Character Bulletin Board

Because struggling and dependent readers often think good readers just naturally know how to read well, the use of a Character Bulletin Board in one's classroom seems like a good way to have all students on an equal playing field. "Making character bulletin boards gives students quick references to characters as they read a novel" (Beers, 2003, p. 134). I think having these board, and continually working on them, during the reading of a text is a good way for students to think deeper and more critically about a text and characters' actions. This strategy might work best for complex, intense texts, such as Of Mice and Men or To Kill A Mockingbird. Often, texts do not explicitly state why a character did or said a certain thing and it is up to the reader to make inferences. The character bulletin board is a great tool for students to remember specific quotes the character has said, changes they have gone through throughout the story, and past actions.

"Students' comprehension is improved while they read if they have texts or classroom materials that help them visualize the plots and characters" (Beers, 2003, p. 134). This strategy not only allows students to see the characters, but also provides time to discuss the text during reading. As we have discussed in class, teachers should not wait until a book is finished to talk about it. There should be continuous talk about the text. Using the character bulletin boards, students are able to see characteristics of each character and also create new meaning for the text and see the story through specific characters' points of view.

I think the teacher should model this strategy before students participate. This strategy could be implemented in a variety of ways: partners, small groups, whole-class, individual, etc. There could be specific guidelines for students as they are creating their board: physical characteristics, personality, important quotes, reoccurring themes of the characters, and many more. With the teacher's model as a guide, students will have many resources to complete this board successfully and enhance their understanding of the text.