Setting the Stage for Reading & Responding to the Story

Links with own experiences:

 

Examining the title of the book:

 

About the Author:

 

About the Time Period:

 

Identifying unusual language:

 

Responding to the Story

Character Diary

Purpose: To analyze characters and their development

Instructions: Explain to the students that they are going to create a diary for a character that they select. The diary entries will be written as if the character were writing them. Have the students keep their diaries for several days so they can see if their characters' writing or thoughts progress or change.

Classic Update

Purpose: To gain a sense of time period.

Instructions: Select a classic (or historical novel) that your students want to share. After discussing the book and the time period in which the story takes place, ask the children to pick a favourite scene and then update the scene.

TV Series

Purpose: To summarize.

Instructions: Ask the students whether or not the book would make a good television series. What would they have to change? What would they keep? Have students write a piece promoting their new television show. (Look in TV Guide as a model.)

Advice Column

Purpose: To explore character's actions.

Instructions: Ask student to choose a character from the story. Ask them to write an advice column to that character. They should think about what questions or problems might be bothering that character and how they could best help the character solve the problem.

Play It Again, Sam

Purpose: To make inferences and draw conclusions.

Instructions: have students write an epilogue to the book. In the epilogue they should resolve any problems or write about the next event that will affect the characters in the story.

New Cover, New Title

Purpose: To express sense of story through arts.

Instructions: Ask students to create a new cover for the story. They should think about who should be on the new cover, what scene best illustrates what the story is about, and what kind of cover would make others want to read the story.

Favourite Song.

Purpose: To develop character analysis strategies.

Instructions: Ask students to pick a song they feel a favourite character would like, then share the song with the class. They may want to write their own song for the character. It could be a chant or rap in place of a song.

Character Biography

Purpose: To make inferences and define character.

Instructions: Choose a character. Use the text and their own imagination, have the children write a short biography for the character. Where was the character born, what happened in his or her life, who influenced that life, and what will happen to the character in the future. (Read some biographical sketches or stories for models.)

Centre Stage

Purpose: To identify character traits and dialogue

Instructions: Ask students to choose a character and select a passage that best illustrates what the character is feeling. Now have them expand the dialogue into a character monologue.

The Newscast

Purpose: To list the events in succession and clarify content.

Instructions: Explain to students that they are going to create a news story from the events of the story. Remember to focus on what, were, when, and why of the events. Also remind students that this will be written in an expository style so they should focus on the "facts." Once they have written their stories, have them put together a news show.