Strider by Beverly Cleary is a captivating novel that will engage your students and spark meaningful discussions in your classroom. This timeless classic, the sequel to the award-winning Dear Mr. Henshaw, captivates readers with its rich themes and relatable characters making it an excellent choice for educators.
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Benefits of Using Strider in Your Classroom:
Relatable Themes: Strider delves into themes that resonate with students of all ages. From friendship and self-discovery to dealing with challenges and finding one’s voice, the novel offers a wealth of topics for meaningful classroom discussions. Students can relate to the protagonist’s journey and learn valuable life lessons along the way.
Character Development: The characters in Strider are well-developed and multi-dimensional, making them perfect for character analysis and discussions about growth and change. Students can explore how the protagonist evolves throughout the story and what drives their actions, fostering critical thinking and empathy.
Literary Analysis Opportunities: Beverly Cleary’s writing style in Striderprovides ample opportunities for literary analysis. From narrative techniques to symbolism and imagery, students can delve deep into the text and uncover layers of meaning, enhancing their analytical and interpretive skills.
Relevance to Curriculum Standards: Strider aligns with various curriculum standards, including those related to language arts, character education, and social-emotional learning. Teachers can seamlessly integrate the novel into their lesson plans to meet educational objectives while engaging students in meaningful discussions and activities.
Encourages a Love for Reading: One of the most significant benefits of using Strider in the classroom is its ability to instill a love for reading in students. The captivating story, relatable characters, and thought-provoking themes can inspire a lifelong passion for literature and storytelling.
Strider by Beverly Cleary is a valuable addition to any classroom library. Its relatable themes, well-developed characters, literary merits, alignment with curriculum standards, and ability to foster a love for reading make it a must-read for students of all ages. By incorporating Strider into your classroom, you can ignite curiosity, foster critical thinking, and create memorable learning experiences for your students.
I offer complete novel studies to accompany Strider for use in the classroom or homeschool. Each unit includes both a printable format and a Google Drive™ format for use in a paperless classroom or with Google Classroom.
Try a free sample of the novel study for Dear Mr. Henshaw
You can purchase the novel study for Strider at the following locations:
I offer the novel study for Dear Mr. Henshaw and the sequel, Strider bundled together at a 20% discount!
Are you interested in reading about and sharing ideas with other educators on using children’s literature in your classroom? My goal is to bring together teachers and homeschoolers who teach grades 3-8 and use novels with their students. I’d love for you to join me to learn, share, and grow together!
Incorporating classic literature into the classroom can significantly enhance students’ reading and writing skills while fostering a lifelong love of literature. One such timeless novel is Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary. This Newbery Medal-winning book is a fantastic choice for educators looking to engage their students with relatable characters, compelling narratives, and valuable life lessons.
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Benefits for Using Dear Mr. Henshaw in Your Classroom:
Relatable Characters and Themes: Dear Mr. Henshaw features Leigh Botts, a young boy dealing with common childhood challenges such as parental separation, moving to a new school, and navigating friendships. These themes resonate deeply with students, making it easier for them to connect with the story. By seeing their own experiences reflected in Leigh’s, students are more likely to engage with the material and participate in discussions.
Promotes Emotional Intelligence: The novel delves into Leigh’s emotional journey as he copes with his parents’ divorce and his feelings of isolation. Reading about Leigh’s experiences helps students develop empathy and understanding for others facing similar situations. Teachers can use the book as a springboard for discussions about emotions, encouraging students to express their feelings and support their peers.
Enhances Writing Skills: Dear Mr. Henshaw is written in an informal format, comprising letters and diary entries. This unique structure offers an excellent opportunity for teachers to introduce students to different writing styles. Educators can assign letter-writing exercises, encouraging students to express themselves creatively and personally, thereby improving their writing skills. This format also helps students understand the importance of perspective and voice in writing.
Teaches Problem-Solving and Resilience: Throughout the novel, Leigh faces various challenges and learns to overcome them. This aspect of the story teaches students valuable lessons about problem-solving and resilience. Teachers can highlight these moments, encouraging students to think critically about how they handle their own difficulties and to develop strategies for overcoming obstacles in their lives.
Encourages Critical Thinking: The book provides ample material for critical thinking and discussion. Teachers can ask students to analyze Leigh’s decisions, motivations, and growth throughout the story. Questions like “Why do you think Leigh feels the way he does?” and “How do you think Leigh’s relationship with his father affects his actions?” can prompt deeper analysis and understanding. Such discussions help students to think critically about literature and its connections to real-life situations.
