Big Nate: In a Class By Himself

Big Nate: In a Class by Himself
Author: Lincoln Peirce
Published by HarperCollins Children’s Books in 2010

Suggested Delivery: Small-group read

Reading Level:
Lexile Measure 500L
Grade Level: 4

Guide Words:
1.  Graphic Novel
2.  Humor
3.   Middle School
4.   Detention
5.   Bad Luck

Vocabulary: parental (6), destined (7), gullible (11), dynamic (67), magnetism (67), czar (80), frivolous (114), diversion (116), potential (143)

 

Summary: Nate is going to have a great day… or at least that is what his fortune cookie told him. In Big Nate: In a Class By Himself, readers follow a young boy throughout a comically eventful day. In his efforts to rise above all others, Nate finds that getting in trouble is just about the only school subject he exceeds at. Apparently, even “being awesome” can’t save Nate from detention.

Teaching Strategies

Before:  In order to read this book and comprehend efficiently, students should be appropriately introduced to the genre of graphic novels before reading Big Nate: In a Class By Himself. Points to emphasize include:

·  Picture books are not only for young children
·  Before more sophisticated writing systems, stories were told exclusively with pictures!

Because of the abundance of pictures in this graphic novel, students will begin the lesson by previewing the book’s illustrations. Things to look for include:

· Main characters
· Possible events
· Timeline of plotline

From their brief picture walk, students will make predictions about what will take place.

During: While reading the book, students should evaluate their predictions to determine which were accurate and which were not. Additionally, students should try to relate to Nate. For example, on page 10, Nate rates the different types of school days, and grades them from A+ to F. Do the students agree with his ratings? How would they restructure his list?

After: In a group discussion, students should talk to each other about why they did or did not like this style of writing. Questions to consider include:

· Are you more interested in reading when there are illustrations?
· Did the illustrations give you a better understanding of the plot line?
· Did the illustrations make the reading process more entertaining?

Writing: Throughout this novel, Nate often makes lists of his schedule or of favorite/least favorite parts of the school day. Like Nate did on page78, illustrate your daily schedule through drawings. Add commentary, or descriptions, in order to give the reader a better understanding of what you have drawn.

Electronic Sources:

Includes information on what a graphic novel is and how to read it
o  http://www.getgraphic.org/resources/HowtoReadaGraphicNovel.pdf
This website shows a preview of the books and its illustrations, and can therefore be used by a teacher to show a class or group of students an illustration at the same time. This way, group predictions can be made.
o  http://browseinside.harpercollinschildrens.com/index.aspx?isbn13=9780061944345
On the left side of this page, there is a downloadable audio excerpt that students can follow along with.
o   http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/books/Big-Nate-Lincoln-Peirce/?isbn13=9780061944345&tctid=100

Peirce, L. (2010). Big Nate: In a Class by Himself. New York: Harper.