November 2004     Vol.5 Issue 11

All Lesson Plans

Baseball

Suggested lesson plan for "Neat
baseball experience for the off-season"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Cooperstown, N. Y., Eddie Gaedel, Bill DeWitt, Jr., Jim Delsing, Ozzie Smith, Jack Buck, Dan Rosen, Frank Lane, Stan Musial, Rick Hummel, Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, Jim Edmonds, Mark McGuire, Jamie Davis, Donn Johnson
Other words: origin, cinch

BEFORE READING: Since most of the words are proper names, have the young reader read the list with you helping out where needed. Then ask him or her to read the article to you and be ready to answer some questions about it.

DURING READING: Provide any names or words fairly quickly that seem to be impairing fluency.

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

1. Where will the Baseball Hall of Fame Exhibit be held and where can you view a preview?
2. What was the story of a short pinch-hitter and why is it remembered?
3. What is unusual about the music for the TV show?
4. Are you likely to view the exhibit? Why or why not?

X-Prize

Suggested lesson plan for "Kids
skip school to see XPrize flight"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Garin Kessler, Anthony Stack, Mojave Desert, Wydown Middle School, Doug King, Richard Branson
Other words: feasibility, technician, intrigue, miniature, billionaire

BEFORE READING: To acquaint the young reader with the words in the article, have him or her read the list of possible hard words. Help with pronunciation where needed. Then ask the young reader to read the short article aloud to you and be prepared to discuss it afterward.

DURING READING: If there are still any names or words that interfere with fluency, provide them fairly quickly.

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

1. Why did the kids think it was okay to skip school for the XPrize launching?
2. What was the purpose of the White Knight aircraft?
3. Why didn't the Spaceship One need a heat shield like the NASA spacecraft?
4. If someone provided you with a ticket to go into space on the new space craft, would you be interested in going? Why or why not?

Movies

Suggested lesson plan for
"Iveland kids film janitor's day"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Harlon Williams, Midwest Educational Technology Conference, Skylar Stradtmann, Aiden Simmons, Leah Carlson, Kaitlyn Magee, Rebekah Shoults, Jaceta Butler, Avio, Courtney Parker, Leah Carlson
Other words: camcorder, tentative, janitorial, sequence, storyboarding, videography, assessment

BEFORE READING: To asses how difficult the reading is likely to be for the young reader, have him or her read the list of possible hard words. Provide help as needed but keep track of how many items require assistance. If no more than three items require your help, ask the young reader to read the article silently. If four to six items need help, ask the child to read the article aloud to you. If seven or more items need help, you offer 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 supply any words if asked for help. For the oral reader, provide words fairly quickly that seem to be impairing fluency 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 was the purpose of the filming of the school janitor?
2. What was said to be the hardest part of the film project?
3. Why did the kids have to recreate the janitor's opening up of the school in the morning?
4. Would you like to participate in filming documentaries? Why or why not?

Books

This month's book reviews

Suspense and drama built into a kids' historical novel

The twelve-year-old main character in "Night Journeys" faces not only dangers but hard decisions that severely test his judgment. What choices will he make when events seem to pit him against his stern but otherwise considerate guardian? Which should govern his actions - his conscience or his fear of the law?

"Night Journeys" provides its young readers with a feel for life in the pre-revolutionary American colonies. It also presents a picture of eighteenth century British justice which often condemned children to deportation and sentenced them into years of indentured servitude for minor breaches of the law.

A self-described weirdo strives
for acceptance in a fourth grade classroom

Most fourth graders will tell you that a kid who always raises his hand with the right answer, who always turns in his homework on time, who says arithmetic is his favorite subject, who loves orderliness and neatness and hates noise and talking in class is absolutely a "weirdo." If he brings the same thing for lunch to school every day, that really nails it down!

This little book, "Fourth Grade Weirdo" pokes fun at pompous principals, take-charge school secretaries, overly-ambitious school board members, and other education-related occurrences. Still, a young reader will emerge from all the fun with a better tolerance of the diversity that makes up a normal school classroom.

The trip of a lifetime for an
eleven-year-old girl turns into a nightmare

"Three Days" by Donna Jo Napoli reads like a Hitchcock movie script. Pre-teen Jackie Holt is the major character and narrator. After the heart attack of her father, she is isolated in Italy and unable to speak or understand the language. She is abducted and taken to an isolated location, but the two men who abduct her try to make it clear that they mean her no harm. At the isolated house where she is taken, Jackie finds a sad woman who tries to treat Jackie as her own daughter.

