The Global Read Aloud runs from October 1st – November 9th, 2018. Prior to that, classrooms make connections with each other, and make plans for students to virtually meet during the read aloud, through Skpe, Google Hangouts, blogs, Padlet, Edmodo, or some other technology communication tool. Weekly chapters have been assigned and as a participant you are assured that it is okay to fall behind but please don't read ahead!
This year's 2018 upper elementary-middle school global read aloud selection, Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed, is a wonderful opportunity for your students to experience what it is like living in a place where learning to read is luxury and owing money could cost you your freedom!
Amal, a young girl living in a quiet village in Pakistan, is busy pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher one day. Her dreams take a turn when her mother becomes ill and as the eldest daughter she must stay home from school to take care of her siblings. Amal doesn’t lose hope and finds ways to continue learning. But the unimaginable happens, after an accidental run-in with the son of her village’s corrupt landlord, Amal must work as his family’s servant to pay off her own family’s debt. Through Amal’s journey, students learn that standing up to what one knows is right and the risk taking involved in that brave act is what leads to change.
The author of the book, Aisha Saeed, will be an active participant during the Global Read Aloud. She is offering Skype visits, Q and A sesssions, letters to classroom, and links to resources. Read about it here.
Sounds exciting, doesn't it? So how do we fit Global Read aloud into our curriculum? We know you will want to ensure that the experience is meeting your goals for your students as readers, thinkers, and learners. So we've created an Amal Unbound Global Read Aloud Teacher's Guide for you, FREE to download. You can download it here.
We would love to hear from anyone using this guide! This is the first time we've developed activities for an interconnected project. If you used any part of this, did you find it helpful? Please let us know what you think by leaving feedback at our TPT store.
