March 2005      Vol.6 Issue 3

All Lesson Plans

School Mural

Suggested lesson plan for "Paint a school mural? Get mayor's okay first"

Possible hard words:

Proper names: Kathleen White, Westridge Elementary School, Carol Mobley, Mayor Robert Jones, Jr., Tyler Fishback, Rachel Martin, Damon Washington, Chris Manott, Michaela Quist, Ty Stahl, Elizabeth Doing, Meg Brooks

Other words: ordinance, modification, inclusion, plaques, professional

BEFORE READING: Have the young reader read the list of possible hard words. Help out where help is needed, but keep track of how many items require assistance. If no more than three items need help, ask the young reader to read the article silently. If four to six require your help, ask the young reader to read the article aloud to you. If you have to help with seven or more terms, you offer to read the article aloud. In all three instance, point out that questions will be raised afterward.

DURING READING: For the child reading silently, offer to help out with any words if asked for help. For the one reading aloud, supply any words fairly quickly that seem to be interfering with fluency. If you read aloud, model fluent oral reading.

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

1. Why did the teachers and kids want to put a mural on the outside of the school in the first place?
2. Why wasn't the Board of Aldermen's approval required for the plaques that were first done?
3. What were some of the ideas proposed for the mural to go on the outside of the school?
4. Although professionals will end up putting the kids' ideas into the overall design, how will the kids get involved once again with the finished mural?

Youth Shakespeare

Suggested lesson plan for "Many kid actors
to stage "the Tempest"

Possible hard words:

Proper names: William Shakespeare, Sarah Toland, Troy Schneider, Allen Moore, Prospero, Shannon Dorphy, Jade Shamsmolkara, Camron Ross, Ferdinand, King Alonzo, Miranda Stanfill, Abbott and Costello, Sacagawea

Other words: complicated, villain, magician, comedian

BEFORE READING: Most of the vocabulary is made up of proper names. Have the young reader read the list of possible hard words, with you providing help as needed. Then ask the child to read the article aloud to you and be ready to discuss it afterward.

DURING READING: Help out with any names or words that appear to be impairing fluency.

AFTER READING: Use questions such as these to check comprehension and stimulate discussion.

1. What makes the performing of this Shakespeare play especially complicated?
2. What is probably the hardest job for the student director, Sarah Toland?
3. What makes you think the play has a happy ending?
4. Would you like to have an opportunity to perform on stage? Why or why not?

Sports

Suggested lesson plan for "Speed skating competition for kids here"

Possible hard words:

Proper names: Nick and Beth Gier, Johnny Frohlichstein, Milwaukee, Winter Olympics, Apollo Ono, St. Catherine Laboure School, Tillman Elementary School, Zamboni

Other words: competitors, publicity, accommodate, disqualified, echelon, abide

BEFORE READING: Have the young reader read the list of possible hard words in order to prepare him or her to read the article. Help with words where needed. Then ask the young reader to read the article aloud to you and be ready to discuss it afterward.

DURING READING: Provide any words fairly rapidly that seem to be impairing reading fluency.

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

1. How long has speed skating been around in St. Louis?
2. Where do the kids have to go to find a rink that accommodates 400-meter laps?
3. What kind of incidents can happen that keep racers from running a good race?
4. Do you think you would enjoy speed skating? Why or why not?

Robots

Suggested lesson plan for "First robotics regional meet in March"

Possible hard words:

Proper names: Danny Schneider, Clint Schulte, Aaron Heumphreus, Jason Frasch, Katie Kullman

Other words: animated, aspects, mechanical, fringes, competitiveness, dissection, contractor, geometry

BEFORE READING: Have the young reader read the list of possible hard words. Help with pronunciations where needed. Keep track of how many times your assistance is required. If no more than three items are problems, ask the child to read the article silently. If four to six require assistance, ask the child to read the article to you. If seven or more items call for help, you offer to read the article aloud to the child. In all three instances, point out that questions will be raised after the reading.

DURING READING: For the silent reader, simple offer to help with words if asked for specific help. For the one reading aloud, supply words fairly quickly that seem to be impairing reading fluency. If you read aloud, model fluent, expressive oral reading.

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

1. How do the Lego and Robotics competitions compare?
2. What are the three areas where problems are most likely to occur?
3. What are "tetras" as used in the robotic competition?
4. Would you have any interest in competing in these kinds of contests? Why or why not?

