Teaching Tuck Everlasting

Sometimes in that phase of half asleep and half awake, Tuck and Mae, Miles and Jesse will sneak into my mind.  Thinking of the Tucks leaves my mind heavy and so so so... tired.  I think about them wondering around the world, frozen as they are, while the world passes them by.  Sigh...

While Tuck Everlasting can be difficult for students to understand, I found the thought of living forever and never dying captivated and haunted them, just as it does me.

Here is a brief list of "tip and tricks" for teaching Tuck Everlasting.

Tuck Everlasting can be complicated.  Simply because there are many long descriptive passages.  Make sure your students are aware of this.  When I introduce the students to the novel I make sure they are very aware of this fact:  "Guys, this book is great!  Be aware as your reading that the author gets really descriptive with the setting and the setting includes the weather.  Don't "zone out" during your reading just because you have come along something descriptive.  Stay focused!"

 It sounds so simple  but this statement does help them.  When we are reading as a class and we get to one of those really descriptive parts, I'll pause the reading and remind them...."This is one of those descriptive parts.  Hang in there.  Stay focused."  The prologue sets up the really the perfect opportunity to do this.

When I teach the book we read one section at at time. A section is 3 chapters at time with the prologue and epilogue considered chapters.   First, we read the section together as class and then discuss what we have read.  I open the discussion by asking the students to help me jot some notes about what we read on the board.  We record the characters that appear, a few of the characters emotions in that section, the setting (place, time, and weather), and a few of the key events that occurred.  I found that my students start to naturally "train" their minds to look for these things as we move along in the novel study.

Next we move onto chapter work (usually completed as guided practice and then transitioned to independent practice as we move forward in the novel study).

Also, make sure the students understand the names of the Tuck family - Jesse, Miles, Mae, and Angus.  However, Angus is often called the family last name "Tuck."  I found Tuck's name really was a source of confusion for almost every class I taught. Make sure to provide clarity and explanation.

We we have finished chapter work we go back and re-read the section.  I can't tell you how much I my students comprehension sky rocketed when I introduced the second reading. I might also use the second reading as a time to introduce and discuss figurative language.  Tuck Everlasting is chalked full of figurative language, specifically personification followed by similes and metaphors.

I have a free worksheet packet for Tuck Everlasting in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store.  The packet includes a figurative language record, as well a 20 questions True/False Review, Quote Identification, and Identifying Theme through textual quotes review.

Free Worksheets

I also have a few paid products including a workbook with chapter work and old maid vocabulary game, a final test, and a product that bundles the workbook, old maid game, final test, and includes a smart board quiz game.
Tuck Everlasting Workbook and Vocabulary Card Game
Tuck Everlasting Test
Tuck Everlasting Bundle