Part II
did Reader's Theater with my fifth and sixth graders. Many scripts are
available or you can create your own by using dialogue from the novels.
If you have a scanner, you can scan the text into word, and then simply
delete the unneeded text and add character names.
Rodman Philbrick will email his play version of Freak the
Mighty...just visit his website. You can also use Plays magazine.
Also...try short stories...Avi's What Do Fish Have to Do with Anything?
is a great collection and Dahl's Wonderful Adventures of Henry Sugar.
Try tall tales or Greek mythology. I did Greek mythology Reader's
Theater with sixth graders and it was a BIG hit!
Some picturebook authors for older readers...Chris Van Allsburg, Jane
Yolen, Eve Bunting, Robert San Souci. Our sixth graders did an author
study and created posters about the author and her works...Jane Yolen is
very diverse!
Hope this helps!
Although I'm not a librarian, I create book lists for dyslexic children.
Thank you, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco is a good book for fifth grade
and
you might even think it's appropriate for sixth grade, too. I
participated
in a workshop recently and the leader read this book aloud to us. As
adults,
we were all captivated and there wasn't a dry eye in the audience.
Although
I don't expect the students to cry, it is definitely an emotional story.
I used to read Encyclopedia Brown to my older elementary students. They
loved it - Get the ones where the students try to figure out who done it
and why - in just a few pages. First read a chapter to them, then let
them brainstorm in groups and check out books at the same time. Just
before they leave, ask them to solve the mystery; the answers are in the
back of the book. My 4th, 5th, and 6th graders used to love it. I would
still be doing it if I didn't have to teach library skills to my middle
schoolers. If you get really good you can plan the stories with the
teacher's curriculum. We did one about penguins after a class had read
Mr. Popper's Penguins. Because of the story, most of the students solved
the mystery successfully! I love how they have to think to try to figure
out how Encyclopedia Brown solves the crime; you can just hear the
little wheels in their brain whirring!
I have a book called You Be the Jury that my fifth graders LOVED! It's
like the 5 minute mysteries. The book is filled with short mysteries
and I let the students have time to see if they could solve them. They
liked this so much that I tried a couple of other short story books.
Another they liked was Betsy Byars, My Dog, My Hero.
There are also picture books geared to older readers that they still
enjoy. I read
Houdini: World's Greatest Mystery Man and Escape King, by Kathleen Krull
and Eric Velasquez. The kids loved it. Krull has several biography
picture books that are geared to older readers. If you haven't already
done Chris Van Allsburg, he has books that are great for older readers
such as: The Sweetest Fig, The Garden of Abdul Kasazi, and A Bad Day at
River Bend.
I see my fifth graders once a week and I did not like trying to read a
chapter book with them. I started a very short one (Barbara Parks' Mick
Harte was Here) and it took FOREVER. We never did even finish it. From
now on, if I have a chapter book I want to share, I'll find a good
chapter to read to them and let it be a teaser/book talk.
Good luck and I look forward to a post.
I only see students every other week so I don't read chapter books
either. For older students I read either short stories or books where
the chapters are independent of one an other. I've had a lot of success
with scary stories for older kids.
I read to all age levels 5th - 7th in our school. When we had 8th grade
in this building, I read to them as well. I vary what I read.
Sometimes I read short, inspirational material such as excerpts from
Chicken Soup or Earl Woods "Start Something". Other times I read
age-appropriate novels that take many class periods to complete since I
only read a couple of chapters each week. They seem to enjoy it,
depending on the novel I select. 5th graders last year loved
"Gooseberry Park." My 8th graders a couple of years ago really liked
"Ashes of Roses" and even talked about it out of class. Another
well-received title was "The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker."
You have to know your audience, and you might have some classes that
would not be receptive. We have a lot of students who enjoy a good
story, but read below grade level and have comprehension problems. When
I read in library time, it's for pure enjoyment and they know they won't
be tested on it. We talk about vocabulary, background material
necessary to understanding, and I try to explain any cultural references
that may be unfamiliar to them. Most of our students have not traveled
out of this area and are deficient in knowledge of geography and
cultural elements related to regions of their own country...much less
abroad!
