MS Literacy Introductory Whole Class Novel

Whole Class Novel at Success

In middle school, our scholars dive into great works of fiction and non-fiction through Whole Class Novel. In this structured approach to literacy, teachers introduce scholars to books through a combination of reading aloud, utilizing audiobooks, and asking scholars to follow along with their own copies of the novel. Scholars are pressed to understand key ideas and themes, looking for textual evidence to support their ideas and demonstrating mastery via daily in-class written responses about the book.

What is a Whole Class Novel Lesson?

Do Now — 10 minutes

• Scholars revise their Exit Tickets from yesterday’s seminar based on the feedback you provided.

Guided Read and Discuss — 35 minutes

• Lead scholars in a read aloud or audiobook reading of today’s text or portion of the Whole Class Novel.
• Pause to ask scholars questions about the big ideas in today’s reading.
• Hold scholars accountable for backing up their claims with evidence from the text.

Write — 10 minutes

• Scholars independently write an essay in response to a question about the reading.
• Both teachers circulate to look for trends in scholar work and come together to make a plan for how to address the major trends through the Wrap-Up.

Wrap-Up — 5 minutes

• Show an exemplar essay to scholars.
• Have scholars discuss how the piece exemplifies the Five Habits of Great Writers.
• Have scholars articulate the transferable takeaway from the work study that they will apply to their own work moving forward.

Independent Read and Discuss — 20 minutes

• Scholars independently read another text or section of the Whole Class Novel.
• Both teachers coach targeted scholars 1:1 or one teacher pulls together a small group.
• After scholars have completed the reading, ask questions about the big ideas in the reading.
• Hold scholars accountable for backing up their claims with evidence from the text.

Exit Ticket — 10 minutes

• Scholars independently complete an Exit Ticket to demonstrate understanding of the big idea from today’s seminar.

Watch Whole Class Novel in Action!

What do you notice about the teacher’s level of preparation and approach?

What Else Do I Need?

Click here- MS Book List – Whole Class Novel

• 5th Grade:
  • 5th Grade Literature Vocabulary Do Now
  • 5th Grade Literature Read and Discuss 1 – Read Aloud and Dialogue Reading
  • 5th Grade Literature Read and Discuss 1 – Dialogue Reading and Turn and Talk
• 7th Grade:
  • 7th Grade Literature Vocabulary Do Now
  • 7th Grade Literature Class Launch
  • 7th Grade Literature Read and Discuss 1 – Audiobook
  • 7th Grade Literature Read and Discuss 1 – Turn and Talk and Discussion
  • 7th Grade Literature Read and Discuss 1 – Audiobook, Turn and Talk, and Discussion
  • 7th Grade Literature Exit Ticket
• See Connected Text seminars in action below:
  • Fiction Connected Text Seminar
  • Poetry Connected Text Seminar