First Chapter Friday in the Middle School ELA Classroom - Build a Reading Culture with High-Interest Books
If you're an English Language Arts teacher, there's a good chance that you love books. While you may feel enthusiastic about rummaging through a library and cracking open a new novel, do you ever struggle to help your students feel that same enthusiasm about literature?
First Chapter Friday is one of my favorite ways to hype up books and get students to consider checking them out from the school library. Different teachers have unique strategies for First Chapter Friday, and I encourage you to check out other blogs for a variety of ideas. In today's post, I'm going to share what has worked best in my classroom.
1. Pick out a high-interest book that students could read on their own
The goal of First Chapter Friday is not to convince a 7th grade class to read a complicated book like The Brothers Karamazov. The goal is to find reading level appropriate books that are extremely engaging, right off the bat. If you're feeling unsure of what your students might like, ask your school librarian to share recommendations for books with compelling first chapters. School librarians are incredible resources, and they know what books students are frequently checking out.
Here are a few books that many middle schoolers love:
- The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
- Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick
- The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen
- Scythe by Neal Shusterman
- Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
2. Give students a doodle and notetaking worksheet for listening
My students love filling out this First Chapter Friday notetaking template. Because it comes with clear instructions for students, I don't have to do anything other than print and distribute the sheet to the class. By the time Friday comes, it's a relief to have a straight forward assignment to hand out.
This print-and-go activity includes:
- A banner for students to write the book title and author's name
- A space for students to doodle a memorable scene or image
- A section for students to write notes about what they predict will happen next in the novel
- 5 fill-in hearts for students to rank the quality of the writing
- A reading sign-up section for students to share if they'd like to check out the book from the library
3. Read the first chapter of the book aloud to your class or find an audiobook to play instead
If you feel confident and love bringing out your inner theater kid, go ahead and read the book aloud. Pause dramatically, raise and lower your voice, and read in a way that immerses your students in a new world.
Or, if you're anything like me and are constantly losing your voice during the school year, bring in a set of speakers and play an audiobook version of the chapter. There are also lots of amazing teachers who have graciously recorded themselves reading first chapters on YouTube, so make sure to check out their free resources!
4. Display books you've read in the classroom
When the weekend comes, it can be easy for students to forget what book you shared during First Chapter Friday. Who can blame them?
Consider printing out photos of the book covers and pinning them to your bulletin board as a visual reminder of which books you've shared with the class.
5. Give students a chance to share their feedback on the book
After students have finished filling out their listening sheets, ask volunteers to share what they wrote. Try to create a safe space where students can share their opinions without fear of judgment.
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