Reading Strategies

To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee

And Supplemental Readings

Pre-Reading Activities

1.  Probable Passage

Students will complete a probable passage in relation to the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Ten words have been taken out of the passage for them to review and categorize. Then they will be provided with the passage to fill-in. After that is completed, the students will be assigned to read and find the passage in the novel (First Chapter) and compare their passage to the actual excerpt. This teaches students prediction skills, comprehension skills and monitoring skills.

2. Word Storm

Each student will receive a work sheet to work on before reading the book. They will be put into groups, there will be 8 groups so that there are less people in a group ensuring that everyone will help out and participate. Each group will be getting a word that they are to work with, there are 4 words; prejudice, intolerance, courage and justice. Two groups will have the same word so that discussion can occur about a word if necessary. These words are all very important to know before reading the text To Kill a Mockingbird, and I believe this pre reading activity will help them to become more aware as to what these words truly mean.

3.  Anticipation/Reaction Guide

The purpose of this guide is to help students make predictions about upcoming events in the novel. The guide will stimulate thoughts and feelings toward certain issues in the students. Each student will receive a guide which they will complete alone. After the students have completed the guide the class will discuss each statement. After the class has finished reading the story, discuss the guide again. Make sure to approach the topic of how the book dealt with these issues.

During Reading Activities

1.  Think Aloud

The Think Aloud is a during reading strategy which enables students to focus more on reading and comprehending than completing an activity. Every student will receive a Think Aloud book mark which asks them to focus on various tasks. After they have finished the assigned reading for the night, students will complete the Think Aloud worksheet which asks the same questions as the book mark. This gives students more of an opportunity to enjoy reading and takes the focus off completing a worksheet as they go along.

2. Story Map

While each student is reading To Kill a Mockingbird, they will also be filling out a story map that they will receive before they start reading. This map ensures that the students are getting the most out of their reading by having them write down the setting, characters, and main problem, events that take place and then the solution to the problem.

3. Vocabulary Bingo

This during reading strategy is a good way to introduce or analyze new vocabulary words from a specific text. The students will be given a list of words from the specific section of the text they have just read. At this point the teacher will create a list of the actual definitions and student ideas on a piece of paper. The students will then be presented with the master list. Once the students have received and filled out their bingo charts the bingo game will begin. The teacher will read the definitions until someone wins a “bingo.”

After Reading Activities

1. Students will create their own excerpt similar to the writing by Harper Lee.

Look at the excerpt used in the Probable Passage. Note the use of descriptive and fresh language. Choose your favorite event or situation in the book, and create your own interpretation using descriptive and fresh language. Your excerpt should be at least six sentences long and should include characters from the book. This allows students to draw on what they have read and connect their writing skills with the novel.

2. Three Level Reading Guide

Each student will get a work sheet to fill out on their own. This after reading activity is to determine the literal, interpretive and applied knowledge that students have regarding this story. This will assess the students in allowing us to see how much students know and have learned as well as listening to their responses during discussions.

3. Magic Squares

This vocabulary strategy will allow students to match terms and definitions. The magic square contains an arrangement of numbers that can be added down, across, or diagonally and will always equal the same number if correct. The handout contains a column for vocabulary and a column for definitions. Students must match the terms with the definition and put the corresponding number in the box. If the magic number is not the same in each row, column, or diagonally a mistake has been made.