Jacqui Makselon and Kate Stanley

Page history last edited by Kate Stanley 1 yr ago

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Knock-out Books for Middle School

Recommendations and ideas for good reads - books which are likely to appeal to boys and girls with a wide range of interests and ability levels in this age group (11-14 years).

The focus will be on more recent publications rather than long standing favourites and the presentation will incorporate students' comments and views, strategies for incorporating technology to promote reading in the classroom and the library and an opportunity for sharing what Middle School students like to read.

Audience: Middle School

Workshop materials:

Bring 1 or 2 books to share.

Presenters:

Jacqueline Makselon

Tanglin Trust School

Director of Teaching and Learning Resource Centre

Kate Stanley

Overseas Family School

Middle School Teacher-Librarian

If you would like to view the novels and authors recommended in the session please check soon to see the link or the uploaded info. Until then, below is a quick blurb outlining what I hope would be useful ideas for you. I ran a 'Readers' Cup' (Battle of the Books) last year which was an enormous success, and have task sheets, judging rubrics etc. to send you, should you require.

The presentation slides show recommended novels that boys have enjoyed and thus, should inspire other boys to enjoy reading, covering a range of genre and ability levels, with relevant author and novel websites. •

D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything And Read) time starts as soon as the kids enter the classroom. Aim for a quiet entry with an automatic silent reading session of 5 -10 minutes. Reward kids for starting their reading promptly! Pupils can enter novels onto their reading log at the end of that time-slot, whilst/before getting materials ready for the actual lesson. •’ by searching online…
Explore ‘Literary Circles'. ISomething we didn't get into due to time, Grouping kids together in either reading levels or genres creates possibilities for boys to chat if they are reading similar genre and then make a quick 2- 3 minute ‘report’ to the class to foster general interest in what their classmates read.

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Lunchtime movie sessions. I ran a ‘Nancy Drew’ one week, complete with Nancy Drew lemon squares and popcorn. Obviously for the girls, but similar events are easy with a boys’ book to create a simple awareness raising of books. I also do this in the library for Book Week and show a movie during lunchtimes. Or, it could be just a nice class activity to do at lunchtimes with kids bringing in ‘picnic’ food, pizza or you as the teacher making the popcorn in the staff microwave!!

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Teacher websites mentioned throughout are good to explore and see how you can utilise them, as well as the various sites included on actual novel or author slides. Have fun! Search online for author or novel websites with interactive games, print-to-screen clips of movies from the books. (Interactive games could be a quick homework activity with a report back to the class to compare ‘best’ novel websites’.
Youtube clips are a good start to launching DEAR (it’s never too late to introduce it, no reason to wait till start of term!) Pick one clip as a launch 'hook' and then the next week, start the class with another. Usually I show the ‘rap’ clip to the older kids and leave grade 6 with Arthur!
Peer power is incredible for inspiring students to read more widely. It can be as simple as some of the above ideas suggest -with literay groups and book log reports in class , or as creative as Jacqui's wonderful I.T. examples.

Currently I combine teaching English with the role of Teacher Librarian in a school with 65 nationalities. This is a great chance to look at literature from around the world and share the joy of reading with kids from a global perspective, one of the wonderful aspects of working in an International School! A strong culture of reading has evolved here after the introduction of a highly successful 'Book Week' with over 500 students and staff in character costumes, followed by the initiative of a 'Battle of the Books' competition, which was met with incredible enthusiasm by the pupils. Students can't escape the decorative 'fiction murals' they created that adorn the Middle School corridors and drape the library ceiling - they are constantly surrounded by fun visual reminders about their favourite authors and genre. Daily 'Drop Everything and Read' sessions have played their part in cementing the belief in these young teens that reading really 'rocks'! I tell my students that in another world, I would like to be Nancy Drew for a day, but since that is not possible, I make do with getting my teeth into a gripping thriller!

Audiovisual requirements:

computer, projector, screen and speakers