I just finished reading SSWS to my Grade 5 ESL classes. I have been a teacher for 15 years and have read many many books aloud, but when teaching ESL typical narrative YA hasn't always worked – I have literally never had a book be such a hit before. I think the key is that it's funny, a bit weird, and I do the voices for the different kids. A student can also miss a chapter, and be able to keep up when they come back.
What should I read them next? Something that hits the funny bone, simple and engaging for groups of kids of different language abilities, and a huge plus if the narrative is either loose enough that a kid can keep up after missing some, or is exciting enough that they won't mind.
Holes would be a bit too long and too difficult for their ability, which is intermediate.
Bonus points if you can recall a read aloud that you heard at school that really grabbed you and didn't let go.
by snarkitall
3 Comments
Maybe Shel Silverstein’s poetry? Runny Babbit was one of my favorites as a kid, and it has a lot of fun wordplay
In 5th grade, my teacher read Michael Ende’s Momo to us and I was absolutely spellbound.
Also A Long Way From Chicago is a similar each-chapter-is-a-story format, but focused around 2 kids who go to live with their rural grandmother during the depression. Very humerous and some opportunities for fun accents.