Tired of struggling to maintain your students' interest and enthusiasm in the class reading assignment? Move beyond the typical novel study with this refreshing exploration of how and why we read that will revitalize the novel in any classroom.

The simple steps in this handy book give insight into the ways we make connections between what we read and our past experiences, both real and literary, to form a more complete understanding. The book also models comprehension strategies to use before, during, and after reading that will help readers to hone their skills and clarify what they've read.

With practical tips for getting started with books, choosing novels to match students' interests and abilities, and new ways to share responses with others, this book has everything you need to jump-start the novel in your classroom. The Novel Experience will help you and your students fire your imaginations as you share and celebrate stories together.

LARRY SWARTZ is an instructor in literacy as well as dramatic arts at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. He has been an educator for over thirty-six years and is well known for his use of childrenâ??s literature to help young people grow as readers, writers, and citizens of the world. As a classroom teacher, consultant, author, and speaker, Larry has shared his enthusiasm and expertise with teachers, administrators, teacher-librarians, and parents throughout Canada, the United States, and Asia. He is the author of several teacher resource publications.

Larry Swartz's profile page

The Novel Experience: Steps for Choosing and Using Fiction in the Classroom