Support Curriculum Standards:Dear Mr. Henshaw aligns well with various educational standards, including those focused on reading comprehension, writing, and social-emotional learning. Its rich content provides numerous opportunities for teachers to address these standards through reading assignments, writing projects, and class discussions. The novel’s complexity and depth make it suitable for diverse classroom activities that meet curriculum goals.
Holds Timeless Appeal: Beverly Cleary’s engaging storytelling and relatable characters have ensured that Dear Mr. Henshaw remains a beloved book for generations. Its timeless appeal makes it a reliable choice for teachers looking to introduce quality literature that remains relevant and engaging year after year.
Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary is an excellent addition to any classroom. Its relatable themes, emotional depth, and unique writing style offer numerous educational benefits. By incorporating this novel into their curriculum, teachers can enhance their students’ reading and writing skills, foster emotional intelligence, and promote critical thinking.
I offer complete novel studies to accompany Dear Mr. Henshaw for use in the classroom or homeschool. Each unit includes both a printable format and a Google Drive™ format for use in a paperless classroom or with Google Classroom.
Try a free sample of the novel study for Dear Mr. Henshaw
You can purchase the novel study for Dear Mr. Henshaw at the following locations:
I offer the novel study for Dear Mr. Henshaw and the sequel, Strider bundled together at a 20% discount!
Are you interested in reading about and sharing ideas with other educators on using children’s literature in your classroom? I aim to bring together teachers and homeschoolers who teach grades 3-8 and use novels with their students. I’d love for you to join me to learn, share, and grow together!
Beverly Cleary is a legend in children’s literature. Two of my favorite books are Dear Mr. Henshaw and the sequel, Strider, which take you on the journey of young Leigh Botts in his acceptance of his parent’s divorce and the road to acceptance of himself. They are great books to use in your classroom or homeschool for a whole class novel study, small book groups, or individual book studies.
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Beverly Cleary has always strived to write books “about kids like us”. Her books are beloved because they are so relatable to her readers. Leigh struggles with his parent’s separation and his father’s absence due to his job as a truck driver. In Dear Mr. Henshaw Leigh connects with a favorite author and develops a pen pal relationship that helps him work through his feelings and anxieties.
From the Book Jacket for Dear Mr. Henshaw:
Beverly Cleary’s timeless Newbery Medal-winning book explores difficult topics like divorce, insecurity, and bullying through the thoughts and emotions of a sixth-grade boy as he writes to his favorite author, Boyd Henshaw.
After his parents separate, Leigh Botts moves to a new town with his mother. Struggling to make friends and deal with his anger toward his absent father, Leigh loses himself in a class assignment in which he must write to his favorite author. When Mr. Henshaw responds, the two form an unexpected friendship that will change Leigh’s life forever.
From the beloved author of the Henry Huggins, Ramona Quimby, and Ralph S. Mouse series comes an epistolary novel about how to navigate and heal from life’s growing pains.
Leigh’s story of growth and acceptance continues in Strider when he takes in a stray dog (Strider) that helps him accept his place in the world, introduces him to a love for running, and gives him hope for the future.
From the Book Jacket for Strider:
Strider has a new habit. Whenever we stop, he places his paw on my foot. It isn’t an accident because he always does it. I like to think he doesn’t want to leave me.
Can a stray dog change the life of a teenage boy? It looks as if Strider can. He’s a dog that loves to run; because of Strider, Leigh Botts finds himself running — well enough to join the school track team. Strider changes Leigh on the inside, too, as he finally begins to accept his parents’ divorce and gets to know a redheaded girl he’s been admiring. With Strider’s help, Leigh finds that the future he once hated to be asked about now holds something he never expected: hope.
Try a free sample of the novel study for Dear Mr. Henshaw
Beverly Cleary does a masterful job of showing Leigh’s growth through her portrayal of his letter writing and narration which makes a wonderful example for point of view instruction. Many kids can relate to Leigh’s feelings of loneliness, insecurity, sadness over a divorce, missing a parent, trying to find their way and/or talent, and having a beloved pet that gives them unconditional love. The universal relatability is what makes Dear Mr. Henshaw and Strider such wonderful novels to use in your classroom.
I offer complete novel studies to accompany Dear Mr. Henshaw and Strider for use in the classroom or homeschool. Each unit includes both a printable format and a Google Drive™ format for use in a paperless classroom or with Google Classroom.
You can purchase these novel studies at the following locations:
Or buy them bundled together at a 20% discount!
Are you interested in reading about and sharing ideas with other educators on using children’s literature in your classroom? My goal is to bring together teachers and homeschoolers who teach grades 3-8 and use novels with their students. I’d love for you to join me to learn, share, and grow together!
