Reading Out Loud

Last week at TFAA, I read chapter 7 of The Outsiders to the class. The previous week, I let them read the chapter, so this week I asked them if they would rather read or if they wanted me to read. Most of the students wanted to hear me read to them, so I did. Most of them were attentive, so I think they enjoyed it and were paying attention. They have to answer questions for each chapter and fill out an ongoing character list, so they usually pay attention so they can get that done. I'm eager to see them start the literature circles that Ms. Townes had told me about before the first of the school year. They are halfway through The Outsiders, so maybe after they are finished with this book, I will get to see them in groups reading, discussing, and presenting to the class.

Reading The Outsiders

Mrs. Townes' 7th graders are now reading The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. She gave them questions to answer on chapters 1-3 for Wednesday as well as a character list and gang list for them to fill in information such as physical appearance, personality characteristics, and major event. They will continue to add to their character and gang lists until they are finished reading the book. I think that is a great idea. My junior year in high school, my teacher had my class keep character notecards, and it was very handy to have around, especially when I started writing the paper she assigned. Back to the practicum...I facilitated discussion about chapters 1-3 by going over the questions and character lists with them. This class is very talkative and eager to respond. It helped that they had already answered the questions as their homework because they were prepared to discuss the book.

Today we read chapter 4 and part of chapter 5 out loud in class. I started by reading a couple of pages, and then let the students read down the line using the tap method--when the reader is tired of reading aloud, he/she taps the person next to him/her so that person will start reading. If someone does not want to read, they just tap the next person to keep it going. It worked out pretty well; although, I think the ones who were listening liked it better when I read to them. They are on fall break next week, so they are eager to start their break!

Elizabeth