TRY THIS TOMORROW: READ THE WORD, READ THE WORLD
Developed by Facing History & Ourselves , “Read the Word, Read the World” encourages students to connect literature and real life. This resource encourages deep, reflective reading and begins by guiding students through a detailed examination of character development, conflict, and themes within a text. The second part, “Read the World,” allows students to connect the insights gained from their reading to real-world issues. These connections foster an understanding of a text’s relevance to their lives and current events.
This resource is not just about reading comprehension; it’s about building a bridge between literature and life. By integrating textual analysis with personal and societal reflection, students gain a holistic understanding of the material. The questions within also cultivate empathy, promote critical analysis, and foster a love for reading. So, I highly recommend that you try this tomorrow.
Read the Word – How it Works:
- Discussion Questions: Students consider the conflicts faced by characters, whether internal, external, or both. They explore characters’ perspectives and compare them with others in the text.
- Key Scenes: Students dive into pivotal scenes, analyzing character emotions, successes or failures, sources of conflict, and what characters learn about themselves and their world.
- Themes: Students reflect on the overarching messages or big ideas in the text and how close-reading techniques help uncover these themes.
Read the World – How it Works:
- Written Reflection and Sketch: Students choose from a set of reflective questions and respond in writing. They then create a quick sketch to represent their ideas visually, whether it be a symbol, a drawing, or a mix of words and images.
Reflective Questions Include:
- What is the most valuable idea in this text, and why?
- What lessons does this text teach about yourself, your community, or the world?
- How does this text help you understand current global issues?