ANTICIPATION GUIDE: The Bumblebee Flies Anyway

PURPOSE OF THE STRATEGY

The anticipation guide is a way to prepare a reader prior to a reading assignment by asking them to react to a series of statements related to the content of the material. Three reasons for using anticipation guides according to Erickson, Huber, Bea, and McKenzie (1987) include: (1) relating prior knowledge to new information to enhance comprehension, (2) creating interest which stimulates discussion on the topic, and (3) creating possibilities for integrating reading and writing instruction.

STEP 1 Read Robert Cormier's The Bumblebee Flies Anyway. Take note of significant themes and concepts in the book. You may wish to keep a written record of these themes and where they appear in the book.

STEP 2 After finishing Cormier's book, decide which of his themes are the most important and perhaps the most controversial. Think about it this way: Which of these themes will agitate my students the most or in other words, which of these themes will cause them to think the most? Some of the major themes could be deception, truth as something elusive, promises, hope, routines, death, or the fulfilling of personal needs.

STEP 3 Make your anticipation guide, including statements or question to elicit student response.

See example below:

YES NO

____ ____ There are times in life when you should lie.

____ ____ It's okay to take advantage of someone if it is for a good cause.

____ ____ Death is scary.

____ ____ Truth is obvious.

____ ____ Living by routines means you have no actual control over your life. ____ ____ I know what the purpose of life is.

____ ____ My life would be greatly improved by having no memories.

____ ____ My life is greatly enriched by the memories that I do have.

____ ____ Bad memories are a positive thing.

____ ____ Certain people, not me, should donate their bodies for medical knowledge.

STEP 4 Display the anticipation guide on either an overhead or give students individual copies. Students should individually fill out the survey. This is not group work. If they agree with the statement they should mark YES. If they don't agree, they should mark NO. If they can't decide, they must explain their decision in the space below the statement. Indecision should be discouraged. Students should keep their completed surveys.

STEP 5 Invite the students to discuss and explain the reasons for their answers. Students should explain their answers. They shouldn't just be asked to raise their hands if they answered YES on the first one. Ask probing questions as needed. Ask students to share past experiences and invite them to respond to the opinions of their classmates.

STEP 6 Have the students read The Bumblebee Flies Anyway. Encourage students to self-evaluate as they read. Are they finding that their views concerning the anticipation guide statements are changing as they read Cormier's book?

STEP 7 After finishing the book, go back to the anticipation guide. You may even want to have your students fill it out again. Have their views changed in any way? If so, what influenced that change?

ASSESSMENT As you read The Bumblebee Flies Anyway, have your students respond to the text through daily free-writes in their journals. Focus the topics of the free-writes with the statements on the guide. As students read the text and encounter the themes, the free-writes will also let them reflect on the deeper reasons that they think the things they do. Compare their free-write responses with their responses on the anticipation guide and look for any changes.