I love teaching my middle school students. They are fun, quirky, hilarious, sometimes eager to learn and please, and absolutely WILD in every way!
As a middle school reading teacher, it is imperative that I carefully select literature that is appealing to this age group.
Carl Hiaasen, American author and journalist, is known for writing novels geared for middle grade readers. The themes and characters portrayed in his novels speak directly to this age group and are hilarious in every way. Students are easily able to make connections with the characters in his books.
An integral part of my sixth-grade classroom includes reading and enjoying novels together. Many reading skills and standards can be taught while enjoying just one single novel. One novel in particular, Hoot by Carl Hiaasen, has been a huge success in my sixth-grade classroom for the past four years. In this novel, middle school students form an alliance, stand up for what they believe in, and help to save a group of burrowing owls from being killed. Themes such as friendship, bullying, maturation, corporate corruption, and environmental conservation are all explored while reading this novel. Unfortunately, my class set was very old and many of the books have been damaged beyond repair. We were supposed to receive a brand new set of this novel, but we never did. I would love to replace the damaged books in order to continue reading this beloved novel with my classes. The additional book set will be perfect for students who want to explore Hiaasen's writing style further. Additionally, the owl pellets are always a fun, cross-curricular activity to do after reading the book. Thank you so much for your consideration to my project.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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