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Learning The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56
Book Club Meeting Dates
January 17, 2008
March 11, 2008
May 1, 2008
May 12, 2008
May 22, 2008
March 11, 2008
May 1, 2008
May 12, 2008
May 22, 2008
Tioga County Teacher's Center
Esquith Links
5 comments:
The most important aspect of Room 56 is the love of learning which Rafe is able to instill in his students. He embraces reading and models reading for his students. He forms different book clubs and reading groups, and intentionally visits the library with his students and searches for reading material with them, offering individual suggestions for selection. Although Room 56 and the strategies that Rafe suggest in part II of the book are geared toward 5th grade, there are many different ways to adapt material to the high school level. Next year I am planning on starting a book club where students can explore literature outside of the classroom and socialize with other peers who are not necessarily in their class or grade. This book club will meet after school during our activity period and will feature good literature, great munchies and fantastic literary discussion. I am excited to formulate and execute my plans for next year that were fueled by Rafe's ideas in the book.
To foster independent reading and make certain that students are understanding literary terms in addition to comprehending the story, we now have a form that asks for specific information for each book read, i.e. antagonist, protagonist, plot, climax, setting etc.
In addition, we are going to begin an after school film club where students will voluntarily stay to watch movies that will connect to history, literature, values, and character.
We plan to use that club (Hooray for Hollywood?) to continue our APPR requirements for '08-'09.
From Bonnie Mider:
Although we don't have our students all day like Rafe, we can adapt some of his methods. He continuously stretches kids, making every moment teachable. My 8th grade students are required to read at least a book each month and I often do "hands on" activities on Bookchat Day. However, I don't think my expectations fully prepare them for the type of analysis they need for 9th grade. I've decided to use Rafe's book report form which requires kids to apply literary terms to their book. This could be done before class and then we could still do some "hands on" activities.
Taking an idea from Rafe, we plan on starting an after school Classic Film Club for the '08-'09 school year. We have created a list of films that students would not likely watch by themselves, but that offer instruction and inspiration. Considering the cost of creating a school film library, we have approached the Teacher Center for funds and it looks promising that the Center can help us. We're planning to meet as a Film Club after school, showing the movie until the late bus bell. We'll plan to resume the film on the day (and the next until the film ends). We'd like to present a movie each month, offering refreshments and discussion along with the film. This could be a great opportunity for students and faculty to enjoy learning together.
From Deb Hospie:
I loved Rafe's enthusiasm in this book. He truly has a love for teaching and a gift for instilling the joy of learning in his students. I'm a high school Spanish teacher and feel some of Rafe's ideas, even though he teaches 5th grade, can be incorporated in my classroom. Next year, I plan on having short stories in Spanish be a larger part of the curriculum for my upper level classes. We currently read some short stories, but there are many Latin American authors, as well as Spanish authors, that I will introduce to my students. There are also magnificent films that could be added. I am inspired by this book, and look forward to adding more literature to my curriculum.
From Kathleen
I found the most interesting aspect of Rafe's book to be the collaborative, safe environment he was able to create. I would like to create an on-line book club with students. I would like to invite additional school district staff to participate in our blog. This will inspire students to read for enjoynment and provide them with the medium to express their thoughts.
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