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not understand.
observing and analyzing the conversation unfolding in the middle develops both careful
listening and synthesis skills.
3. The words of the hymn were like the drops of frozen rain melting on the dry
palate of the panting earth. How does this simile describe the changes Nwoye
is going through with the arrival of the missionaries?
By the looks of it, one could argue that the first student read the chapter while the other
student did not. However, it is not always as simple as that when it comes to the complex
themes of the novel and the particular way in which the story is told. I included the
second example to represent the handful of students who were struggling with reading
comprehension and understanding of the plot, and who needed more support in the
form of extended class discussions (conclusions drawn from the end-of-unit survey data).
One student commented that reading it at home could sometimes be confusing or just
boring and preferred reading the book in class together for better understanding.
I developed the quiz questions with struggling readers in mind, and made sure to focus
on major plot points and ideas versus nit-picky details that many reading quizzes
overemphasize. This also meant that students could get questions wrong or partially
wrong for not understanding the text, though they may have read it. In order to balance
reading for understanding and comprehension versus just for surface details, I will think
about having students discuss the chapters' themes together, and possible ask me 1-3
burning questions before we begin the quiz.