Ways to Use Novel Studies in Upper Elementary ELA Class

When it comes to young adult literature, I get so excited to introduce both old favorites and new titles to my students! Watching them meet the characters I have come to love and see the stories unfold is so rewarding. Using Novel Studies in Upper Elementary ELA helps your students find a love of literature. Plus, with ready-to-go units, you save a ton of time. Instead of planning and prepping, you’ll get to enjoy class discussions and your students. Here are some ways to use novel studies in your upper elementary ELA classroom.

Introduce Literary Concepts

Before getting started with a full novel and throughout the year, introduce some literature concepts to your students with short stories and passages. A ready-to-use full year of reading curriculum helps your students master the following concepts:

• Reading Complex Texts
• Quoting and Citing Accurately
• Inferences
• Theme
• Summarizing
• Character Traits
• Plot
• Vocabulary/Context Clues
• Figurative Language
• Tone and Mood
• Poem Structures
• Drama Structures
• Text Structures
• Point of View
• Visual Multimedia Elements
• Audio and Multimedia Elements
• Genres of Texts
• Forms of Texts
• Traditional Literature
• Greek Mythology

These concepts can also be taught as mini lessons during your novel units!

Literature Circles

First, give your students choice by giving them some titles to choose from for their own novel study. Next, set up literature circles by giving students a few options then grouping them according to appropriate levels and personalities. The, the students can work together on some assignments and even practice reading their selections aloud. Overall, All of the Novel Study Reading Units are set up in a similar way with daily lessons, guiding questions, interpretative questions, comprehension questions, and vocabulary. Each group will be able to work at an appropriate pace for their novel group.

Whether your students are reading Harry Potter or The Giver, they’ll be so excited to read and discuss with their literature circle groups.

Independent Reading

In addition to collaborative reading with literature circles, I am always a huge fan of independent reading! First, let your students choose from one of eight novels and complete the comprehension units independently. At the end of the unit, allow your students to create a digital book talk or similar presentation to “sell” their title to the class. Students can then make a choice for their future independent read, whether it is done as a unit or as a free read!

Whole Class Novels

Even though literature circles and independent reading are important parts of elementary ELA, there is something to be said for whole class novel studies! Using socratic seminars, introducing the background of the novel, and watching a movie as a culmination of the unit gets students so excited!

Finally, share some of these engaging young adult novels with your 5th-7th grade readers!

• Holes
• Freak the Mighty
• Harry Potter
• Number the Stars
• The Giver
• Love That Dog
• Smile
• Prisoner B-3087

Overall, these engaging titles will have your students excited about reading and discussing as a whole group.

There are so many ways to use novel studies in upper elementary and middle school ELA classrooms. First, you may choose to use collaborative literature circles for small group reading. On the other hand, these novel units are perfect for independent reading. Finally, novel studies even work for whole group novels. No matter how you use the fifth grade reading curriculum bundle, your students will be prepared with literature instruction, novel studies, and even informational text to add in! How will you use novel studies in your classroom?