Teaching novels to middle schoolers can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be! With the right strategies, you can make teaching novels an enjoyable and rewarding experience for both you and your students. Here are three tips to help ensure success when teaching novels in the middle school classroom. 

1. Provide Context 

Before diving into the text, provide background information about the novel, its author, and the time period in which it was written. This will give your students context for understanding the novel better and set them up for success. You could also assign some pre-reading activities such as after reading the back cover of the book, do a KWL worksheet or conducting a variety of short, related research projects. This will get them thinking more critically about what they’ll be reading before they even begin!

2. Incorporate Fun Activities 

When teaching novels, don’t forget to have fun! Incorporate creative activities that get your students excited about reading the book. For example, you could assign each student a character from the book and ask them to dress up as that character on designated days during your unit study of that novel. Or you could create a comic strip version of an important scene from the book in order to bring it to life for your students visually. Use your imagination! 

3. Highlight Vocabulary Words 

Novels often contain complex language, so highlighting vocabulary words is key when teaching novels in middle school classrooms. Ask students to come up with their own definitions of unfamiliar words before looking them up in a dictionary or other reference material, then use those words throughout class discussions and writing assignments related to the story being read. By focusing on vocabulary development while reading, not only will your students become more familiar with certain words, but they’ll also gain deeper insight into how language works in general—a valuable skill that will serve them well across all subject areas! 

Teaching novels doesn’t have to be intimidating! By providing context before beginning a novel study unit, incorporating creative activities throughout, and highlighting key vocabulary terms along the way, you can ensure that your middle schoolers have an engaging and meaningful experience while learning about literature through reading great books! With these three tips at hand, you’re ready to tackle any novel for any grade level with confidence and ease!