A word about TTRPGs in the Classroom:

Problem-Based Learning is difficult to achieve in an English Classroom; furthermore, the concept of experiential learning can feel quite daunting to an ELA teacher - how does one "experience" a book, other than by reading it?

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Enter Tabletop Roleplaying Games (TTRPGs). Using any system you like (I prefer D&D 5e) you can put your students in the driver's seat of any story, in any setting, and through the eyes of any character. TTRPGs encourage collaboration, strengthen confidence in public speaking, and most importantly, provide students with firsthand experience in ethical dilemmas, problem-solving, and characterization.

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Start by giving students their cards. This acts as an ID -- a quick-reference to their character's information. They'll use this card to further craft their character in a character builder. Try D&D Beyond for yourself.

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Next, give your students a run-down of the basic rules of play. If you prefer to focus on story and remove the combat, don't spend time explaining the turn-based combat rules.

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Then, write a few role-playing scenarios. You can lift them directly from the book you're reading, or you can make one yourself. The scenarios should assess students' reading comprehension, handle on characterization, and understanding of the setting.

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Finally, it's time to play! Gather your students into groups and have them share a bit about their character with their partners. Time to work together (or not) to move the story forward!

 

Transparently, this lesson is a heavy lift - but the results are undeniable. Students in my classroom ranked their understanding of the world of Dune a 2/5 on average before this RPG, and a 4/5 after.

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Happy Roleplaying!