Last week I consulted with our amazing ELL specialist: Jody Zambrano. I told her about my Harry Potter plan that I had instituted, showed her the character map we had made, explained a few of the frustrations I was feeling, and asked her if she had any suggestions for me.
First, my frustration: My two ELL students were starting to “get” the book, but were not “engaged” in the book.
Jody thinks that although my ideas of how to handle the ELL problems with visualizing were good, the choice of book wasn’t so good. Harry Potter is high interest, but has it’s own language. Even the names of the classes are strange: Charms, Herbology, etc. She suggested doing the same with realistic fiction. I can only think of three books that are quite similar to the movies: Harry Potter I, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and Anne of Green Gables. I’m thinking that since Anne of Green Gables takes place at the turn of the century that the same thing might happen as would happen with fantasy. Any suggestions out there??
What about Because of Winn-Dixie or Holes?
I haven’t seen the movie for Holes, although I love the book. Is it close to the plot of the book. I think Winn-Dixie is a great idea! Thanks for the ideas.