Long Way Down Novel Study

The Long Way Down Novel Study is a comprehensive novel study for teaching Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds. This novel study provides unique opportunities to implement an engaging exploration of this popular book. The Long Way Down Novel Study will provide you with the resources you need to teach a successful and thoughtful unit.

With over 60+ Common Core aligned materials, students will develop their literacy skills while deeply engaging with the novel through this unit. The literary analysis resources, close readings, and vocabulary resources will all provide opportunities for your students to practice and apply what will be their growing understanding of the novel. They also provide numerous ways for you to DIFFERENTIATE and ACCOMMODATE for all learners, allowing you to choose the assignments that best support your students’ learning while being conducive to all types of classroom models.

Long Way Down Novel Study - Snapshot of Resources Included in Unit:

• 8 Comprehension & Analysis Chapter Questions Assignments
• Elevator Trip Close Reading Assignments & Visual Activity
• 8 Whole Novel Analysis Assignments
• Discussion Questions - 8 (1 per Reading) & 8 Whole Novel
• 8 Novel Quizzes – Comprehension & Analysis
• Final Novel Assessment – A & B Differentiated Format
• Essay Choice Board - 4 Prompts
• 4 Nonfiction Activity Sets: Revenge, Social Norms, Gun Violence & Forgiveness - 3 Anticipation Guides, 4 Informational, Engaging Activities, Final Project
• Vocabulary Resources - 3 Crossword Puzzles, 3 Practice Exercises, 3 Quizzes
• Instructional Pacing Guide, 20 Lesson Plans & Instructional Lessons (PowerPoint)
• Editable Resources to Accommodate Classroom Context
• Answer Keys for ALL applicable resources!
• Googles Slides™ & Google Forms™ links for student pages!

Chapter Questions Resources: The comprehension and literary analysis questions for a Long Way Down novel study will give students repeated opportunities to practice essential literacy skills aligned to the Common Core State Standards. For every chapter / poem grouping, students will have to answer rigorous, text-based questions that assess not only their ability to comprehend but also their ability to analyze key events. With numerous options for implementation, the resource also allows for differentiation and can enable accommodation that will meet the needs of all learners. There are 11-20 questions for each of the 8 readings. Each question set includes a blend of comprehension and analysis questions, offering different levels of challenge for students. The editable resources also give you options for meeting the needs of all your learners. All 8 assignments include questions that require close reading of the text, which means your students will always be practicing essential skills aligned to the CCSS.

Discussion Questions: The discussion questions provide open-ended prompts to deeply explore the themes and conflicts prominent in Long Way Down. The resources include one prompt for every reading (8) and 8 questions for whole novel analysis. The 8 reading discussion questions are provided in two different formats – graphic organizers and task cards – that will allow flexible implementation. The whole novel discussion questions are provided as task cards. Use the questions for independent work, small group or whole class discussion, reflection, homework, or more.

Elevator Trip Activity & Close Reading Resources: The elevator trip activity is a unique, creative way for students to demonstrate their literary proficiency through close reading. For each floor of the novel (8-Lobby), students will answer analysis questions aligned to essential literature standards. Then, students will create an engaging visual to represent Will’s trip down the elevator. This adaptable project will provide your students numerous ways to represent their knowledge as they grow their understanding of the text. The 8 whole novel assignments provide opportunities for students to demonstrate their understanding of Long Way Down and its literary elements. It provides a creative way to comprehensively assess essential standards. Students will analyze the novel’s conflicts, themes, and more, then use writing and other creative mediums to synthesize the content.

Assessment Resources: The assessment resources will help you measure how well students are understanding the novel and how well they can apply literary skills taught throughout a unit. These editable quizzes and a differentiated test use rigorous lines of questioning to challenge students’ knowledge of the novel’s content and literary elements. The materials include 8 comprehension and literary quizzes, 1 differentiated literary assessment, and essay choice board.

The thematic nonfiction activity sets will build students’ background knowledge about the topics and themes that influence and shape the characters and circumstances in the novel Long Way Down. Students will synthesize informational texts, conduct research, and analyze data alongside their reading of Long Way Down, which will improve their critical thinking skills and deepen their understanding of the novel. As they do, they will also practice essential skills aligned to the reading of informational texts under the Common Core State Standards.

• Nonfiction Activity Set 1: Revenge – For this activity set, students will reflect through an anticipation guide, read an informational text about the psychology of revenge, define revenge and justice, analyze science research about fairness and revenge, and make connections to in a distinct exercise. The variety of activities provides students with multiple avenues to critically think about this core theme in Long Way Down.

• Nonfiction Activity Set 2: Social Norms – From an informational text on social norms to viewing segments of “Impractical Jokers” and discussing school social norms, students will develop a broader understanding of the purpose and pitfalls of social norms. Then, a novel connection exercise helps tie this powerful theme to Will’s circumstance in a real-life way.

• Nonfiction Activity Set 3: Gun Violence – Through data analysis, an informational text about gun violence, and an inquiry-based research activity, students will start to understand the devastating impact gun violence has in real-life and Will’s life. By synthesizing real-world information and making connections to the novel, students will deepen their understanding of the effects of this epidemic.

• Nonfiction Activity Set 4: Forgiveness – This short activity set includes an informational text on the power of forgiveness and a final project. The final project asks students to write the last poem(s) of the novel by taking into consideration the real-life impact of revenge, social norms, gun violence, and forgiveness.

Vocabulary Resources: The Long Way Down vocabulary resources will assist students in building their own vocabulary and engage them in varied activities to maximize their vocabulary’s expansion. With the 3 different vocabulary lists, 3 crossword puzzles, 3 vocabulary practice assignments, and 3 quizzes the resource allows for differentiation and flexible implementation.

Teaching Resources (Bonus Material): The unit implementation suggestions, standards-alignment guide, pacing guide, 20 lesson plans, and PowerPoint lesson guide will help you effectively plan and implement any and all components of the Long Way Down Novel Study. They are the materials designed for you.

Digital Compatibility: This resource is also technology friendly! It can be utilized in classrooms where computers or tablets are central to instruction because the resource has been adapted for digital completion. The resources include links for students to complete any work assigned, such as in-class tasks and assessments, online via Google Slides™ and Google Forms. For instance, students can work with the documents in Google Drive™ or via Google Classroom. With these links, you can have students complete their activities, assignments, and ALL ASSESSMENTS online. All they will have to do for the student pages is either create a text box or fill out a form! There are links for every student page and assessment if applicable, making the format friendly not only for technology but also trees.

Answer Keys: Every resource includes comprehensive answer keys (most extension activities include rubrics)! The keys provide potential answers for every activity, lesson, and question (where applicable). Of course, not all analytic questions have just one answer! Part of the strength of the analysis question is the room they leave for students to demonstrate their unique thinking and use textual evidence to support their stance. Therefore, use the answers at your discretion but know they provide a solid foundation for the type of performance that makes for quality work. 

PLEASE NOTE: The page numbers listed in this resource are based on the edition ISBN: 9781338053807.