Welcome to the Novel Unit!
I am excited that we are finally reading To Kill A Mockingbird. This novel is a classic, and it is a great idea for students to have their own copies of the book if possible, so they can make notes in the margins as they read. Below, you will find a copy of the handout that will be distributed in class today. This covers a few procedural issues and grading for the novel unit. Each night, students will have chapters assigned to read. As they read, they will complete a reading journal and answer reading questions provided in class. You will also find those daily reading questions here!
Novel Unit
To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
9th grade lit/comp
Avery/Flowers
Primary Goals:
v Students will be able to recognize and discuss literary elements as they are used throughout the novel
v Students will be able to discuss and write knowledgably about the themes of the novel as they function within the story and in relation to the historical context
Procedures:
We will follow our usual procedures during class time during the TKAM unit (journals, portfolios, etc.). We have only three and a half weeks to spend on this novel, so NO time should be wasted!
v STARTING CLASS- when you arrive in the classroom, quickly take a seat and begin the journal for the day. As usual, you will have only a few minutes once the late bell rings to complete the journal for the day. Journals for the TKAM unit should be a full paragraph in response to the prompt on the board. If you are in the classroom when the late bell rings but you are socializing instead of starting the journal, you are LATE. You will also be counted tardy if you come to class without your book. Every day is very important!
v READING- You have homework every night! We will read this novel at a steady pace. Every night as you read, you will keep a reading journal including, but not limited to, responses to several reading questions. Every day, after the journal time is over, several students will be asked to share something from their reading journals. Each student in the class will be called on at least once a week. When you are called on, you will read something from the previous night’s reading journal. This can be a response to one of the reading questions or something else you wrote down…anything you want to share. This is how your reading journal will be graded. Your responses will be graded for effort and completeness, and your grades will be averaged with your reading quizzes and other assignments to form one of your formal (summative, 60%) grades for this unit.
Resources:
Many resources exist for helping students read this novel (Sparknotes, Cliffnotes, etc.). Some of these resources can be helpful for readers as a SUPPLEMENT to reading the novel. Chapter summaries and study questions can help students think about what they have read. DO NOT use any of these resources as a replacement to reading the novel.
