To help you determine which books are the best fit for your class, I shared a short summary of the plot. Novel Study Activities In addition to doing the mandatory activities (Reading Log, Word List, Group Discussions, I Wonder…), you will be required to select 4 additional activities. Each of the 10 books in this list has gone through this process, and have been read several times with my students. Of course, his teacher doesn't take too kindly to this act of rebellion, and students spend the book experiencing the tension that results from this conflict. Whether it is a read-aloud, novel study, or independent reading, it can be challenging to find quality novels with engaging storylines that support deep conversation and critical thinking about the text. If you didn’t get a chance to grab the free list with more info on each book, be sure to sign up for that freebie. If you have students who love solving riddles or reading mystery chapter books, they will love this novel study. After being left behind when her community leaves their island village, a young girl named Karana must display courage and learn to survive alone. Filed Under: Read Alouds & Book Ideas Tagged With: chapter books for 4th graders, chapter books for 5th graders, classic books for 4th & 5th graders, novel studies for 4th and 5th grade students. Save Me a Seat by Gina Weeks & Gita Varadarajan, 10. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren, 12. Everything changes for Ivan upon the arrival of a new baby elephant, Ruby. A few of them had red faces or dropped jaws. Initially, when my students looked at the cover, they whined about reading it. Becky, Required fields are marked *. I also shared links to the trifold novel study … Who could write a list of great novels for fourth grade and NOT include at least one Judy Blume book? With a host of supporting characters that are all insects with a variety of hilarious quirks, your students are sure to get a giggle from this silly story. This story is the ultimate in survival fiction as students follow Brian's transformation from a scared, unsure boy to a strong, independent survivor. You Might Want to Check Out: How to Help Your Boys Fall in Love with Reading. . Success! Another text that I would consider on the easier reading side of things, this is a story set to the backdrop of sibling rivalry. I use this novel study with current events to help students better understand immigration issues in our country. Sure Cara, He is caged, and his experiences help you see life from an animal’s perspective in a whole new way. I definitely think it is the most fun book for a novel study. List A 1. This one is a slightly easier read than some of the others on this list, but when it comes to engaging readers it should be #1. A great story that really helps students dive deep into conflict and the protagonist-antagonist relationship, Frindle is a realistic fiction novel you will love reading with your students. With opportunities to discuss character traits and relationships, visualizing, and so many more important reading comprehension skills, this book is a winner for both the students and all those essential standards you're required to cover! The author's writing helps readers examine Auggie's experiences from several lenses, and there are so many great opportunities for discussion about respecting individual differences, kindness and growing up. The story follows Mr. Popper as he. . We were only a few chapters in as students listened to the part where Buddy, an orphaned 10-year-old black boy, was being abused by his foster parents. I'm Tanya (Ms. Marshall) and I help teachers get organized, save time, and teach more ... Sign up for updates delivered directly to your inbox. All of my students who read Bud, Not Buddy as a 4th-grader can’t wait to read this chapter book as a 5th-grader. James and the Giant Peach is a great book choice! With likable characters and situations that could be happening in your own school or classroom, Save Me a Seat is sure to be a winner with your fourth graders. We both enjoyed the deep plot twists and unexpected surprises throughout the story. Basil E. Frankweiler Novel Study. Besides the very funny book-based movie starring Jim Carrey, Mr. Popper’s Penguins is hilarious! I have a dilemma this year and would love your feedback. This is the story of a well-loved china bunny who is quite full of himself early on but ends up on the adventure of a lifetime that changes him. Now that you know my process for chapter book selection, let’s dive right in to this juicy book list! I was thinking of reading Fish in a Tree as a novel study. This post contains affiliate links. Welcome! Thanks for signing up! Each student had to choose books from a certain genre each month, but they could pick any book within that genre. Get the No Prep Novel Study: Mr. Popper's Penguins Novel Study. When doing a novel study do the students read on their own and come prepared to discuss it in class or is it done as a read aloud? Shiloh is the story of a boy and his dog…well, technically not HIS dog, but students discover that on their own while reading. Despite everyone else finding Fudge adorable, Peter isn't smitten with his shenanigans…especially when Fudge eats his pet turtle! Applegate. Build them into novel studies during ELA, or just use them for an independent study. 1. For many teachers, novels must be chosen based on their Lexile and reading level. This has been very helpful as it is my first year teaching 5th grade reading. ), Get the No Prep Novel Study: Sarah, Plain & Tall Novel Study. The story of a young boy named Auggie who was born with a facial deformity, Wonder weaves together a story of how he sees the world and the world sees him as he transitions into public school. So I encourage my students to keep a journal while we read the novel. Be sure to check out these reviews on this book from other readers. But, Fall Door Decor If you like Miss Tyle, You can't speak out against racism while practicin, Why You Need to Have Literacy Centers in Your Upper Elementary Classroom, Teaching Strategies for Reading Comprehension in Upper Elementary Classrooms, Ideas to Help Older Students Who Struggle with Spelling*, Read Alouds for Upper Elementary Students*, How to Use Choice Boards to Run Literacy Centers*, 8 Clever Ways to Get Students Writing More*, From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. That's why I compiled this list of the 20 best books for fourth grade. Even though it’s new for us, I highly recommend it as a novel study in the classroom. Terms of Use | Private Policies & Disclosures Thanks for sharing. Reading novels is a wonderful way to build a love for reading! The story follows Mr. Popper after his life is turned upside down when he receives a penguin from the South Pole. They assumed that it would be “boring” based on the cover illustration. I will check it out. Especially Bud, Not Buddy! An added bonus is that the text is based on a true story, giving plenty of opportunities for discussion. Students follow Claudia and her little brother as they decide to run away from home and live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. I use it to teach specific reading skills. A great novel for talking about learning differences, fitting in, and avoiding assumptions. The reading level is 3.9 (as you will see in the FREE printable below), so I often use this as our introductory novel study at the beginning of the school year. When selecting novel studies for 4th and 5th-grade students, I consider the following criteria: Once I check out these factors, then I read it myself before introducing it to my students. Read how they carefully avoid detection by the museum security, manage their day-to-day existence (including budgeting), and even end up solving a mystery along the way! While the boys initially don't think they have anything in common, they come to discover they aren't that different after all. My kids really enjoy comparing and contrasting the novel and the movie once we finish both. Independent Novel Study You will choose your own novel to read for the month of April. This classic chapter book provides rich details and descriptions that are great for teaching imagery. I even incorporated it into our Golden Rule classroom practice. Here’s why I recommend it in this list of novel studies for 4th and 5th graders: This book is a new edition to my list of novel studies for 4th and 5th graders, because I just recently read it at home with my son who is now in 5th grade. Add them to your read-aloud list. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell, 2. He actually finished it in four days. I highly recommend it for your fourth graders. Two of the activities must be from list A and two activities can be selected from list B. Little do they know the adventures that will soon unfold. Extra copies of Get the No Prep Novel Study: Save Me a Seat Novel Study, This story about Mr. Popper and his troop of penguins is the funny tale of an unusual man and his even more unusual pets. This is such an amazing book for kids because it focuses on looking beyond our differences to see what is truly important…and couldn't we use more of that in the world today! This heroic tale is a great way to link social studies and reading. The 2017 Global Read Aloud selection, this story is a great science fiction selection for fourth grade students.While it is a relatively easy read that includes some illustrations, it is a story that many of the boys I work with absolutely loved, which can sometimes be a challenge to find.