Tips for Planning a novel study: Understanding your Purpose
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated Sept 19, 2023
Welcome back to the second post in my series featuring tips for planning a novel study. The focus of today’s post is all about understanding your purpose. Why do you want to teach a novel study? What do you hope your learners will gain from the experience? Read on for tips for planning a novel study to help make your next book unit a stellar success.
Looking for a FREE Step by Step Novel Study Planning Guide? Click on the image or button below to grab your FREE copy!
For more information on teaching specific novels, you won’t want to miss our posts on teaching Because of Winn Dixie, Wonder, The Hunger Games, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The Outsiders!
Tips for planning a novel study: Defining your purpose
To begin planning a novel study, you need to start with a clear purpose. This means knowing where you want to take your students and what you want them to gain from the experience. To define your purpose, ask yourself these questions:
- How does this novel study fit into your curriculum? Is it a standalone unit or a supplement to a larger unit?
- What do you want your students to gain from this novel study? Think beyond the novel itself and consider transferable skills and broader knowledge.
- What specific experience, culture, or historical period are you aiming to explore?
A novel study can provide context and build a rich understanding for your students, but you need to know your purpose in order to fulfill it effectively.
Tips for planning a novel Study: Additional elements to keep in mind
As you define your purpose, consider these additional factors:
- Essential questions: Think about the big, abstract questions you want your students to answer by the end of the novel study. These questions are usually tied to curriculum units and can help guide your planning.
- Universal theme: If you’re planning your novel study around a universal theme, such as “Overcoming Obstacles” or “Kindness”, be sure to understand its role in your purpose.
- Standards: Identify the target standards your study will cover to ensure you’re hitting multiple standards in a cohesive way. Stick to no more than three standards to avoid surface-level coverage.
- Learning needs and goals: Look at the specific needs of your class and adjust your planning accordingly.
By considering these tips for planning a novel study, you can define a clear purpose for your novel study that will guide your planning and ensure a meaningful learning experience for your students.
If you are struggling with choosing the perfect book for your next novel study, you won’t want to miss our lists of favorite middle school and upper elementary novels!
Looking for more information about teaching and planning novel studies?
Check out these related posts!
Planning Novel Studies Your Learners will Love: What is a Novel Study?
Novel Study Text Selection Tips
Building Novel Study Engagement
Hatchet Novel Study Activities
Middle School Novel Study Favorites
Upper Elementary Novel Study Favorites
On the hunt for novel study activities?
Creative Classroom Core has over 30 different COMPLETE novel studies available! Check them out on TPT by clicking on the image below!
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