World's Fair

Suggested lesson plan for "Class project becomes professional-grade game"

Possible hard words:

Proper names: Jennifer Flynn, Monopoly, Our Lady of Fatima School, Probe Gifted Program, Ferguson-Florissant School District, Ann Clark, Festival Hall, Mediterranean, Internet, Powerpoint, Boeing

Other words: patterned, auction, workmanship, chemistry

BEFORE READING: Ask the young reader to read the names and words from the list of possible hard words. Help out where needed, but keep track of the number of items where help is needed. If no more than three items call for help, ask the child to read the article silently. If four to six require help, have the child read the article aloud to you. If seven or more items are difficult, you offer to read the article aloud. In all instances, point out that questions will be raised after the reading.

DURING READING: For the silent reader, simply offer to help out with any names or words if asked for help. For the one reading aloud, supply any terms fairly quickly if needed to keep the reading fluent. If you read aloud, model fluent, expressive oral reading.

AFTER READING: Use questions such as these to assess comprehension and stimulate discussion.

1. What were some of the options the kids had to choose from for an assignment?
2. Compare Jennifer's game with a regular Monopoly game.
3. Why did Jennifer say that there was no plan to develop the game commercially?
4. What are some of the other activities that Jennifer is participating in?

Earth Day

Suggested lesson plan for "Americorps plans birdhouses, bike rides"

Possible hard words:

Proper names: Americorps Trail Rangers, Darrell Hill, Loyce Doss, Sherise Selvey, Dennis Forrest, Dr. Rick Clinebell, Prairie Phlox, Shell Penstemon

Other words: environment, species, explanatory, assemble, transplanted, qualify

BEFORE READING: To determine how easy or how difficult the article may be for a young reader, have him or her read the list of possible hard words. Provide help where needed. Keep track of the number of items that require your assistance. If no more than three items need help, ask the young reader to read the article silently. If four to six require your help, ask the child to read the article aloud to you. If seven or more items require help, you offer to read the article aloud. In all three instances, point out that questions will be raised after the reading.

DURING READING: For the silent reader, offer to help out with any names or words if asked. For the child reading aloud, supply any words fairly quickly the seem to be impairing reading fluency. If you read the article aloud, model fluent, expressive oral reading.

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

1. Who are the Americorps Trail Rangers and what is their objective?
2. What kind of plants do the Trail Rangers help plant along the trail?
3. What is an "underground railroad" site?
4. What are "rabbit caps" and what are they used for?

Books

This Month's Book Reviews

A children's author combines stark reality
with farce in a historical novel

"Stop the Train" is an account of the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1893. The story is told mostly from the point of view of a nine-year-old girl but presents a wide-ranging cast of characters - both children and adults. The starkness of the privations that these pioneers experienced is softened by the humor conveyed in describing events and characters. A reader just knows that everything is going to turn out all right, even though it seems impossible to know how it can. The author has a way of taking what appear to be tragic events and having them turn out okay in the end.

An unusually complex murder mystery and thriller
for a kids' book

"The boy in the burning house" by Tim Wynne-Jones is a prize-winning mystery book for kids, having won the Edgar Award in 2002. It is not written for young children, but best-suited for older kids who can handle novels and movies about murders and serial killers. The young hero in the novel is a kid with troubles that young readers can empathize with.

The unusual twist in the complex plot is that the "bad guy" is one of the local ministers in the small town where the action occurs. Good advice might be that any parent picking this up for his or her child to read may want to read it first.

A novel that helps kids understand deafness
as well as true friendship

Marlee Matlin is the author of "Deaf Child Crossing." She is an academy award winning actress and has appeared in several television shows. As you may know, she is deaf, having lost her hearing when eighteen months old. It is not surprising that her novel deals with the sensitive issues involved when a deaf girl and a normally-hearing girl try to sustain a friendship. The action centers around the girls attending summer camp together. The publisher suggests the novel is aimed at eight to twelve year olds.

A young girl athlete fits ballet into her schedule
along with ice hockey

"Ballet Bug" is certainly a book for girls. Yet, it makes the case that ballet lessons are not incompatible with playing a competitive sport. Ballet dancers are athletes - highly trained and disciplined athletes. Bea Nash, the heroine in the novel, finds that her dancing and her hockey playing are compatible, at least for her.

Besides being about ballet dancing, the novel deals with issues of friendship as well as with coping with those who are petty and negative in their words and actions.