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YoungSaintLouis.com
March 2001 Vol. 2, Issue 3 All Lesson Plans
News
Suggested lesson
plan for “ Fifth graders
Readability: Above sixth grade level Possible hard words: Proper names:
Jolene Potter, Alyssa Ermeling, Dana Lowry, Null Elementary School, Margaret
Benedict, Sara Hovanec, Lauren Bailey, Jessie Ohlms, Megan Riley, Christy
Hoffman
BEFORE READING: Even though this is a fairly short article, it has some difficult proper names and words. Take the young reader through the list of names and words, offering help where needed. If no more than three are missed, suggest the reader read the article silently. If four to seven are missed, suggest the reader read the article aloud to you. If eight or more are missed, you offer to read the article aloud. In each instance, point out that questions will be asked after the reading. DURING READING: Where the child reads silently, make known that you will help with any words, if asked. Where the child reads aloud, help immediately with any words causing difficulty in order to keep the reading fluent. If you read aloud, model fluent, expressive oral reading. AFTER READING: Use questions such as the following to check for understanding and to promote discussion of the article.
Education Suggested lesson
plan for “Basketball meet
Readability: Above sixth grade level Possible hard words: Proper names:
Brenna Mc Dermott, Savvis Center, Melissa Simmons, Bev Paquet, Michael
Zeiter, Winston-Salem, N.C., Jefferson Barracks Park, Rachel Schallom,
Julie Griffith, Para-Olympics, Beth Horvath, Jodi Winheim
BEFORE READING: Point out that this is an article about kids researching the history of sports teams. Since this is a fairly difficult article, have the young reader read the names and words from the list above. There are nineteen to be read and you should provide help where needed. If the child misses three or fewer, suggest he or she read the article silently. If four to seven are missed, suggest the child read the article aloud to you. If eight or more are missed, you offer to read the article aloud to the child. In all cases, note that questions will be raised after the reading to guide a discussion of the article’s content. DURING READING: If you read the article aloud, model smooth and fluent oral reading. If the child reads the article aloud, provide words where needed to keep the reading smooth and fluent. Where the child is reading silently, before reading begins, offer to help with any words if asked. AFTER READING: Use questions such as the following to encourage discussion.
Lifestyle Suggested lesson
plan for “Sherman School
Readability: Sixth grade level Possible hard words: Proper names:
Kristy Steed, Ruby Grady, Jared Grant, Derrick Moses, Aerial Tate, Lloyd
Harvey, Karla Wilson, World’s Fair Pavilion, Joia
BEFORE READING: There are eighteen names and words in the list above. Have the young reader read the list, offering help where needed. It he or she misses no more than three words from the list, suggest that he or she read the article silently. If four to eight words are missed, suggest the young reader read the article aloud to you. If nine or more words are missed, suggest that you read the article aloud. In all instances, note that questions will be asked after the reading. DURING READING: For the child reading silently, help him or her with words when asked for help. For the child reading aloud, supply words when needed to keep the reading fluent. If you are reading the article aloud, model smooth and fluent oral reading. AFTER READING: Use question such as those that follow to check comprehension and stimulate discussion.
Family Suggested lesson
plan for “St. Ambrose
Readability: About sixth grade level Possible hard words: Proper names:
James D’Amico, Chris and Rachel Seaton, Korea, Brianna Bauwens, Victoria
and Claire Hof, Victoria Laut, Hilma Moses, Stefanie Vollmer
BEFORE READING: Go over the list of names and words with the young reader, helping with their pronunciation where help is needed. Suggest that the young reader read the article aloud and be prepared to discuss it afterward. Tell him or her you will help with any tough words, if they need it. DURING READING: Keep the reading smooth and fluent by providing names and words, if the reader appears to be having difficulty. AFTER READING: Use question such as the following to stimulate discussion and to check for understanding of the article.
Books
Helping kids get
to know about
It didn’t take Aladdin Paperbacks, a subsidiary of Simon and Schuster, very long to get out a biography of our newly installed president. Titled “President George W. Bush, Our forty-third President,” the 160 page book is billed as the first children’s biography of the new president. The back cover claims “coverage of the historic 2000 election” along with “up-to-the-minute information, photos, and quotes.” If an adult can put aside any cynical suspicion that it seems a bit like a campaign biography, the little book is interesting to read and discloses considerable background information about George W and his famous family. The author, Beatrice Gormley, makes an honest effort to focus on early events in George W’s life. This focus would help children identify with a son who would grow up in his father’s shadow, yet go on to become a popular governor of a large state, and, in an incredibly short period of time, the president of the United States. The point is not lost that George W gained the high office that his father had lost just eight years earlier. The author presents what appears to be an objective reporting of George W’s life and an even-handed treatment of the bitterly contested election. The writing is no more “sanitized” than that of any biographical account of a public figure’s life that is intended for children’s reading. The book provides social studies background on a figure that will be in the public eye for the next four years and, possibly, the next eight.
