Roald dahl short stories comprehension questions

ROALD DAHL SHORT STORIES COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS HOW TO

In order to write an objective summary of a fictional text, students need to be able to recognize the plot. Short stories work well because there arenвЂ™t usually many subplots to complicate the work. I find itвЂ™s easiest to ask students to objectively summarize a text that has a clear plot and conflict. Plot Analysis and Objective Summaries (RL.2) Simply model expectations with the mentor text and require that they demonstrate that same skill level when working on their choice text. You can ask students to record specific passages and their inferential or analytical responses to those passages as they read and reflect.

вЂњThe Most Dangerous GameвЂќ by Richard Connell.

вЂњThe Cask of AmontilladoвЂќ by Edgar Allan Poe.

MENTOR TEXT: вЂњThe Scarlet IbisвЂќby James Hurst is a great story for teaching students to make inferences and analyze textual details. These are some of the standards I cover with short story units along with texts that IвЂ™ve enjoyed sharing with high school students. Providing small group or independent work time frees us up to provide support for small groups of students.

Reflect, reassess, and reteach (if necessary).ДЄs we ask students to respond independently or with small groups, we should analyze their performance and adjust instruction to meet studentsвЂ™ needs. When offering choice with short stories, itвЂ™s a good idea to have texts available that represent the variety of reading levels in your class. This approach works best when teachers have already modeled expectations and examples and students have had some time to dabble with them. If youвЂ™re feeling ambitious, try allowing students to select the skill they feel they need help with the most. Simply allowing students to choose what story theyвЂ™d like to practice a particular skill with is a good start. ThatвЂ™s understandable, especially if you are used to running a tight ship. Some teachers are uncomfortable with giving students complete freedom.

ItвЂ™s difficult for students to demonstrate mastery of skills when we are leading the discussion and guiding them to the вЂњcorrectвЂќ answers. This freedom allows students to select stories they enjoy while also providing us with data we can use to reassess understanding. Give students choice to work with partners or small groups for a second round. Teachers can easily move from guided practice in whole class or small group format to more of an individualized learning approach. This approach works well in readers workshop or other student-centered classroom formats.

ROALD DAHL SHORT STORIES COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS HOW TO

Instead, older students can gain insight when a teacher models how to analyze the way a characterвЂ™s motivation impacts the storyвЂ™s conflict. They probably donвЂ™t need for us to model types of conflict, for example. Students are often adept at basic comprehension level skills. I suggest modeling and discussing reading skills with one whole class study of a short story. They point out misconceptions I might not have anticipated. Pre-assessments donвЂ™t always give me valuable information about specific students, but they do sometimes help me to see a bigger picture of what the entire class might need. When teaching short stories, always establish and learning objectives and identify related standards first.В What do you want students to be able to do before, during, or after reading the story? Collect student evidence.Д«efore reading, I suggest giving students a pre-assessment so that you can accurately assess current understanding and track progress. What is your purpose for reading short stories? If your answer is вЂњbecause itвЂ™s in the curriculum map,вЂќ вЂњbecause students like them,вЂќ or вЂњbecause itвЂ™s what IвЂ™ve always done,вЂќ it might be time to re-evaluate. SHORT STORIES: A TEACHING APPROACH Begin by establishing a purpose. In this post, IвЂ™m sharing the stories IвЂ™ve used most commonly at the ninth grade level and what standards I cover with them.

We just donвЂ™t know which stories students will have already read when they enter our classroom. Not all schools within a district use the same textbook series. The answer is fuzzy because not everyone uses a textbook. There is no clear right or wrong answer for that question. People often debate which short stories should be taught at which grade levels. Yet, they are versatile, so you can really incorporate them whenever and however you want. Short stories are quick and applicable to so many learning standards. A short story unit is the perfect way to begin a school year.

Roald dahl short stories comprehension questions