Consider that all

Home

Chat

Blogs

Collection

Directory

Home : 2006 : July : 19

Consider that all
By maryteach

good books contain everything you need to teach the parts of a novel. I have five to six lit. circles (different books) going on in my room all the time. So we don't study metaphor this week, and inferences next week,
and foreshadowing the week after that. Each group studies each concept as it comes up naturally in their novel. And it will; you have to trust in that. By the end of all the groups, everyone will have studied everything you need them to.

If we decide to do metaphor this week, foreshadowing next week, etc., we miss natural (and much more effective) teachable moments while we

try to shove a different concept in--a concept that maybe is going to come up naturally next week.

That's what I like about novels and books over basals. Books are just so much more authentic, and they really do a better job of teaching your kids. Also, consider that in real life, you and I read books--not basal readers. We should train and educate our kids authentically.

When using a basal, I agree with tia--sit down and decide which skills go with which selection--the people who compile basal series don't know nearly as much about this as you do.