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Whole Novels for the Whole Class: A Student-Centered Approach 1st Edition

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Ariel Sacks (Author)
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Ariel Sacks (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 35 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-1118526507
ISBN-10: 1118526503
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (October 21, 2013)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1118526503
  • ISBN-13: 978-1118526507
  • Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.8 x 9.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,255 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsA Soup to Nuts Guide to Whole-Class Novels
By Ken C. on December 19, 2013
Format: Paperback Vine Customer Review of Free Product ( What's this? )
When teachers complain about professional development books, it's usually the theory-to-practicality ratio they bring up. This isn't in any math textbooks, but it represents the amount of pretty-to-think-so talk -- including abundant references to research and studies -- over the amount of practical, ready-to-hit-the-road ideas that can be rolled out in the classroom tomorrow, if not sooner.

PD books by consultants and administrators tend to be theory-heavy. Those by working teachers like WHOLE NOVELS FOR THE WHOLE CLASS lean more toward the practical side. This certainly is true of Ariel Sacks' book, a soup-to-nuts "how to" for teachers willing to try her method of teaching the entire class individual novels. Yes, it's built on theory, which she duly notes, but the focus is more on the logistics of rolling her system out.

Some school districts have gone whole hog into independent reading to the point where students no longer share common books read as a class. Other districts, more of the old school variety, continue to teach whole-class novels and leave independent reading to the whims of students. Sacks walks a middle line. Like my school, her Brooklyn middle school does both. She is a devotee of the Bank Street College methodology, which, coincidentally, is in line with St. Nancie of Atwell's belief: novels should be read in their entirety before they are discussed (see Atwell's book, THE READING ZONE).

Sacks leaves all of her cards on the table, revealing her entire year's curriculum, what books she teaches, why she teaches them, and what she expects from her students.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsWhole Class Approach
By DSB VINE VOICE on December 22, 2013
Format: Paperback Vine Customer Review of Free Product ( What's this? )
I love teaching one novel to my whole class, and I have always tried to have a student centered approach. This book gave me some additional ideas of how to do that. For example, what do you do when it's obvious that students are missing information or a literary skill that they need for a novel? The author stresses that just giving the students the info is not the answer, yet they do need guidance. Her solution is to use "group mini projects" which can help all readers, but provides extra support for the less skilled readers. If students are having trouble getting into a novel or they have trouble identifying the main character, she recommends the group mini project called "Facts and Figures" or Character Mapping. I've used Character Mapping before, but not the Facts and Figures. Working on this in small groups to support the readers is a great idea. It moves the readers along without the teacher having to take over the novel. Another technique she recommends is "Literary Magnifying Glass" as a tool to help readers increase their analytical skills (pages 221-223). I have used a form of this and it does work. Another aspect covered in the book is using the whole novel approach to better support student writing. After reading the novel and having class discussions over it where each reader's voice is heard, students will be better prepared to write about the novel than when they read a chapter, answer teacher questions, etc. I know this is true because I have seen it in my own class. Today's students bring different eyes to the novel and this can be especially important when the novel is one the teacher read when she was in high school. By allowing the students to read and then discuss, the teacher may also see the novel with new eyes . . . I know I have! This is a great reference book for teaching whole class novels and I highly recommend it.
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5.0 out of 5 starsA Must for English Teachers
By Zachary Glaser on January 1, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
As a 7th grade English teacher I've been teaching middle school English for over 10 years and never have I read such a helpful and teacher friendly how to book for teaching novels. Usually when I read professional development books half way through I begin to wonder if the person who wrote the book had ever taught, this book is the opposite of that! Sacks has written the most user-friendly guide to whole novel study that I have ever seen. I have always prided myself in trying to make my classroom student centered but I feel as though using this book I have been able to take it to a whole new level.

I love how Sacks provides a practical approach with real examples she uses in her classroom. Using her methods in my class I have seen my students come alive. They have greatly enjoyed the experience of reading the whole novel without constantly stopping to answer comprehension questions. I was especially blown away when we got to the whole class discussion and found that my students had not only picked up on things that I had wanted them to but that they had gone beyond anything I was expected of them. I am very exited to try more of the components of her book in my classroom!
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5.0 out of 5 starsPrep work prior to lesson...independence during novels
By JLW VINE VOICE on December 9, 2013
Format: Paperback Vine Customer Review of Free Product ( What's this? )
The idea of using whole novels is not a new one, but the idea of allowing students to enjoy a novel without teaching it into the ground is a concept that hasn't not been practiced. We are always taught to preteach ideas to students, and then we are to have questions they are to think about and answer all throughout. I have always wanted a better way to teach whole novels, but I wasn't sure how to do it without losing my students. This novel shows you a proven successful way to approach a somewhat student lead approach. While I do like the ideas of this manual, it would take a significant amount of planning and preteaching. The students are still answering questions and looking for things in the novel, but you are no longer pointing them out, they are.

It would take some planning, but I like the idea of trying this method out with my classes. The author does stress the importance of picking novels that would interest students. This is the problem with many schools today. With budget issues, many teachers teach whatever novels are on hand. This is the case with myself and many other schools around the nation. When you have this problem, I am unsure of how successful this approach would be with students. With the detailed plans in this book, I am willing to try.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent Resource for Middle School and High School English Teachers!

This book is awesome. I am always looking for new approaches to teaching literature, and came across this book. The author's writing is clear, insightful, and informative. Read more

Published 12 months ago by Ariadne
5.0 out of 5 starsIf I Could Only Have One Book on Teaching . . .

This is my fourth year teaching high school English, mostly 9th grade, and I WISH I'd had this book when I started. Read more

Published 17 months ago by Jennifer L. Mills
5.0 out of 5 starsIt is easy to read

This book is phenomenal. I can't wait to implement it's instruction. It is easy to read, has practical guidelines and activities. LOVED it!

Published 19 months ago by Zach Meschi
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

I really enjoyed this teaching approach & I am implementing it into my classroom this year.

Published 20 months ago by Jackie M Clement
5.0 out of 5 starsInteresting approach. Raises awareness and questions.

Love this book. I'm getting together a book study for colleagues in my district (professional development).

Published 20 months ago by TeachEngKids
5.0 out of 5 starsWell Worth Reading

This book earns five stars from me for clarity, proven methods, ease of application, thoroughness, and Web addresses to videos that demonstrate the concepts. Read more

Published 22 months ago by Yvonne C
5.0 out of 5 starsWonderful resource!

Ms. Sacks articulates and has developed a plan that totally fits with my instincts when it comes to teaching novels in the classroom. Read more

Published 22 months ago by Amber Curtis
5.0 out of 5 starsRead the Book First! (Why Every ELA Teacher Should Read THIS Book)

Confession: I have ripped my students from the pages of a whole class novel in order to facilitate a discussion about what they are thinking, feeling, predicting, inferring and... Read more

Published on March 31, 2014 by Jessica J. Cuthbertson
5.0 out of 5 starsOught to Be Required Reading for All English Educators

There is certain knowledge, and there are certain skills, that all students need to learn in order to effectively function in society. Read more

Published on February 22, 2014 by Rachel B. Ramey (blogger/author)
3.0 out of 5 starsA Sound Enough Theory, But I'm Not Sure How Practical It Is

I whole-heartedly agree with the reasoning the author uses as the premise of a student-centered approach to teaching. Read more

Published on February 19, 2014 by J. Weaver

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