As a teacher, you’re always on the lookout for great literature to inspire and engage your students. One book that fits the bill is One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia. This Newbery award-winning novel follows three sisters who travel from New York City to Oakland, California in the summer of 1968 to spend time with their mother, who abandoned them years earlier.
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Benefits of Using One Crazy Summer in Your Classroom:
Provides Diversity and Representation: One Crazy Summer tells the story of three sisters who travel from New York City to Oakland, California to spend the summer with their estranged mother, who is a poet and activist in the Black Panther Party in 1968. This book provides a rare and powerful representation of Black girls in literature. The novel also introduces students to the history of the Black Panther Party and the Civil Rights Movement, which is essential for understanding our country’s past and present.
Provides a Historical Context: The novel takes place during the summer of 1968, a tumultuous time in American history. The Black Panther Party was gaining traction, and the Civil Rights Movement was in full swing. By using One Crazy Summer in your classroom, you can help your students understand the historical context of the time and the social issues that were at the forefront.
Encourages Critical Thinking:One Crazy Summer offers plenty of opportunities for critical thinking and discussion. The novel tackles themes such as family, identity, activism, and resilience. Students can explore these themes through group discussions, writing assignments, and class debates. The novel also touches on more complex issues such as police brutality and the criminal justice system, providing a chance for deeper analysis.
Has an Engaging Storyline: At its core, One Crazy Summeris an engaging and well-written story that will captivate your students. The novel has won numerous awards and has been praised for its compelling characters and vivid imagery. Your students will be eager to read and discuss the book, making it an excellent addition to your classroom curriculum.
Encourages Empathy and Understanding: Reading One Crazy Summerwill help your students develop empathy and understanding toward others. The book’s characters face real-world issues such as poverty, racism, and family conflict, which will resonate with many students. Through reading and discussing the book, students will learn to see the world through someone else’s eyes and to appreciate the diverse experiences of others.
Has a Connection to Real-Life Issues: One Crazy Summer deals with real-life issues that are still relevant today. This book will allow your students to connect their reading to current events and develop a deeper understanding of the world around them. Through reading and discussing the book, students can explore the history of social justice movements and how they continue to shape our society today.
One Crazy Summeris a must-read for any classroom. This novel is an excellent tool for teaching critical thinking, writing skills, empathy, and understanding towards others. Its representation of Black girls in literature and introduction to social justice issues make it a valuable addition to any curriculum. By using One Crazy Summer in your classroom, you will not only enhance your student’s learning experience, but you will also empower them to make a positive impact on the world.
I offer a complete novel study to accompany One Crazy Summer, which includes an informational WebQuest to learn more about the Black Panther Party’s Free Breakfast Program, for use in the classroom or homeschool. The 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 One Crazy Summer
You can purchase this novel study at the following locations:
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!
Some of my most vivid childhood memories of school were the novel studies I read for various subjects. It was my favorite way to learn skills, history, and any topic! I love books, and being allowed to read an entire book from cover to cover as a school assignment put me in heaven! I am sure this is a major reason why, as a teacher, my passion is to create and teach novel studies! I love introducing new books to my class, and as a community, being immersed in the book together. I love it when a student pulls us off the schedule with a question or comment from something they read and leads the class into a lively discussion. That’s where the real memorable learning takes place, after all!
I create novel studies more than any other product line simply because I like to focus on what I love. I want to work with my passion! I often get questions from readers asking how I would set up novel studies in my classroom. I decided to write a small series explaining my methods. For the most part, my novel studies include comprehension questions, vocabulary/grammar skill work, extension activities, and assessments.
Today’s post, part 3, deals with pacing the novel study. You can read part 1 and part 2 here.
Novel Studies Part 3: Pacing
One of the challenges of using novel studies in the classroom is finding the time. It’s a balance between not moving too fast and not letting the unit drag on for too long because we all know you have a million other things to squeeze into your curriculum!
Each of my complete novel studies includes detailed daily teacher lesson plans that include the objective and directions for the day. You can see how this is designed fo my Freak the Mighty Novel Study.
I also create a pacing guide for each novel study that helps you map out your long-range plan. You can see an example here from my Crenshaw Novel Study.
It’s a delicate balance to set the pacing. I generally try to aim for approximately 20 pages to read per day. This will be altered based on the chapter sizes. I don’t schedule split chapters as I feel this disrupts the reader. I know I hate to stop reading mid-chapter. That’s just mean!
All of my novel studies offer a Google Drive™ format, in addition to the printable format, shown above, to use with your students. This allows you to use novel studies in a 1:1 classroom, save paper, and easily engage students that are absent. Here’s an example page from the Google Drive™ format of my Wishtree Novel Study. The same pacing would apply for the Google™ version as you would use for the printable version.
