So I like to teach English novel classes but ive been struggling to find material that fits the criteria of where I'm currently working. It's optional, so I don't need to do it, but I enjoy these classes so it'd be nice to find.
It's fine for middle schoolers as I can do whatever I want with them. But the problem is with elementary students as they are far more strictly regulated and monitored.
monitored.
I only teach them twice per week for 40 minutes and I need to finish a book fully within 2 months.
(That's 8 40 minute sessions).
Also I need the Lexile level to be around 400 – 500).
So, I started with Roald Dahls fantastic Mr fox. This book had a Lexile level of 600 and just under 100 pages. It took 3 full months to finish.
I found some other ideas like horrid Henry (lexile level 400 – 500)
And the goosebumps series I really loved as a kid (lexile level 370 – 420)
But both also have over 100 pages which makes them even longer than Mr fox and impossible to finish in such a short time.
Based on this, I figured it's impossible to do actual Novel classes given those parameters. So my only option is to do short stories. Poetry would be too difficult for non native kids.
Can anyone recommend some sort of short story author that's actually interesting for kids around the ages of 9 – 13 that could be reliably read within the time frames required?
(Eight 40 minutes sessions)
Thanks alot for your time and recommendations 😊
by kairu99877
3 Comments
Terry Pratchett has several short story collections for children that could work.
Any Small Goodness by Tony Johnston is episodic in that each chapter reads like a short story. It’s a heartwarming uplifting story without being treacle.
I recall A Year Down Yonder and A Long Way From Chicago by Peck as very episodic and each chapter almost stand alone.
If you really need much easier, but also engaging despite reading level, the Toys Go Out trilogy is great fun and most chapters read as episodic short stories. It’s about the secret life of toys and their naivety of the world, so theirs great humor in the reader being more aware then they are and the humor of the situation that transcended the intended audience age.
The Stories Julian Tells by Ann Cameron.