A Novel Approach: Tear the Novel Apart? Really?

This is definitely a novel approach to literature and perhaps a bit controversial. Full disclosure: I’ve never tried it, but gifted ed colleagues of mine have shared positive experiences with this collaborative reading activity in which a book is cut apart and groups of students read assigned sections. The groups then report back to the whole class and only then do students “discover” the entire plot.

I can’t help but consider how an author might feel about this approach. “You’re tearing apart the masterpiece I carefully crafted, and readers will only get to read one chapter?” Even the idea of using novel excerpts in literary instruction is controversial, so I have my misgivings. But I’ve concluded that this actually could be an interesting and engaging way to share one of my favorite classic novels and promote critical reading skills, evaluative thinking, articulation of ideas, questioning, and even social-emotional skills.

HOW IT WORKS

• Choose a novel you’ve read and feel beneficial to share with your students.
• Purchase just 3 or 4 paperback copies of the book.
• Literally CUT the books into sections (directions below).
• Assign one section of the book to each group of 2-4 students.
• Have members of each group read and discuss their sections, speculate, question, predict, etc.
• Have each group share about their section with the class (options for this)
• Enjoy the AHAs and “Now I get its” that erupt from the sharing!

THE WHEN and THE WHY

I’ve written before about using novelty, mystery, and surprise in the classroom. Chances are, your students have never experienced this reading method, and it could be fun to try between novel studies, before a school break, or just at a time when your literary lessons are in need of a boost.

Here are some benefits cited by one teacher and curriculum specialist, and I think there might be some additional ones for gifted and advanced students including dealing with ambiguity. Students may be uncomfortable with this approach. They prefer being in control of their own reading and interpretations, and they might not feel at ease with others deciding what to share. Of course, that may be a good reason to expose them to an activity like this just once. It’s beneficial for students to occasionally have to work outside their comfort zones, and it’s certainly good to learn to collaborate and work with others.

Given the special needs and sensitivities of many gifted students though, I think it would be essential to invite them to evaluate this entire approach. In the sample mini-unit I’ve created, I include a discussion in which students can share how they feel about the approach, evaluate it, and perhaps be given the choice of opting out. They might surprise us and decide it’s intriguing enough to entice them to participate.

A SAMPLE PLAN (2-3 sessions, 30-45 min. each)

For this activity, I chose The Twenty-One Balloons, by William Pene du Bois, published in 1947 and a Newberry Award winner. I’ve shared it as a read-aloud with gifted and advanced students of all ages, from 3rd and up, and have been able to use it to spark all kinds of philosophical discussions about societal structure, the role of government, and the impact of nature, science, and invention. I’ve always added my own commentary and explanations to liven up the beginning, and – truth be told – even summarized entire sections in the introductory chapters. Perhaps sharing it in smaller sections as kind of collaborative puzzle to put together would make it enjoyable and more accessible to students.

If this sounds like something you might like to try, you can read through my plan HERE and adapt it to suit your needs. If you’d like to use it for your own planning purposes, you can make a copy HERE.

CUTTING THE BOOKS APART

Swipe through the photos below for a few tips on how to cut a book into chapters or sections.

OPTIONAL STEM ACTIVITY: MAKE A HOT AIR BALLOON ~ If you choose to read The Twenty-One Balloons, many math and science concepts can be reinforced by having students build their own hot-air balloons. Science teacher Michelle Gay has created this video lesson and you can see alternative methods here and in the video below. This one would also be fun to show students. INVENTIONS ~ Discuss the adage “Necessity is the mother of invention” and ask whether this is true of the inventions in the novel. How so? Explore unique homes and household inventions and consider homes of the future.

Have you ever tried this novel approach with students? Please share your experiences in the comments below or join our Facebook group to get a conversation going. Also, if you are new to this site, this 4-minute video tour will give you a little background and help you find resources you can use.

Happy reading!