I'm planning a series of lessons (up to 15) to teach Mark Haddon's book The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time. Lessons are aimed at our Year 12 (New Zealand, old 6th form, second last year at school) and the problem is that I have too many ideas ... The book is so rich in potential material that I'm having trouble streamlining a comprehensive yet containable teaching plan. Has anyone else taught this? Of course you have, and I'd be very interested to hear your experiences. I'd so appreciate hearing some ideas or suggestions for main connecting points for anchoring an overall plan as it's a fantastic book and I want to do it justice. I look forward to hearing from you, and many thanks.

I am not an English teacher and have not read this book. However, you might find these web links useful.

http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/yourchild/asperger.htm

http://www.asperger.net/Newsletter_October2004.pdf

http://www.evanstonroundtable.com/rt2003/R...03/artlife.html

http://www.pampetty.com/

I started reading this book yesterday and I think it is quite brilliant. I'll get back to you when I have finished it. Perhaps some of our english teacher members could reply with some teaching ideas.
Where's Andrew Moore when you need him?????

I agree, great book. I've read it three times.

I conducted a web search and found details of a study guide on the book comprising an 80-page photocopiable pack with CD-ROM at

http://www.englishandmedia.co.uk/publicati...ncidentDog.html

It's expensive and designed for Year 9, but it could give structure to your lesson planning.

There's a one-page introduction to the story with questions at:

http://www.damaris.org/content/content.php?type=1&id=187

See also page 1 of this British Council document at

http://www.britishcouncil.org/reading_group_18_nov_2004.pdf

Potentially the best finds of all, I chanced upon two excellent Australian sources of teaching and learning materials dedicated to Haddon's book. I will post details of them if you ask me to.

Hope this helps.

David Wilson
http://www.specialeducationalneeds.com

Thank you John, David and Andy for your helpful contributions. I'm following up on all of them - and yes, David, I'd really appreciate details of the two Australian sources you mention. I've already spent many hours trawling the net but didn't look in detail so close to home - why not I can't imagine.

An area in the book of particular interest (and some delicacy) I think, is getting readers to get to know and understand Christopher (character) on his own terms and in his own world ... C is gradually revealed as special needs but nowhere is it blatantly stated that he is autistic or has Asperger's Syndrome. Readers compile the clues from the outset, of course, unravelling C much as he's unravelling the various mysteries in his life. I want my students to be detective in C's life, so I don't want to hand them solutions on a plate but I do want to handle this critical junction of teaching and reading practice with a deft hand and not spend a disproportionate amound of time on it.

Thank heavens we can edit these posts - I'm still not entirely happy with how I've put the above - but I'm confident you will understand.

I'll post again when I have something more concrete to contribute!
Thanks again to all.

Thanks for responding, Jane. Here are the two Australian sources I mentioned.

Russell Smith's "brilliant study guide to this stunning novel for senior secondary English students, VCE students" is listed at:

http://www.insightpublications.com.au/shop....asp?ProdID=164

See also Anthony Eaton's "Teacher’s Notes and Study Guide for Mark Haddon’s 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time'" at

http://members.dodo.net.au/~eatont/curious...chers_notes.htm

Incidentally, if you ever have a student with autistic spectrum disorders in your lesson, I chanced upon an excellent series of books published by the UK Department for Education and Skills and North West Regional Special Educational Needs Partnership, each freely downloadable, each entitled "Children with autism: strategies for accessing the curriculum", each covering one school subject.

"Children with autism: strategies for accessing the curriculum: English" is at:

http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/_doc/6695/ACF1F98.pdf

There's also the option of downloading the full document, covering the implications of ASD for all the school subjects at:

http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/_doc/6698/Full%20document.pdf

Hope this helps.

David Wilson
http://www.specialeducationalneeds.com