he likes sports more than reading “Odd Moments in Sports” is not great literature nor does it have an enduring message that we would want all children to hear. It does, however, present a series of short vignettes that just about anyone interested in sports would find entertaining. For a parent who wants a sports fanatic son to find something to involve him in reading a book, ”Odd Moments in Sports” may help meet that need. It’s another one of those books that is non-threatening because it calls for just a little reading to get the point of a story or two, and then it can be put down to pick up later. Since the stories are often hilarious and can be retold like popular jokes, the young reader is likely to pick it up and read it until the stories run out. The inexpensive paperback is authored by Joel Cohen and illustrated by Tom Payne. The publisher is Scholastic, Inc. The publisher reported readability is 4th grade level.
Publishers obviously know that many girls like to read stories about horses. Large numbers of such books can be found in the intermediate books for children section of bookstores. “Taking Chances” is the fourth title in a four book series of such books. The theme of this “Heartland” series of books is “Healing horses, healing hearts...” The “Heartland” books are recent and are better written than some of the series that have been around for awhile. The tone is serious. This is not a light, frothy series of stories. The main characters are highly principled and set a good example for young readers. In that regard they certainly differ from today’s TV soap opera characters. The publisher reports a fifth grade level of readability for the books. In interest, they would be involving for girls from about eleven to fourteen. They might be just what’s needed for that girl who seems to be resisting some of the books pushed at school for recreational reading.
raucous humor, and Indiana Jones-type action This book would appeal to the kid who likes to identify with academically proficient heroes rather than sports figures. “Green Thumb” was written by Rob Thomas and published by Aladdin Paperbacks, a subsidiary of Simon and Schuster, in 1999. Rob Thomas, according to the author information provided, is a television and screenplay writer, as well as author of four previous books. “Green Thumb” certainly qualifies him as an action/adventure writer. As indicated in the kids’ review, the hero of “Green Thumb” is a thirteen-year-old science genius named “Grady Jacobs”, who is caught in a world between his young peers and the adults who are trying to cope with his intellectually gifted status. Because of his visibility as a two-time National Science Fair winner, Grady ends up in the Brazilian rain forest, recruited by a world famous plant researcher named Dr. Carter, for a summer research fellowship. Dr. Carter and his other assistants had expected a young adult rather than a thirteen-year-old kid. Grady tries hard to prove himself as mature enough to do the work expected. In doing his job, he finds out that Dr. Carter’s work at restoring the tropical rain forest is not only counterproductive, but also dangerous to all wild life in the forest. Grady has encounters with the native inhabitants of the rain forest, some of whom prove to be his allies, while others are bent on killing him with poisoned darts from their blowguns. . Brady makes use of his talent with computers to uncover some of the data that Dr. Carter is trying to hide. He also conducts his own research on the side to learn how to communicate with plants. It is his newly acquired ability to communicate with plants that ends up saving him from the villains. “Green Thumb” is just the book for that young reader who tends to march to a different drummer than most of his peer group.
Outdoors Suggested lesson
plan for “ ‘Critter Rock’
Readability: About sixth grade level Possible hard words: Proper names:
Jan Syrigos, Missouri Department of Conservation, Habitat, Ralph Duren,
Sedalia, Belize
BEFORE READING: Have the young reader read the list of names and words, providing help where needed. Suggest the young reader read the article aloud and be ready to discuss it. DURING READING: Provide any words needed to keep the reading fluent. AFTER READING: Use question such as the following to promote discussion of the article.
Health Suggested lesson
plan for “Agassi Swisher
Readability: Sixth grade level Possible hard words: Proper names:
Agassi Swisher, Dina Howard, Florissant, Cardinal Ritter High School
BEFORE READING: Ask the reader to read the short list of names and words, providing help if needed. Then suggest the young reader read the article aloud to you and be prepared to discuss it afterward. DURING READING: Help keep reading fluent providing help with words if needed. AFTER READING: Use questions such as the following to stimulate discussion.
Games
Young Saint Louis.com - March
Young Saint Louis.com - March
#2
Arch Madness
Sports Suggested lesson
plan for “Nipher school
Readability: Fifth grade level Possible hard words: Proper names:
Rebekah Searcy, Nipher Middle School, Ed Bielik, Tara Nott, Trip Gender,
Ben Overkamp, Ivan Aubuchon, Sean Wilcox
BEFORE READING: Introduce the article by pointing out that it’s about a weightlifting team in a south St. Louis county middle school. After reading the title of the article, ask the young reader to read the names and words from the list. Provide any help needed. Since this is a relatively easy article, suggest the young reader read it aloud to you and be prepared to discuss it after reading. DURING READING: Provide help with words where needed to keep the reading smooth and fluent. AFTER READING: Use questions such as the following to stimulate a discussion and check for understanding or comprehension.
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