July 2003     Vol.4 Issue 7

All Lesson Plans

Harry Potter

Harry Potter and the Order
of the Phoenix-Parents' review

The long awaited book five in the Harry Potter series turns out to be a long read

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" fits right in to the series of books as they have unfolded this far. In this fifth book in the series, Harry is taken through his fifth year at Hogwarts, the School for Wizards. Harry has aged into his brooding and rebellious teen-age period in this his fifteenth year. In this episode we have a Harry who has lost his earlier sweet disposition and is now quick to lash out, even at his friends.

In all her books thus far, J. K. Rowling does much more with description, setting, and characters than she does with plot. That is no less true for this book. Unfortunately, in the 870 pages of detail adult readers may start to question the undue amount of verbiage that does nothing to further the plot. But these books are not being written for adult readers. Rowling's constituency now is a huge population of kids who just want to have this description and these characters to hang on to. The more the better, and who cares about plot! Millions of kids are reading and talking about what they read. Hooray!

Note that "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" does not stand by itself. That is true of all the books beyond the first one, but is even more true for this one. There are numerous allusions that are meaningless unless earlier volumes have been read. If you want to entice your child to read the Potter books or read them aloud to younger children, start with volume one and not volume five.

Lifestyle

Suggested lesson plan for "Pennies
for the Park" drive nets lots of $$$"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Amanda Klohmann, Deborah Olmstead, Samantha Shasserre, Natalie Buehler, Nina Baumann, Sarah Masalskis, Tony Piccinni
Other words: renovation, refurbish, facilities, orphanages

BEFORE READING: Have the young reader read the list of names and words. Help out where needed. Since the list has mostly proper names and otherwise the article appears fairly easy, ask the child to read the article aloud to you and be ready to discuss it afterward.

DURING READING: If there are words that require help, supply them quickly in order to keep the oral reading fluent.

AFTER READING: Use questions to check understanding and to promote a discussion of the article. Examples follow.

1. What was the kids' reward for raising money for the park?
2. How was most of the money raised?
3. In what kinds of ways do these west county kids make use of Forest Park?
4. What experience have you had with Forest Park?

Garden

Suggested lesson plan for "Make a
garden grow? Use "manure tea"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Spoede School Garden Club, Allison Gowen, Kemper Center's Youth Gardening Program, Missouri Botanical Garden, Old Bonhomme, Veronica Benduski, MIles Taylor, St. Clement of Rome Catholic School
Other word: fertilizer, annoying, combination, zinnias, veterinarian

BEFORE READING: Have the young reader read the list of possible hard words. You offer help as needed. Then suggest the child read the article aloud to you and be ready to discuss it afterward.

DURING READING: Supply any troublesome words fairly quickly in order to keep the reading fluent.

AFTER READING: Use questions such as the following to check comprehension and stimulate discussion of the article.

1. What is the purpose of the gardening program?
2. What were some of the things kids said they didn't like about gardening?
3. How did Miles Taylor say he recognizes weeds?
4. What was the problem with Veronica's disappearing radishes?

Books

This month's book reviews

Just about all kids would like to
feel famous at least once in their lives

We all know the feeling. Why is it only certain people get all the fame and newspaper coverage? We never get recognized for anything we might do. Judy Moody is no exception. She wants her fifteen minutes of fame. Encouraged by her friends, she tries some unusual stunts to get famous - none of which works. She does one good deed just because she wants to and, all of a sudden, she's the talk of the town.

"Judy Moody Gets Famous" is a little book with lots of space around the lines. It is also cleverly illustrated. It's just the paperback to entice a kid who says he or she doesn't want to read a book.

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Skullduggery - an appropriate name for
a book about digging up skulls from graves

"Skullduggery" by Kathleen Karr is an adventure story for boys that follows the model of a Charles Dickens or a Robert Louis Stevenson novel. Of course, "Skullduggery" is briefer and less ponderous, but it does follow the adventures of an orphaned young boy who falls in among some very eccentric characters as he tries to make his way in the world. The book's focus on the now outmoded science of phrenology certainly makes it unique among paperback adventure novels available for preteens and young teenagers.

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A summer without her high-spirited
grandmother for a lonely nine-year-old
in Halleluia, Mississippi

As you might guess from the title "Love, Ruby Lavender" a big part of this book is based on an exchange of letters - in this case, letters between nine-year-old Ruby Lavender and her grandmother, Miss Eula. As with a number of other novels for adults set in the rural south, this kids' novel has an underlying mystery that runs throughout the book, while the surface offers an otherwise hilarious spoof of small town life.

