Literacy in Action - Listen, I Read

LISTEN, I READ
BOOK: GREENER GRASS
AUTHOR: CAROLINE PIGNAT

Greener Grass sounds like a novel that a lot of my students have not been exposed to in their daily reading choices. Not only is it written by a Canadian author, but it is set in Ireland, where some of my students have some ancestory, but very little background knowledge. I think this would be a wonderful opportunity to expand upon my students' knowledge base, with some background research on the potato famine, Ireland, leadership roles, etc. Most of my students are from a very small town in southwestern Ontario, with very limited travel opportunities. This would give them a chance to explore, through literacy, a world beyond Forest. I could see this leading to a comparison of life today vs. life in Ireland in the 1800's, as well as the transcending qualities of a leader and survival, and make some applications to their own lives.

Update (May 22, 2012)

My Grade 5 students are nearing the end of our novel, Greener Grass. We have utilized this book as a Literature Circle activity, and the students have read and discussed a few chapters each week.

Recently, author Caroline Pignat, has been blogging with our students about the novel, asking thought-provoking questions, providing some text-to-self connections, and answering many questions from my inquisitive students. What a wonderful learning opportunity for my students to converse with a published author as they enjoy her book!

Update (October 13, 2012)

Greener Grass Literature Circles were a highly successful culminating activity to our year. Author, Caroline Pignat communicated with many of my students via our classroom blog. My students were thrilled to receive personal writing advice and respond to the author's questions about her novel. My only caution to other teachers would be to thoroughly research the book level prior to introducing to the class. I found Greener Grass was only suitable for my advanced reading group at the Grade 5 level.