Thanks everyone for your ideas and thoughts. I am going to be able to use
nearly everyone's ideas, starting with the index cards... I'll go on the
Internet to find summaries and write some open-ended questions based on
them, use the free quiz questions if possible (it's not with the current
selection but that will change from year to year), plus have some general
ones like "what was your favorite part" and "how would you change the
ending". I also recognize that there might be kids who will try to squeeze
by without actually reading the books... and that's okay too.
Reading for prizes is not my favorite thing but it was put forth and
funded by the PTO and... well, what could I do?
original question:
>I am doing a "genre tic-tac-toe" activity with 4th-8th graders to
>encourage them to read different types of books.
>
>Every time they read a book in a certain category (I have chosen 8
>different titles), they can put an "X" in that box. They also have to get
>a parent's signature to verify that they read the book, and I want them to
>also have to talk to me about it.
>
>I have not read all of the books yet either... but I need a simple, quick
>way to verify that the student has actually read the book.
>
>We were going to use SRC quizzes, but happily, someone dropped the ball on
>that and we do not have the program.
>
>So... I'm looking for suggestions that will verify the book's been read,
>but doesn't kill the fun spirit of the activity.
>
Responses:
Terry,
It takes time, but open-ended response questions may be the best way.
"What is it about _____'s character that you identify as similar to your
own? How are you different?"
"If you were to rewrite the solution to the conflict presented, what would
you write?" (Neither of the responses may be "I think it's perfect the
way it is" or other such b.s. answers. Resubmit, kiddo, or don't receive
credit!)
>
>
This site has multiple choice tests for some books but not all!
http://www.bookadventure.com/
When I was doing elementary I made 10 index cards, each with a question
about the book. The student picked 5 of them to answer orally. That was
a pretty painless way to check if they had read the book.
PS: One question was ALWAYS, "Who is the author?"
If you have read a good number of the likely books, you could just ask
the kids to tell you about the book. If you've read the book, you will
know whether they actually read it AND understood it. If you haven't
read it, but you have a bit of time, you could look up a review of the
title. Depending on how much internet access your kids have, they may
not be able to get reviews and "cheat" like you can.
I always look up the summaries/reviews on the Internet and ask questions
AROUND the summaries. (I paste the summaries in a document that I save
with the book name.) What was their relationship like, what was your
favorite part, what didn't you like about it and use what they say to
jumpstart MORE questions. This helps me.
Have them read their? two favorite lines or paragraphs from the book and
to explain why in two or three sentences. That's one way I know that the
kids have read the book since most of the time the picks are from
different parts of the book and the kids have to be ready with it book
marked.
I do a similar activity (I call mine "Book Bingo") for summer reading. I
also struggled with how to confirm that a book's actually been read,
especially since I give out a lot of prizes and post the successful Bingo
boards all over the place. In the end, I decided not to worry about it,
and just to accept that the book was read. I decided that if a student
needs the positive attention that badly, or is so in need of a bookmark or
little eraser or whatever the prize is, that they need to lie, then I'm
going to smile and trust them and let them get away with it. My thinking
is that at the very least, they will go on with some positive feelings
about the library, and as adults maybe someday they'll vote "yes" when
library comes up on some budget. I don't advertise that part of the
deal, and I feel like overall students have been pretty honest.
I think you can't beat the method that asks a critical thinking question
such as:
In what three ways is the main character most like you?
In what three ways are you completely different from the main character?
What one decision or choice did the main character make that, if changed,
would have changed the ending of the book?
Which secondary character had the most influence on the main character and
why?
If the book had to be retitled, what other title would be a near-perfect
match for the book and why?
About the only thing I have been able to do in the past is
tell the student to come back later in the period, I turn
to the middle of the book and try to come up with a
question that they might be able to answer and then have
them come and give me a quick review and also be able to
answer that question. I know that doesn't work with larger
classes, and I usually do my contests such as this during
the summer months when I have fewer kids and more time to
deal with things like this, but that's the only thing I
can think of.
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