My plan was to read The Westing Game with my students this year like I do every year, but I found out that about 10 of them have already read the book. It's not fun to read a murder mystery when you have already figured out the mystery.
So I'm going to read Restart with my students instead. It's not a murder mystery, but I'm really excited to dive into this book with my students. This nine-weeks we are focusing on Literary Elements so I think this is the perfect book for that objective.
The skills that we will be working on:
- Plot
- Setting
- Characterization
- Conflict
- Point of View
- Literary Devices
- Paraphrasing
- Research
- Notice and Note Signposts
- Theme
- Compare and Contrast
- Fact and Opinion
- Author's Purpose
I love the fact that this book is told from multiple perspectives because we can get really good compare/contrast of situations and characters through this format. Within the first few chapters we get to see a scene told from the perspective of 5 different characters and can discuss the whats and whys of that situation.
Also, with multiple characters being the narrator, we get to see a lot of characterization from different perspectives.
So that it's not overwhelming for my students (5th grade) I have assigned them roles for each chapter. They will be in charge of one or two things for two chapters and then they will get a new role for two chapters. Everyone will get to focus on something while we read which keeps them accountable and helps them to think deeply about their role and we will discuss what everyone has been focused on at the end of each chapter. They will do each role for two chapters before switching to a new role so that they get enough practice finding each thing.
Example:
Johnny and Elise will be looking for minor character characterization for two chapters. They will write down examples of characterization about all characters except Chase Ambrose for chapter one and all characters except Shoshanna Weber for chapter two. Chapters three and four they will be focused on literary devices. They will keep track of all literary devices and what their possible meanings are. Chapters five and six they will work on Contrasts/Contradictions and Words of the Wiser.
To begin we will do a little research and writing on amnesia and bullying. They will need this background information and this mindset before getting into the book so they can understand what is happening to Chase throughout the story.
Throughout we will be reading picture books to get practice with the signposts and to get more stories about amnesia and bullying. I'll probably pull in some articles and poems if I can find them.
During RTI I will pull the students that I think need some more practice on literary elements since that is our main focus.
I can't wait to get started on Monday!
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