[MOSAIC] Chapter Books

[Susan Nixon]

I did in 3rd grade.  We read in mixed-level groups, discussing the 
chapter beforehand and having 2-3 questions to think about during 
reading, discussing afterward.  I also had them use their reading 
journals to record words that they found difficult, and how they 
determined what it might mean.  Then we discussed those words - quite 
often a group was able to figure out the meaning when no one knew it. 
I think the key was discussion.  We kept double entry journals where 
they wrote questions on one side and answers on the other, sometimes, 
or things to help them keep track of the various characters and what 
their ideas, attitudes, characteristics and actions were, etc. 
(character name on one side - other column to record what you learn 
about that character)

The more discussion there is, among the children in a group, and as a 
whole class, the better it works.  Sometimes I would have the 
students come up with questions about the chapter under discussion. 
Then we would classify the questions, and discuss the answers. 
Sometimes I would give them a list of words and phrases from the 
chapter first, have them discuss them, and then decide what they had 
to do with the story, making predictions about what was in the 
chapter.

There are dozens of ways to make it work, even though they are not 
all on the same level.

Check out <http://www.readingquest.org> for graphic organizers and 
other ideas for intermediate grade students.

-- 
Susan

"Education is not the filling of a pail,
but the lighting of a fire."
	~William Butler Yeats