You are to think critically and keep a response journal for all the required novels. However, you will respond to the three novels listed below by producing three well- written and typed responses. Papers should be 3-4 pages. The responses serve to help you understand, sharpen, and share the ideas, feelings, and thoughts that were evoked as you read. It helps some people to think of response writing as the opportunity to record and analyze what happened as they read.
Children construct theories of the world through their reading.
As you read these novels you should take notes of the subtle or often not so subtle messages about the people, places, events, etc. Keep a record of your predictions and incorporate these thoughts in your paper. Try to make connections to other books read. Tell whether you liked or disliked the book and why. Also, tell whether you would or would not use this book in the classroom and why.