Novel Worksheets

Novel worksheets are a common activity when students read a novel together. It can be difficult to create worksheets that actually teach something about novels in general (and the specific novel they’re reading).

Why A Whole Class Novel

I don’t only teach novels, but a whole class novel has immense value.

• It allows for an extended communal experience.
• Students don’t necessarily have to learn new background knowledge for every chapter.
• Authors tend to reuse the same vocabulary, so there’s some internal reinforcement of words.
• It slows down the process of storytelling so that students can examine it as a literary discipline.
• It is the basis for many core memories formed in an ELA class.

Novel Worksheets Reinvented

Some common practices for novel worksheets involve having students work on one (or a couple) of reading strategies. The intent is to provide students a focus for the reading (and minimize teacher prep by assigning the same worksheet each time). These both make total sense, but no one comprehends using just one strategy/focus.

There are also a lot of missed opportunities here. This is one of the rare chances a student has to read an entire book with a teacher. Save the more general tasks for when students are reading different books independently. Take advantage of the unique opportunities for togetherness. Here is a general routine to use.

Whole Class Novel Study

During whole class novel study, focus on

• summarizing the main idea of structural chunks.
• analysis of character and theme development.
• discussing author’s choices and their impacts.
• integrating knowledge with the self, literature, and the world.

Depending on text complexity and students’ readiness, you may be able to begin supporting them as independent meaning-makers who can

• identify and accurately address gaps in vocabulary knowledge.
• break long sentences into meaningful chunks and interpret them. I love the Juicy Sentence Protocol for this.

Novel Worksheets for Whole Class Novel Study

Use these novel worksheets to support whole class novel study. This resource contains:

• 20 pages of worksheets designed for every section of a novel (can be expanded or condensed as desired)
• 6 pages of lesson ideas for teaching structure, setting, characterization, theme, connections, and summarization
• 7 printable exit slips to assess understanding at different points in the novel