Post 1: Character Charts

Post #1: Character Chart

The objective of this task is to help students keep track of the characters in To Kill a Mockingbird. I used a character list and chart to help them during reading the novel.

I waited until we got to Chapter 8 to distribute the list and chart, as I did not want to overwhelm students at the beginning of the novel. These were actually 2 different graphic organizers. I used the character chart (p 61) for the main characters (Scout, Jem, Atticus, Calpurnia, Aunt Alexandra, Tom Robinson) and a character list that included most of the minor characters as well. Students were to fill out the chart and list as they read. Periodically, we would discuss the graphic organizers in class, and also students would pair-share. We filled out the chart for Scout together, and then students completed the chart for the other characters.

These graphic organizers worked very well to help students keep track of the characters. The character chart is great for main characters but becomes too unwieldy if a novel has many characters. With a novel like Mockingbird, a character list can help supplement the chart so that students do not feel so overwhelmed by keeping track of minor but important characters like Miss Maudie, Miss Stephanie, Miss Rachel, and the other ladies in the missionary circle.