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Mixed results

Posted by: Tracy | May 30, 2007 | 2 Comments |

As far as the new approach of jigsawing a novel, it worked better with Jane Eyre than Great Expectations. There are several factors that could have contributed to this discrepancy in achievement. I’m not entirely sure, but my best guess is the different material in the novel. There are more characters intricately related in Great Expectations that made it more difficult to pick up at any given chapter. The plot line of Jane Eyre and the character base is less complex, making it a better candidate for the jigsaw. I was hoping peers would learn to depend on each other when reading (like asking other groups questions about their respective section) but that didn’t occur in 4th hour and with GE as I would have liked.

Regardless, both classes were exposed to two major literary works of the Victorian Period, whether through reading the novel or discussing and reading summaries. If I were to do it again, I would do it differently – but that’s for another time.

under: Semester teaching job
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What would you do differently? I would like to use this method fo my 8th grade students & would gratefull appreciate more details, suggestions, how you implemented the method, etc. Thank you so much!

   By: Suzanne on August 24, 2007
at 12:08 am

Suzanne,
I would have set up the texts more before reading – giving some background and a plot overview so that if you picked the book up at a random chapter you would have some context. Also, these were seniors at the end of the year, and I think they were DONE. In an eighth grade classroom, this method could work better. You might have them for more time in the day, too, which would help. Setting up reading groups instead of reading partners might also help. Or have days when designated groups are to be reading and discussing, then preparing a short presentation to the whole group. The other groups could be doing extension work or other classroom curriculum on the opposite days. My students needed time to be reading together and asking questions for things they didn’t get, but we didn’t have that option. That would help create the dependency I was looking for. Email me if you want more at tkranzusch@clintonia.org.

   By: Tracy Kranzusch on August 24, 2007
at 8:37 am

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