Maniac Magee Novel Study for Special Education

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli is the focus of this novel unit for students with autism and special learning needs.

Have you ever wanted to read a novel to your special education students but thought, there is no way they will sit and listen?

Persevere, it is worth it!! This 200+ page unit on the novel Maniac Magee is designed for students who have significant disabilities and special learning needs.

I was always reading a novel to my students, regardless of their learning level. The lesson of learning to sit while someone is talking is an invaluable skill that is worthwhile teaching.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS NOVEL UNIT IS FOR STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT DISABILITIES AND ARE EITHER EMERGING OR NON-READERS AND DOES NOT INCLUDE THE NOVEL OR AN ADAPTED VERSION.

⭐ YOU WILL NEED YOUR OWN COPY OF THE BOOK⭐

This unit has various activities to accompany Spinelli’s book, Maniac Magee. The materials were designed to allow students with multiple levels of learning to access and engage in lessons learned through listening to this novel.

There are many opportunities for students to engage in repeated information on hearing this story about a boy who has no home but finds acceptance in the most unusual places and shows a town that is divided on how much they have in common.

The message of inequality, white privilege, and the racial divide that still exists in many parts of the United States today is seen in this story.

Finally, many of the activities include more than one version, suggestions for differentiation, and options for presentation. There is one activity for every chapter (46 different activities!!) that will keep your students engaged while you read this novel aloud.

There are 2 complete files to go with this unit. One is in color and one is in BW.

***These chapters were really short, so I came up with 35 comprehension questions for the entire novel. Each question has 3 picture choices for answers. There is a key to reference which chapter each question comes from as well as an answer key.

See preview for the table of contents and a detailed look at what is included.

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Maniac Magee Unit Includes:

• 115 pages (2 sets, one in color and one in BW) of activities to accompany Maniac Magee
• Table of Contents
• Suggestions for Use and Suggestions for Differentiation for activities
• 46 activities (1 for each chapter)
• 35 comprehension questions

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There are so many benefits to reading out loud to your students. You will teach them an invaluable skill of learning to sit still while someone else is talking. Your parents will also LOVE you for not only teaching them this skill of sitting, but also for exposing them to age appropriate material. Plus, you never know which students you will touch with each story you read.

★★★ If you like using novels in your classroom, check out my many other novel studies.

I also have a blog post on reading novels to a low incidence class that includes some FREE SAMPLES:

Reading Novels to a Low Incidence Class