Novel studies - WHY is this beneficial?

 As mentioned in my previous blog post, I have observed that our year 5 and 6 children are really good at reading short texts that challenge them however many of them find it challenging to focus and be engaged in extended texts at their level which challenge them. There are a few questions I have around this.

- Why do these children find it difficult to engage in extended texts that challenge their thinking when they are good readers?

- How can reading extended texts (novels) excite and develop the learning of these children?

- What programmes have been used in other schools to have novel studies as part of their reading programme?

Photo by Laura Kapfer, Unsplash

To make a start on this inquiry, I first want to gather some student voice around the children's engagement in reading extended text. I am interested in knowing such things as what genre of texts these children enjoy reading, how often they read in their own time (at home) and why they read texts (i.e for enjoyment or to learn new information). 

It will be important for me to understand why I want the children to be reading novels. What will they get out of reading novels?

- One teacher writes about observing children discussing such things as character relationships, viewpoints and inferences (Differentiated Teaching). This teacher goes on to discuss research-based reasons to teach using novels:

1) Giving children experiences that go beyond their own world.

2) Vocabulary development.

3) Communication & Dialogue skills and strategies

4) Social skills development.

5) Engagement

Some books that might suit 10-11 year old children as suggested in The Teaching Bank:

- Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

- Sadako and the 1000 paper planes by Eleanor Coerr

- Esperenza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan

- Wonder by R.J. Palacio

- Holes by Louis Sachar

- Hoot by Carl Hiaasen

- Bud, not buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Some books that might suit 10-11 year old children as suggested in Wheeler books:

- Two Wolves

- Holes

- Fish in a tree

- It's Trevor Noah: Born a Crime (YA Edition)

- The Giver

- How to Bee

- The Boy at the back of the class

- Finding

- Loyal Creatures

- The Goldfish boy

- A different land

- Girl Underground

- Kura Toa: Warrior School

- Chinese Cinderella

- Refugee

- The MapMakers' Race

- The Crossover

- The Fall

- Lion: A long way home (Young Readers' Edition)

- I am Malala

- 47 Degrees

- The Boy at the top of the mountain

- Hidden Figures (Young Readers' Edition)

- Goodnight Mr Tom

- Owl

The next step for my inquiry will be to have discussions around this inquiry focus with various people around the school. While I am doing that, I will also gather information around the children's reading habits.