Harshman Tag Team's Reading

Harshman Tag Team's Reading

by Sandy Nolan

Harshman Junior High has discovered other uses for tag teams besides in gym. We have created ten-member reading teams that compete in reading a complete book in a day and jigsawing together the book in order to pass a comprehension test at the end of the day. Here is how it works:

Interdisciplinary reading teams are put together from each of our school houses by the teachers.
A book is selected that is current and relevant to our students.
The book is read and questions are created in sequential order throughout the book.
Tag team buttons are made with the team letter, time of the reading, and a button number.
Students are called to the media center and given these instructions:
You are to read the book from beginning to end. The first person reads for 25 minutes, and the second person takes over. The first person fills the second person in on what is happening in the book. Notes may be taken. The second person reads for 25 minutes, and the third person takes over. The second person has to report what the first person related and what he or she reads. The process continues until the tenth person has read.
At the end of the day the students come back to the media center and have 15 minutes to talk about the book they read.
They are then given 15 minutes to take one test. Certificates of participation and a small reward are given. They then go back to class.
The test is graded and the team that won is announced the next day. Those students are given a copy of the book.