This pacing is a suggestion as it has worked for me, but it is very adaptable, so you can work to fit it into the schedule that you are working with. The planning pages are written for a whole class novel study, but can be easily adapted to fit small book groups or individual novel studies. How much teacher interaction you want to have during the course of the study is up to you and can be worked in with the suggested pacing.
Join me for part 4 of my series to learn how I add extra experiences to my novel studies for deeper learning and growth.
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!
Some of my most vivid childhood memories of school were the novel studies I read for various subjects. It was my favorite way to learn skills, history, and any topic! I love books, and being allowed to read an entire book from cover to cover as a school assignment put me in heaven! I am sure this is a major reason why, as a teacher, my passion is to create and teach novel studies! I love introducing new books to my class, and as a community, being immersed in the book together. I love it when a student pulls us off the schedule with a question or comment from something they read and leads the class into a lively discussion. That’s where the real memorable learning takes place, after all!
I create novel studies more than any other product line simply because I like to focus on what I love. I want to work with my passion! I often get questions from readers asking how I would set up novel studies in my classroom. I decided to write a small series explaining my methods. For the most part, my novel studies include comprehension questions, vocabulary/grammar skill work, extension activities, and assessments.
Today’s post, part 2, deals with the vocabulary/grammar skill aspect of the novel studies. You can read part 1 here.
Novel Studies Part 2: Vocabulary/Grammar Skill Work
One of the beautiful things about reading books is that it expands your vocabulary. It introduces you to new words that you can build into your commentary. Being exposed to these new words within the context of a story helps the reader infer the meaning of the word, and it helps to see the word used in action to help the student understand its relevance.
When I create a novel study, I try and pick out all the words that would be unfamiliar to a reader while at the same time not overdoing it by having such a long list of words for each chapter that the reader is pulled from the story. Balance is imperative.
I would always write the vocabulary words for the day/chapter on the board before starting the reading so the student would keep a lookout for those words as they read.
I create a vocabulary bookmark for the student to have in hand as they read. They can record the page number of the word and note the inference they made about the meaning of the word as they encountered it in context. You can see how this is designed for my Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Novel Study.
I also create another page that the student can attend to after they’ve completed their chapter reading. They will use their bookmark to locate the page number of the word. Next, they will look up the dictionary definition of the word and check it against the inference made on the bookmark as they read. You can see an example from my Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Novel Study.
Each unit will contain some activities to work with the words and definitions, such as a crossword puzzle or word search.
I also like to work with grammar skills in context. My units contain a grammar skills activity for each vocabulary word that allows them to identify the part of speech of the word. There is also a sentence using the word written with improper grammar, missing punctuation, and misspellings. The student will need to correct the sentence to the proper written format. Here’s an example page from my Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Novel Study.
All of my novel studies offer a Google Drive™ format, in addition to the printable format, shown above, to use with your students. This allows you to use novel studies in a 1:1 classroom, save paper, and easily engage students that are absent. Here’s an example page from the Google Drive™ format of my Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Novel Study.
Pacing and approaching vocabulary in this manner has worked very well for me. It allows the students to think about the words and their meaning in context while not disrupting the story to learn the correct definitions.
Join me for part 3 of my series to learn the pacing methods I use for my novel studies.
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!
As an upper elementary school teacher, you are always looking for ways to improve your students’ reading skills and foster a love of reading. One way to do this is to implement a read-aloud time in your classroom. Read-aloud time is an opportunity for students to listen to their teacher read a book out loud, improving their vocabulary, comprehension, and reading fluency. Read-aloud time can be a powerful tool for building literacy skills.
How to implement read-aloud time in an upper elementary classroom.
Choose the Right Book:
Choosing the right book is essential for a successful read-aloud time. You want to choose a book that is appropriate for your students’ reading level, interests, and age group. Consider using books that are relevant to the curriculum or books that are part of a series as a hook so that students may choose to continue with the series on their own.
Create a Routine:
Set a schedule for your read-aloud time, and make sure your students know when it is. This can be a daily or weekly activity, and it should be consistent. This will help your students develop a routine and get excited about read-aloud time. For my classroom, we’d read a chapter every day after lunch recess to help transition from the chaos of lunch and recess to the classroom.
Create a Reading Environment:
Creating a reading environment can help your students get into the right mindset for read-aloud time. This can include dimming the lights and/or using a special reading area. This doesn’t have to be expensive or fancy. In my classroom, I had a living room chair I found for $20 at a garage sale, a square of carpet that I bought fairly cheap at Lowes, and a couple of cheap bean bag chairs. The kids were allowed to stay at their desks or lounge in the carpeted area. We had a revolving schedule for bean bag privileges.
Engage Your Students:
Engaging your students during read-aloud time is crucial for building literacy skills and comprehension. You can do this by asking open-ended questions, encouraging discussion, and having students predict what will happen next in the story. Don’t forget to laugh with them during the humourous parts too! Students LOVE to laugh with you!
