom, remove things
every day." -- Lao Tzu
 
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