In A Novel Approach, Kate takes a deep dive into the troubles and triumphs of both whole-class novels and independent reading and arrives at a persuasive conclusion: we can find a student-centered, balanced approach to teaching reading. Kate offers a practical framework for creating units that join both teaching methods together and helps you: 1) identify the skills your students need to learn, 2) choose whole-class texts that will be most relevant to your kids, 3) map out the timing of a unit and the strategies you'll teach, 4) meet individual needs while teaching whole novels, and 5) guide students to choice books and book clubs that build on the skills being taught.
Above all, Kate's plan emphasizes teaching reading skills and strategies over the books themselves. "By making sure that our classes are structured in a way that really sees students and strives to meet their needs," she argues, "we can keep reaching for the dream of a class where no student is unmoved, no reader unchanged by the end of the year." Video clips of Kate working with students in diverse classrooms bring the content to life throughout the book.
As we read through the book, additional articles will be required reading to engage thinking and conversations, as well as give teachers additional tools to help students who don't read on grade level. This Science of Reading will be woven throughout the study.
This online book study will open on May 28 and run through August 9 and completion will provide 18 hours of professional development. Participants may work at their own pace as they read through the chapters and do the homework on Moodle. One of the greatest benefits of online book studies over the last two years have been the conversations between participants, so responding to other participants' posts will