Follow-Up Activities:
This part is optional based on your objectives for this time. For me, I just wanted a time of freedom to just love reading, so other than the discussion we had as we read, I didn’t follow up with any activities or assessments. You might feel like you need more so you can follow up with activities after read-aloud time that can reinforce the concepts and vocabulary introduced during the reading. This can include writing prompts, vocabulary quizzes, or even arts and crafts activities related to the story.
Read-aloud time is an important part of an upper elementary classroom’s literacy program to improve your students’ reading skills. By choosing the right book, establishing a routine, creating a comfortable reading environment, engaging your students, and providing follow-up activities, you can make read-aloud time an effective and enjoyable experience for your students.
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!
As children grow older, their reading skills progress, and they may become more independent in their reading habits. However, research shows that reading aloud to older elementary and middle school students has numerous benefits that can positively impact their academic and personal lives.
What are the benefits of adding read-aloud for upper elementary and middle school students?
Improves Listening Skills:
Reading aloud to older children helps improve their listening skills. When students listen to a book, they have to focus on the speaker’s tone, pronunciation, and rhythm. It can help students to pay attention to details, build their vocabulary, and develop their ability to understand more complex sentence structures.
Vocabulary and Language Development:
One of the most obvious benefits of reading aloud to older children is that it can help to expand their vocabulary and improve their language skills. By reading books that are slightly above their reading level, you can introduce them to new words and phrases that they might not encounter otherwise. This can help them to become more confident and articulate in their own language, which can be beneficial in a variety of academic and social situations.
Enhances Reading Comprehension:
Reading aloud to older children can also help to improve their comprehension and critical thinking skills. When students hear a text read aloud, they can visualize the plot, characters, and settings more easily. It can help students understand the plot’s nuances and themes, which can deepen their understanding of the story. By asking questions about the text, you can encourage them to think deeply about what they are reading and to draw their own conclusions. This can help them to become more analytical and independent thinkers, which can be valuable both in and out of the classroom.
Promotes Critical Thinking:
Reading aloud can promote critical thinking. When students listen to a text read aloud, they can analyze the author’s message and purpose, make inferences, and draw conclusions. This can help students to develop their analytical and critical thinking skills, which are essential for success in school and beyond. By asking questions about the text, you can encourage them to think deeply about what they are reading and to draw their own conclusions. This can help them to become more analytical and independent thinkers, which can be valuable both in and out of the classroom.
Builds a Love for Reading:
Reading aloud can foster a love for reading. As students grow older, they may become more self-conscious about their reading abilities, which can lead to a lack of confidence and motivation. By reading aloud to older students, educators and parents can help create a positive and enjoyable reading experience that can spark a love for reading that will last a lifetime.
Emotional and Social Development:
Reading aloud to older children can also have a positive impact on their emotional and social development. By sharing stories and characters with them, you can help them to develop empathy and compassion for others. This can be especially important during the middle school years when children are often navigating complex social dynamics and trying to figure out their place in the world.
Bonding and Connection:
Reading aloud to older children can be a wonderful way to bond with your class and foster a sense of community. When students listen to a text read aloud, they can share their thoughts and opinions with their peers. This can create a collaborative learning environment where students can learn from one another and build stronger relationships with their classmates.
Reading aloud to upper elementary and middle school students has numerous benefits that can positively impact their academic and personal lives. It improves listening skills, enhances reading comprehension, builds a love for reading, promotes critical thinking, and fosters a sense of community. As educators and parents, we should continue to prioritize reading aloud to our children, even as they grow older, to ensure they have the necessary skills and love for learning to succeed in school and beyond.
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!
Novel Studies Part 3: Pacing
All of my novel studies offer a Google Drive™ format, in addition to the printable format, shown above, to use with your students. This allows you to use novel studies in a 1:1 classroom, save paper, and easily engage students that are absent. Here’s an example page from the Google Drive™ format of my 
Novel Studies Part 2: Vocabulary/Grammar Skill Work
When I create a novel study, I try and pick out all the words that would be unfamiliar to a reader while at the same time not overdoing it by having such a long list of words for each chapter that the reader is pulled from the story. Balance is imperative.
I also like to work with grammar skills in context. My units contain a grammar skills activity for each vocabulary word that allows them to identify the part of speech of the word. There is also a sentence using the word written with improper grammar, missing punctuation, and misspellings. The student will need to correct the sentence to the proper written format. Here’s an example page from my 
All of my novel studies offer a Google Drive™ format, in addition to the printable format, shown above, to use with your students. This allows you to use novel studies in a 1:1 classroom, save paper, and easily engage students that are absent. Here’s an example page from the Google Drive™ format of my 