The serious part of "Love, Ruby Lavender" is concerned with how a young girl comes to deal with the unjustified guilt she feels for the accidental death of her much loved grandfather. A discussion guide in included in the back of this little paperback.

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A "message" book by a
popular children's author

Peg Kehret, author of a couple of dozen kids' books, in "My Brother Made Me Do It," has written about juvenile arthritis and the efforts of one spunky eleven-year-old girl to deal with this debilitating disease. The title itself has a double meaning. It's true, the heroine, Julie Welsh, does get in trouble through involvement in the weird schemes of her younger brother. But, this same brother is a strong asset for her because he entices and cajoles her to push herself to test the limits of her physical handicap.

There are other secondary messages in the book as well. Through Julie's correspondence with an eighty-nine-year-old pen pal, young readers are led to a better understanding of old age and how the elderly confined in nursing homes need interaction with others. The importance of caring parents and sensitive friends is also highlighted.

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Neighborhood

Suggested lesson plan for "Kids
learn how neighborhoods change"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Dawn Jones, Soldan High School, Ashley Cage, Chapel Haines, Mayor Francis Slay
Other words: ghetto, disrespectful, scholarships, surgeon

BEFORE READING: Have the young reader read the list of names and terms from the list above. Help out where needed. Then suggest that the child read the article aloud to you.

DURING READING: Provide any troublesome words fairly quickly in order to keep the reading fluent.

AFTER READING: Use questions such as the following to check understanding and to stimulate discussion of the article.

1. What seems different about the kids in Dawn's neighborhood that she thinks makes it different from other neighborhoods?
2. What was the purpose of the "Youth Summit"?
3. What is different about a "magnet" school?
4. What can you tell about the history of your neighborhood?

History

Suggested lesson plan for "Family
tradition shapes History Day entry'

Possible hard words: Proper names: Andrew Austermann, St. Margaret of Scotland, James Thompson Callender, Sedition Act, President John Adams, William Saffire, Federalists, Thomas Jefferson
Other words: infamous, pamphleteer, bibliography, malicious, monarchy, alleged

BEFORE READING: In order to judge how the young reader will find the article, have him or her read the list of possible hard words. Provide help where needed and keep track of the times help is provided. If no more than three items require help, ask the young reader to read the article silently. If four to six items require help, ask the young reader to read the article aloud. If seven or more items require assistance, you volunteer to read the article aloud. In all three instances, point out that questions will be asked afterward.

DURING READING: For the silent reader offer to help with words only if asked. For the child reading aloud, supply troublesome words fairly quickly in order to keep the reading fluent. If you read aloud, model expressive and fluent oral reading.

AFTER READING: Use questions such as the following to check comprehension and stimulate a discussion of the article.

1. What example did Justin set for Andrew?
2. Why was James Thompson Callender sentenced to prison and fined?
3. What kinds of things did Andrew do in the competition?
4. Would you be interested in participating in a history contest? Why or why not?

Entertainment

Suggested lesson plan for "See
International Funfest on July 12-13"

BEFORE READING: Since this article is filled with foreign words and names, you as the helping adult should read the article silently and be prepared to help the young reader with words as he or she reads it orally to you. Indicate to the young reader that the article will be discussed after the reading.

DURING READING: Help the young reader with words fairly quickly in order to keep the reading fluent.

AFTER READING: Use questions such as the following to stimulate discussion.

1. Where will the International Funfest take place?
2. Why is St. Louis an appropriate place for such an international show?
3. What kinds of ethnic groups will be represented in the varied performances?
4. Are you likely to attend the Funfest? Which part do you think you would enjoy most?

Profile

Suggested lesson plan for
"Surprising outcome of early IQ test

Possible hard words: Proper names: Megan Boitnott, Borromeo Catholic School, Mike Minery, Cape Girardeau, Caroline Goodwin
Other words: misunderstanding, pediatrician, accomplishments, certification

BEFORE READING: Have the young reader read the list of possible hard words. Provide help as needed. Afterward, ask the young reader to read the article aloud and be prepared to discuss it afterward.

DURING READING: Help with the pronunciation of any words that seem to be impairing fluent oral reading of the article.

AFTER READING: Check understanding and promote discussion of the article by using questions such as the following.

1. How did her early problem influence Meghan's choice of a career?
2. Now that she's an eighth grader, what are some of Meghan's accomplishments?
3. What is Meghan's involvement in sports?
4. Which of Meghan's activities would you be most interested in for yourself?