In this alternative book report, students identify the elements of fiction in books they have read by creating glogs, interactive multimedia posters, and then share. In her article fifty alternatives to the book report, diana mitchell writes, students. If you notice big eye rolls or hear lots of groaning when you mention the words book reports, any of these 25 alternative bookrelated activities are the perfect. Promoting frequent and enthusiastic reading, offers creative alternatives to my letters and journals. Making movies based on popular books is a hollywood staple.
I dont think they are an effective way for a student to demonstrate understanding of a book and i dont think they help students enjoy or appreciate reading. This ncte publication by diana mitchell lists fifty creative alternatives to the dreaded book report. In my last post i described 10 ways to cultivate a love of reading in kids. Book report alternatives once you have enticed your students to read, consult this list of alternatives for fifty exciting things to do in place of writing a book report. It narrates incidents in the life of a single family jonathan, and jane who work in a famous psychoanalytic institute in topeka known simply as the foundation and their son adam. Fifty alternatives to the book report teaching ideas. After reading the book, they use an interactive tool to create a new cover for it. More than a few alternatives to the book report the following list of alternatives is intended as a series of basic ideas that can act as a starting point in developing creative ways of asking students to be accountable for their summer reading. While this format is important in assessing understanding of literary elements, offering alternate book report formats encourages students to use creativity and other writing skills in presenting information about a book. Fifty alternatives to the book report diana mitchell students tire of responding to novels in the same ways. There are a number of great resources students can use, including animoto for education, photopeach, and go.
Please enter your email address and we will email you instructions. As a result, many standard rubrics for book reports may still apply, helping give students an idea of what their project should include and how their work will be graded. English ncte provide fifty alternatives to the book report, cheeky lit teacher created a list of 150 book report alternatives, and there is. Apr 20, 2020 a far cry from boring book reports, here are book projects that students can. Fifty alternatives to the book report by literature resources. Write an acrostic poem about the book using the letters in the title of the book or the name of a character or author. Fifty alternatives to the book report diana mitchell ncte journal. Trade book teaching ideas from the olrc reading group. You should try to write a strong introductory paragraph that grabs your readers attention. Take the information presented into consideration, and you are sure to make the right alternative to your book report.
After reading an informational book, make a scrapbook about the topics. Fifty alternatives to the book report teaching ideas fifty quick ideas to improve your user stories teacher to teacher. With a traditional book report, students describe the major plot points or the main characters. Although i do not assign the traditional book reports i was required to produce in own reading past, i am always looking for more reading response options. Students tire of responding to novels in the same ways. In this case, the article you are reading will help you with book reports alternatives. An alternative to book reports featured, reading sunday, july 16, 2017 for many of us, just hearing the words book report gives us a flashback to tedious reports that we were tasked with completing when we were in school. Alternatives to the book report linkedin slideshare. Some require very little actual writing but require the same thinking and rehearsal as a more formal piece of written text. Have students create a portrait of a character from the book they read. Include the characters likes, accomplishments and surviving family members. Create a book trailer just like a movie trailer, a book trailer tells the story in a way that touches on the highlights, but sells the audience on wanting to experience it. Education world published some ideas for better book reports here.
Fifty alternatives to the book report by diana mitchell. These high prices, which outpace inflation, underpin the entire textbook marketplace, and drive market conditions for other alternatives such as the used book and rental markets. For example, the game could advance players when they answer a question about the book or move players backward or forward based on problems and solutions from the book. Here is the ncte english journal article that inspired my search for authentic independent reading assessments. Teaching ideas fifty alternatives to the book report. Students select a book to read based only on its cover art. However, you do not have any idea of what book to choose to consider in your report. See more ideas about teaching reading, teaching and reading workshop. Some require very little actual writing but require the same thinking and rehearsal as. There are authentic alternatives texts created by professional writers and thinkers that do more than a mere book report but stop shorts of serious literary analysis. Draw a timeline to illustrate the events in the story. Somewhere in your first paragraph, you should also state the books title and the authors name. In the mean time i signed up for nctes weekly newsletter via email. I want to expand on that theme by suggesting 10 alternatives to the book report.
List of alternatives to the traditional book report. Eric ej560738 fifty alternatives to the book report. Thus throughout the year, we will continue this feature that we started in 2009, to spotlight books that immediately struck a chord with us and made us say. These book report alternatives focus on characterization. These projects are creative and fun, with realworld. Fiftyone alternatives to the book report by diana mitchell from the english journal january 1998 1. What makes this fun is that kids get to rethink the role of the setting in the book. So, with that in mind, i have created some visual writing ideas that are alternatives to the standard book report. Jump into his or her head and tell me what they would think or feel about.