I read to all age levels 5th - 7th in our school. When we had 8th grade
in this building, I read to them as well. I vary what I read.
Sometimes I read short, inspirational material such as excerpts from
Chicken Soup or Earl Woods "Start Something". Other times I read
age-appropriate novels that take many class periods to complete since I
only read a couple of chapters each week. They seem to enjoy it,
depending on the novel I select. 5th graders last year loved
"Gooseberry Park." My 8th graders a couple of years ago really liked
"Ashes of Roses" and even talked about it out of class. Another
well-received title was "The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker."
You have to know your audience, and you might have some classes that
would not be receptive. We have a lot of students who enjoy a good
story, but read below grade level and have comprehension problems. When
I read in library time, it's for pure enjoyment and they know they won't
be tested on it. We talk about vocabulary, background material
necessary to understanding, and I try to explain any cultural references
that may be unfamiliar to them. Most of our students have not traveled
out of this area and are deficient in knowledge of geography and
cultural elements related to regions of their own country...much less
abroad!
I do typically read aloud to them but have them every week. In your 3
week rotation, how about reading one or two chapters if short that would
spark their interest and / or start discussions of topics or lead to
research
where they can practice their skills next time. Also, there are a
number
of books wit h very short stories, short puzzles to be read aloud and
Jim
Trelease has a book filled with Read Alouds for teens some of which
might
be appropriate See below from Amazon
Hey! Listen to This: Stories to Read Aloud by Jim Trelease
(Paperback - May 1, 1992)
You're right on. This would not be the best use of your/their time.
Booktalking several books, maybe around a theme, would be better. There
are some (somewhat now dated) titles that can assist you. Their may be
some technology things appropriate for you to work with the kids with,
not to mention information literacy skills. Are you the only elementary
person in your district?
Sandy, I just finished working two years as librarian at a K-5 school
where
I was on the specialists rotation. I saw all 36 classes each week. I
did
read a loud a LOT to the 5th graders, but mostly nonfiction and fiction
picture books. Some of the longer ones, such as The Boy on Fairfield
Street
about Dr. Seuss, I read half the first week, half the next. Three weeks
between classes might be too long, though, to keep the flow of a story.
Short things I did with them:
read lots of poetry
had them do scavenger hunts on the computer
classes could earn game days for good behavior - on game days we
had
puzzles, chess, checkers, I Spy games on the computer, games that
required
some form of strategy.
Yes!!! Read to them as much as possible. You'd be surprised how many
classroom teachers don't. They need to listen to the flow of words,
understand them in context and listen for information. This is
invaluable.
That being said, you won't be able to read an entire book with your
schedule. However, you can do an extended book talk, reading a chapter
or part of a chapter of a book. You might also try reading the first
chapter of a book to them and then check it out to the classroom teacher
to finish! They'll have three weeks and you can talk about it with the
class the next time they visit.
Don't discount nonfiction. The Joy Hakim books (A History of US) read
like fiction, but are packed with great information. Picture books for
older children are another way to go (Smoky Night, Freedom on the Menu,
The Butterfly). Lots to talk about in books like this. Don't forget
short stories, a magazine or newspaper article, even letters (the ones
that Snicket is writing about his impending book are a hoot!). Mix up
the genres and writing styles. Have fun with it!
Sandy:
I have been in an elementary school setting for the
last 5 years. My school has K-5,so please bear with
me. Fourth and fifth grade teachers usually read to
their students as they do novel studies. If there is
a book I think about reading to them I will suggest it
to the teacher and let them add it to their reading
list. Otherwise I pick a book that will be
entertaining and can be finished in the limted time
they are in the library. I also have movies I keep on
the novels that are read in the classroom so that
teachers can show them to the students to do a compare
and contrast.
Here are some books and movies that I have:
A Wrinkle in Time M. L'Engle
Because of Winn-Dixie
Zathura - Chris Van Allsburg
Thief Lord
Tuck Everlasting
Hoot - The movie I think will be out in Oct 2006
Hope this helps.
