Junior Great Books

We have started the Junior Great Books program.  It is a program designed to integrate class discussions, dramatizations, creative writing, projects, and interpretive thinking.  A huge focus of the program is also reading comprehension.  I explained today that being able to read the words without knowing what they mean leaves you with nothing but words-- no story.  It is more important to truly understand what is happening and ask yourself why, how, etc.

When your child brings home their JGB, please read aloud the story with your child.  Either they can read it to you or you can read it to them.  Whatever works best.  We will have read or listened to the same story earlier in the day.  Included in the margins of the story are higher-order thinking questions about the story.  There is no "right" or "wrong" answer.  When you see one of these questions, stop reading and discuss the question with your child.  Discussing the events in the story or voicing his/her opinions (as the questions lead you to do) about the story is one of the ways to build comprehension as he/she reads.  Please make sure you are taking the time to discuss the story with your child.

Occasionally, I will ask your child to complete one of the questions or pages within the story for homework on a separate sheet of paper.  Please make sure your child completes the activity but DOES NOT WORK AHEAD on other activities.  Reading or working ahead will compromise many discussions as well as predicting and inferring activities.

Also, please make sure that the JGB is returned the NEXT DAY, as we will be working on the story and various activities daily.  If a homework assignment is incomplete, please return the book to school with your child unfinished.  I want your child have the text in front of them during class readings, discussions, and activities as much as possible to allow for optimal learning to occur from this program.

Once you see the JGB and begin reading/discussing the stories with your child, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  There is also a letter at the front of the book with explanations.    

Please do not write or mark in the books.  In the past the books were for the students to keep and the school bought new books each year.  However, for the past few years we have been using the books as a resource.  PLEASE take care of these books as if they are library books.  Do not write, color, draw, or mark in them in any way.  If I assign a paper/pencil assignment related to the story, I will send home a separate sheet of paper.  Any damage or writing in your child's book will result in your family purchasing and replacing a new set.  Thanks for your understanding on this, as it has saved the school thousands of dollars!