Fifty alternatives to the book report readwritethink. Freebie this list of 30 creative alternatives to the traditional book report emphasizes. She is also the author of the story collections bending heaven counterpoint, 2002 and this close graywolf, 20, which was an npr best book of the year. Draw a classroom mural depicting a major scenes from the book. This article has tons of more ideas for meaningful independent reading assignments.
Write a short summary of the scene and explain why it is important to the story. In this episode of the techeducator podcast we share our digital alternatives to traditional book reports that will get your students thinking creatively and really passionate about their favorite characters. Write an obituary for one of the characters in the book. Academic integrity creative assessment alternatives. Critique from the point of view of a specific organization 5. They want new ways to think about a piece of literature and new ways to dig into it. Oct 30, 2018 a book report is a summary of the contents, plot, or thesis of a particular book. The start of your book report provides an opportunity to make a solid introduction to the material and your own personal assessment of the work. List of alternatives to the traditional book report from various sources compiled by jennifer l. There are more ideas than youll ever need maybe on. Jun 30, 2015 here is the ncte english journal article that inspired my search for authentic independent reading assessments. Was is two hundred and fiftyfive pages long, and it is about a boy named jack who meets his grandfather for the first time as the grandfather, whose name is skoro, is dying in the hospital bed that he is lying in. It is hoped that this diverse group of suggestions will whet the interest of students in exploring new directions and in responding with greater. Are you interested in kicking your next literary adventure up a notch with your students.
Design a poster or new book cover depicting the climax of the story. With a traditional book report, students describe the major plot points or the. Alternative book reports for the 21st century whooos. Fifty alternatives to the book report teaching ideas tips for exams and alternative assessments. A book report is a summary of the contents, plot, or thesis of a particular book. This allows students to explore their favorite trends in books. Interview a character from the book, making up at least 10 questions discussing the characters thoughts on his or her role in the story. Oct 11, 2019 the start of your book report provides an opportunity to make a solid introduction to the material and your own personal assessment of the work. Mar 30, 2015 a book report is a book report, and thus will need to be graded by certain standards plot, analysis, etc. Fifty alternatives to the book report diana mitchell ncte journal students tire of responding to novels in the same ways.
So 50 alternatives to a book report as simplified by mesome of the ideas have been combined and listed as alternatives where appropiate. Overall, this study demonstrates that despite recent steps forward in the marketplace, high textbook costs will continue to be a problem for students unless the cost. Fifty alternatives to the book report teaching ideas ncte. Create a jacket for the book, complete with illustrations and. Somewhere in your first paragraph, you should also state the book s title and the authors name. To write a book report, start by introducing the author and the name of the book and then briefly summarizing the story. The techeducator podcast is a weekly round table discussion about current topics in educational. Sernoll, 1967 ill give you some tips on how to write a. The end result of book report alternatives, such as the one explored in this lesson plan, is that the activities whet the interest of students in exploring new directions and in responding with greater depth to the books they read mitchell 92. Aug 02, 2007 50 alternatives to a book report i just read a great article from nctes english journal it is a pricey subscription but well worth every penny when i can cough up the money for it again.
Stansbury, an english teacher herself, shares 50 alternatives to a book report here. In her article fifty alternatives to the book report, diana mitchell writes, students tire of responding to novels in the same ways. Put together a visual book report collage using magazine photoscutouts. Offers 50 diverse suggestions intended to offer students new ways to. Next, discuss the main themes and point out what you think the author is trying to suggest to the reader. Book report alternatives for middle school education. Illustrate a scene or character from the book on a tshirt. An explanation of how this character fits into the book should accompany the sculpture. Erotica, intimacy and the longings of a womans heart. Here are some of the things you need to include in your book report. Proofreading sets any writing 50 alternatives to the book report apart from acceptable and makes it exceptional. With thousands of books published each year and much attention paid to the works of bestselling and wellknown authors, it is inevitable that some titles worthy of praise and discussion may not get the attention we think they deserve. These projects are creative and fun, with realworld applications. Creative alternatives to book reports lexia learning.
Never run out of ideas for book reports and literary projects. The sequel to never never, fifty fifty was a thrilling read from start to finish. Hooking a reader with a book cover students select a book to read based only on its cover art. Construct a story map to show the plot and setting. What you actually need is alternatives to book reports. Fifty alternatives to the book report by literature resources tpt. The writer of a book report is not required to evaluate the author, although he oftentimes does so. Eric carles the very hungry caterpillar turns 50 years old. Use any combination of soap, wood, clay, sticks, wire, stones, old toy pieces, or any other object. Fifty shades of grey alternative says christians should be. Scholastic offers this printable, which is filled with some good ideas. It gives you a chance to read a new book and then tell your teacher and friends what you thought about it. Book report alternatives that sizzle and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle.