My opinion of Reading Town (Weeks 1-4)

Its the end of week 4 and my G7B has been trudging through their Reading Town book and the Writing Bright  1 workbook. The chapter readings are very difficult for their level, all non fiction and very dry.

We started on a semi interesting topic on Big Cats: Lions and Tigers, and then moved on to Unit 2 on the Ferris Wheels. The material was so difficult with them, we couldn’t even answer the most interesting questions about the ethics of keeping tigers as pets for show, rather than companionship.

 We completed that first lesson on Unit 2 in one week, but I was so bored from the material myself, I thought I would ask them which chapter in the book most appealed to them. The general consensus was Unit 5 on J.R.R. Tolkien seemed the most interesting, (best question of the day, "Teacher, Lord of the Rings was a book?"). However this textbook being rather difficult, I think I will supplement it with some of my own introductory lessons.

I will diminish the role of Reading Town in this class and focus more on Writing Bright and my own materials. Apparently, the parents insist on using a book.

Next week I will introduce different Genres in film and literature, then delve into Fantasy, the Hobbit, Lord of the Rings and then go back to Reading Town Unit 5.