Peanut butter is forever : novel study guide
Date
1997
Authors
Hosanee, Neermal
University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Education
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Education, 1997
Abstract
Language Arts is used to communicate understandings, ideas and feelings. It is essential
that students gain competence in using and understanding language in a variety of forms
and contexts and to be able to process and organize information to express their thoughts.
Novel studies are one form which offer a mce variety to the basic Language Arts
curriculum. Novel studies provide students with a source of entertainment, guidance, and
excitement while practicing and perfecting their reading, writing, listening and speaking
skills.
Novel study guides offer teachers a wonderful opportunity to help students appreciate and
understand novels better, in a context which utilizes the integration of all Language Arts
components.
Students in this project helped construct the novel study guide by completing work on
character sketches, chapter summaries, vocabulary, chapter questions, response journals,
novel projects and a novel test. This novel study guide was constructed over a period of
six months although the actual novel study in class took approximately six weeks. This
project also includes a student survey which analyzes the students' strengths and
weaknesses of their experience throughout this project.
The novel study enhanced the students' communication and organizational skills. The
group work promoted cooperation, sharing, commitment and responsibility. Students did
experience some difficulty compiling the materials as a class and some students would
have preferred to work on their own. Time was an obstructing factor as the students
wished they could have spent another four weeks on the project. Overall, perfecting Language Arts skills is extremely essential if students want to become
proficient in the English Language. One must remember that these skills certainly are not
learned overnight and require continuous reinforcement and practice on the part of the
teacher and the student! Novel studies are only one method which offer students the
opportunity to practice these skills.
Description
vi, 118 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm. --
Keywords
Language arts (Secondary) , Canadian literature -- Study and teaching (Secondary) , Zola, Melanie, 1952- . Peanut butter is forever