Book Club - Lisa Teaches Reading

First Chapter Friday classroom bulletin board displaying featured books to spark student reading interest

Looking to start First Chapter Friday for Fifth Grade students in your elementary or middle school classroom?

Sharing the first chapter of a novel or text builds interest and understanding for your students and motivates them to finish the book. While the booklists were created for fifth grade, the books list may be great for fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade students.

What is First Chapter Friday for Fifth Grade?

First Chapter Friday for fifth grade students sets the stage for the students to preview a variety of books throughout the year. The premise is basic enough, when you have time, read the first chapter (or first few chapters or pages) of a book aloud for your students.

When students take the time to start book, they usually get hooked. First Chapter Friday is kind of like an extended sneak peek of a text.

You can read more about the details of what First Chapter Friday is at First Chapter Friday Books and Resources for Upper Elementary & Middle School

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Book Club, Comprehension, Informational Text, Read Aloud

World War II Novel Study Free Resources for Upper Elementary

Lisa

Students in Upper Elementary are usually very interested in learning about World War II and the Holocaust. Read on for resources to engage and teach students when doing a World War II Novel Study.

The concept can be tricky to navigate between balancing age appropriate information in upper elementary with the realities of the events of World War II.

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Classroom Library, Back To School, Book Club, Read Aloud

First Chapter Friday Books and Resources for Upper Elementary & Middle School

Lisa

First Chapter Fridays area great way to introduce students to new books, authors and genres by helping to give a good book a chance and check it out.

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Comprehension, Book Club, Conflict in Reading

Tips For Successfully Teaching the Novel Hatchet at School

Lisa

Teaching the Novel Hatchet can be enjoyable for many classrooms, but some students may struggle to get through the book.

The novel Hatchet by Gary Paulsen is a book that is often used for novel studies in many upper elementary or middle school classrooms. It is a book that has a lot going for it and pulls in many students however, the main character is alone for most of the book, which can be a challenge for some readers.

t’s a novel that instantly captivates students with its high-stakes survival plot, but as many of us know, the story’s depth lies far beneath the surface—in the internal conflict, the masterful setting, and the incredible character growth of 13-year-old Brian Robeson.

Read on for some tips to successfully teach the novel Hatchet.

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