Lesson Example: Using Novels
What is your favorite novel?
Why is it your favorite?
How many times have you read it?
In the age of computers, social media, and fast culture, we tend to forget about an older form of entertainment: reading. After a long day at work, it is hard to bring ourselves to pick up a book and use our minds to create a sea of images that can foster creativity and spark curiosity. Instead, many of us choose to sit down on the couch, scroll through endless social media posts, binge watch television series, and become a vegetable for the remainder of our time at home. I am super guilty of this too.
Every year, one of my New Year’s resolutions, which I almost never fulfill, is always to read at least one novel each month. After working with kids all day long and staring at screens, my eyes are so tired, and I just want to sleep.
My proposal:
For advanced ESL students, we use age-appropriate classic literature to teach vocabulary, grammar, creative writing, reading comprehension, and much more.
My Plan:
Device a lesson for each chapter of a book that is adjustable to each student’s needs.
Age Group:
Advance ESL students, who will understand the concept of the book chosen.
Why does this benefit us too?
We get to read more and use our creativity to develop our own minds, as well as our students.
Food for Thought:
Watching TV is a mindless activity, whereas reading a book engages the mind and supports creativity. Even in adults. :)
In this next section, I will use the book “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”, by L. Frank Brown, as an example of how to construct a lesson for more advanced students. I used this book to teach students between the ages 12 – 16. Of course, this can be used to teach adults as well.
Lesson 1: Vocabulary Development (13 year old)
Preplan for Lesson: Highlight a list of 10 words, find their definitions, find the words in the first chapter, use laminated reusable flashcards to write the words and definitions on, bring a fly swatter and a phone timer.
Hour Long Lesson Plan:
5 minutes
Warm up:
Build rapport: Ask questions about their day, try to gauge their mood, and build up an introduction to the lesson.
Writing Activity: Write 5 sentences about your favorite book or movie. What happened in the story? Who were the characters? Why is this your favorite book or story?
Introduce the book: Present a summary about the story for “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”, by L. Frank Baum.
*You will have to read the book prior to teaching this so you can summarize it in a way that is understandable for your student.*
10 minutes
Vocabulary Introduction:
Introduce 10 vocabulary words and go over their definitions in simplified terms and remember to use synonyms!
o Prairies: it is grassland; meadow
o Garret: This is an attic or a small room on the top floor of the house. We put boxes and old things in the attic.
o Plowed: to mix the dirt. To turn the dirt over.
o Gaunt: extremely thin, boney; skinny
o Stern: firm, strict, tough, solemn
o Solemn: serious, earnest, stern
o Orphan: a child who has no parents because of death.
o Cradle: a small bed for a baby
o Crept: past tense of creep; to move slowly
o Deaf: Cannot hear
20 minutes
Game time!
Swat the word:
You are going to say the word out loud and the student should swat the correct word. This is so they will recognize the sound of the word with the spelling.
Swat the word with the correct definition:
This is basically the same, but you will start by reviewing the definitions with the student. Then you put the word cards down again and read the definitions one at a time. The student must swat the correct word to earn a point.
Match the Definitions in less than 1 minute:
You will need more cards for this with the definitions or words written on it. Have the student take a minute to match the definitions, if they are unable to do all of them, review the ones that they find difficult, and try again!
Charades:
You can try to act out each card taking turns with the student. This is a more difficult task because the student has to think of a scenario to use the word in. You may not get to this game, but if you do, this will help them develop their understanding and ability to use the new words.
10 minutes
Reading time:
Have the student read the first chapter with assistance, if needed.
While they read, have them circle the new vocabulary words in the book.
10 minutes
Review:
This is the time to review the vocabulary words and how they are used in the book. Have the student reread the sentences in the book, and then use the words in their own sentences.
This is the time to clarify any questions that the student has about the vocabulary and book.
This is also a great time to review what happened in the chapter with the student.
5 minutes
Cool-down:
This is a great time to continue building rapport with your student. You can ask them about what they will be doing during the weekend, how they felt about the lesson, whether they understood everything, what they would like to do in the next lesson, etc.
*I always ask my students what they want to do. This is great because it gives me ideas for lessons later. It shows me their personalities, how they like to spend their time, and builds excellent rapport and happy learners.*
This lesson plan is one that you can use if you would like. You can use all these activities online as well with a little preparation.
Online Game Ideas:
Instead of using a swatter, have them circle the word or say it and spell it.
For matching the definitions, use all the same flashcards, this time, use a white board or wall. Hang up three or four words, and one definition. Then they have one minute or thirty seconds to read through the cards and choose the correct one.
Charades can be played to same way. Choose a word and act it out, but you must have the vocabulary words up where the student can see them, otherwise it is more like an exam and you may lose time waiting for them to think of the new words on their own.
You can also have them write down the words and definitions on their side of the computer. This way they can study them later or create their own little dictionary.
Thank you so much for reading, and I really hope you subscribe to keep updated on my articles! Thank you! Bye. 😊