So B. It, by Sarah Weeks: A Novel Study

This 25 page packet of materials was created to use with students who are reading the novel, So B. It, by Sarah Weeks. It includes an 18 page student booklet along with answer key and vocabulary bookmark. The booklet is designed to reinforce essential reading and writing skills for students in grades 5-8. Skills include visualizing, determining author's purpose, inferring, comprehension, questioning, explaining, predicting, comparing and contrasting, recognizing point-of-view, vocabulary, reading a map, and using context.Created by Jean Martin.

The booklet is divided into six reading assignments with questions and tasks to go with each one. In addition there is a culminating activity at the end of the booklet. It is designed for independent work so that students can work on this in class while the teacher is meeting with another group. In my classroom, students are responsible for completing one reading assignment with the accompanying questions each week. They are given three, 40 minute periods per week to complete one assignment. They then meet once a week with me (or an aide or a parent), along with the other students reading the same book (we call this a "book club" meeting) to discuss the book and review the assignments.

Customize the use of this packet as you wish. What worked for me, may not be what works best for you. For example, instead of using this as class work, the packet could also be used as homework. Also, instead of creating a booklet, the pages can be copied and handed out singly as separate assignments.

So B. It in a nutshell:

This is the tender story of an introspective twelve year old girl, Heidi, being raised by her mentally disabled mother with the help of their neighbor, Bernadette. She has a rather unconventional lifestyle but she also has a strong sense of family. Her strong desire to solve the mystery of her heritage takes her on a quest to learn about her roots. Her curiosity and her perseverance open a whole new world to her and show us all what family really means.

Appropriate for students in grades 5-8. Reading level approximately 5th grade.



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