Sandy, I was in a 5/6 grade school 3 years. Just moving to the jh this
year.
I saw my classes every other week. I tried to alternate visits between
reading/book promotion and research/library skills. I would read picture
books that I could finish in one sitting. When promoting chapter books,
I
would either read a selection from it or just book talk it. I sometimes
would just highlight books by a particular author or genre. I also
pushed
our TX children's choice (Bluebonnet) selections. When teaching
research/library skills I tried to use the subjects they were studying
in
their science or social studies classes. We also spent some time with
teaching reference books, which ones to use when. They really like the
almanacs too so you can do at least a couple of sessions with those.
Good luck. You will love this age group.
I do try to read my 5th graders. They do enjoy it. I
try to read "older" picture books. There is a
reference book called "Picture Books for Older
Readers" I think. I also read alot of the San Souci
stories or short stories where they have to guess the
ending.
My fifth and sixth graders can't remember what happened from one week to
the next, so I typically read books that I can finish in one sitting.
Patricia Polacco and Cynthis Rylant books come to mind because they are
so rich that they lend themselves to multiple levels of discussion.
Don't be afraid to try poetry, either. Shel Silverstein and Eloise
Greenfield have wonderful collections, and you can do all kinds of
things with figurative language.
Sandy,
I teach 5th grade LA and am currently working on my master's. 5th
graders still love to be read to. Although they enjoy the longer
chapter books, the length of time between readings would be detrimental.
Our librarian typically picks a Bluebonnet book (Texas recommended list)
to read each time. That way they get their 5 in to be able to vote and
she is able to model some quality fluency with them.
I work in a K-8 school. Children love to be read to at all ages. It is
tough that you are on a 3 week cycle. I would choose books that can be
completed in one sitting. Choosing a short story from a collection, or
even an easy book related to the curricula or season or special holiday,
or a non fiction book for variation. Magazine articles are always
popular too.
I am no longer in elem., but when I was, I typically just read a
"teaser" to my upper grades. In my 45 minute classtime I would introduce
the book (title, author, publisher, copyright, genre, # of pages - just
the typical) and read an attention grabbing bit for 15-30 minutes. Very
often that would be the beginning, but sometimes not. Obviously,
beginning anywhere besides chapter 1 would require a short buildup to
catch the listeners up to the story. I never tried to continue a book
from week to week - they lose interest - and your 3 week rotation would
be very much to long. Ideally, this teaser session sparked interest in
finishing the story on their own. I always read the same book to every
class in a grade level - it really generated discussion - and so had to
keep at least one copy of the book until I had seen every class. I
normally had a very active reserve list. A second useful trick is to
either pull and display, or have a list available, of
"if-you-enjoyed-this-you-might-like-this-too" books for immediate check
out. The tricky part is being fair about selection and check out. You
don't want to let the first one or two classes clean you out. Fifth and
sixth graders have a strongly developed sense of fairness and the last
few classes could get seriously disgruntled if they are left with the
crumbs every time.
We also always participated in the Texas Bluebonnet voting. You signed
from Texas, so you are most likely familiar with these books and the
bluebonnet process and know that numerous selections are often picture
books that can be read in one class period. Your upper grades will enjoy
these books too. I always tried to use these opportunities to help
students understand that picture books are not necessarily "baby" books
(Van Alsburg for 1st grade? I think not) and that, conversely, big books
with many pages are not necessarily more difficult. These types of read
alouds can really make the point that it is the themes, content,
vocabulary that make a book - not the number of pages.
Can you please share what responses you receive with me? I am a new
librarian ..well practically. This year will be my second year and I
can use all the help I can get with 5th-6th graders. I am "challenged"
in that area! (0:
I am not in rotation but have to schedule some classes every day...not
all day. I guess you could call us semi-flexible. It is really
difficult when I am teaching a class and two other classes come in...1
for research and the other to checkout books! I taught in the classroom
for many years. (0:
Yes - 5th and 6th graders love being read to. I would read them short
stories - and I would do lots of bookstalks by reading sections of books
- just enough to wet their appetite1
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