Mira Canion just presented at iFLT 2019 on how to read novellas quickly. Why quickly? Mira had many reasons; one being if the level is a little too hard for your slowest processors; another if the book is starting to drag out. This latter option is good for anyone who tried to teach a novella over the course of a few weeks or more. I can also see how for most Latin teachers, there still aren’t enough titles available that perfectly match the reading level of the class. Mira’s “Quick Read” stuck out in my mind…

Quick Read

*Students choose where to go, and can change each new day.

1. Fastest processors read the whole novella independently, but each are assigned a chapter to create a visual summary with a few short sentences (e.g. Student X reads through. When they get to their assigned chapter 4, they make a small poster with some Latin to summarize).
2. Most students will be reading with a partner.
3. Slow processors read with the teacher (if well above their level, paraphrasing like reading to a child).

When the fastest processors finish their small poster, they give it to the teacher who uses it while reading to the slow processors. This also means there will be illustrated student-created summaries as a product.

This entire process could take 2-4 days depending on the novella! This also comes in handy when you have some extra time before a holiday break, or the end of the year. Oh, and this is automatic differentiation if your admin is still big on seeing that.

My other posts from iFLT 2019:

• The 1-Class CALP & Comprehensible Content-Based Instruction (CCBI)
• Communication Breaks: Air Spelling, Two Second Turn & Talk, and Cloze
• Open Coaching Feedback
• Collaborative Storytelling: Embedded Readings