It takes three suspense-filled days for Jackie to understand what is really going on and to prevail upon her captors to set her free.

An excellent retelling and easier-to-read
version of an English classic

That this retold version of "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens is excellently done should not be a surprise. The retelling is that of Lucinda Dickens Hawksley, the Great-Great-Great Granddaughter of Charles Dickens. Any of you who read and loved the original classic will be impressed by how much of it (setting, plot, characters) is captured in this thin 155 page paperback. Of course, no abridged version of a classic replaces the original. The intent is that the young reader of this version will later read the original…just like some readers years ago went from Classic Comics, or perhaps Cliff Notes in college, to a reading of an original classic.

Health

Suggested lesson plan for "Kids
have fun learning better nutrition"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Max Sandza, Amanda Clover, Dana Demsky, Vincent Stanec, Rickie Merrill
Other words: nutrition, categories, gymnastics

BEFORE READING: This is a fairly easy article. To help a young reader anticipate the words to be met in the article, have him or her read the list of possible hard words. Help out if help is needed. Then ask the young reader to read the article aloud and be ready to discuss it later.

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

AFTER READING: Use questions such as these to check for understanding and to promote a discussion of the article.

1. What was the team competition that was described early in the article?
2. What were the four things grandma or grandpa could do to keep their hearts healthy?
3. What did some of the kids resolve to do regarding fast food from restaurants?
4. What are your practices regarding nutrition and exercise?

Kids Voting

Suggested lesson plan for "High school
kids give election information"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Sarah Beetz, Sappington Elementary, Lindbergh School District, Abbey Schumacher, Andrew Garner, Kennerly, Republicans, Democrats, Michelle Manley, Jake Buerke, Amnesty International
Other words: qualifications, preemptive, knowledgeable, liberals, conservatives, candidates

BEFORE READING: To assess how easy or difficult this article might be for a young reader, have him or her read the list of possible hard words. Help out with the names or words where needed. Keep track of how many items require your help. If no more than three call for help, ask the young reader to read the article silently. If four to six items are problems, ask the young reader to read the article aloud to you. If seven or more items call for help, you offer to read the article aloud to the young reader. In all three cases, point out that questions will be raised after the reading.

DURING READING: For the silent reader, offer to supply any names or words if asked for help. For the one reading aloud, supply any words or names that are causing significant hesitations to the point of impairing reading fluency. If you read aloud, model fluent, expressive oral reading.

AFTER READING: Use questions such as those that follow to assess comprehension and to stimulate a discussion of the article.

1. Why was a question about Sarah Beetz's birthday a reasonable question for the younger kids to ask?
2. How did Abbey Schumacher's political opinions about the presidential race differ from those of Sarah Beetz?
3. What was Michelle Manley's secret weapon to keep the kids interested in her presentation?
4. Do you think elementary kids should pay attention to political races/ Why or why not?

Red Ribbon

Suggested lesson plan for "Red Ribbon
Days at Parkway South Middle"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Cassidy smith, Dierbergs, Natasha Veanson, Rebecca Clay, Eric Dobbins, Nasta Dambrouskaya, Mimi Holder
Other words: emphasize, duet, advocacy, violinist, allergies

BEFORE READING: To help the young reader prepare for reading the article, have him or her read the list of names and words. Provide help as needed. Then ask the young reader to read the article aloud to you and be prepared to talk about it later.

DURING READING: Supply any words fairly quickly that seem to be impairing reading fluency.

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

1. How did Cassidy apply the anti-drug message in her own home?
2. Why was Natasha especially happy to sing solo in one of the lunch hour concerts?
3. Each of the kids saw some future use for their involvement. Can you list them?
4. Does you school have such activities and if it does, would you participate? Why or why not?

Profile

Suggested lesson plan for "St. Charles
kid seeks career as artist, writer"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Kiera Lynn Smith, Barney the Dinosaur, Mary Nichols, Elaine Young, Dr. Deborah Morrowloving, Yari Yari Literary Club, "Tafadahli, Anaglia! 2004". Apocalypse
Other words: illustrator, endeavors, acrylic, motivation

BEFORE READING: Ask the young reader to read the list of possible hard words. Provide help as needed. Since this article is heavy with proper names that may be difficult to pronounce, ask the young reader to read the article aloud so you can monitor his or her possible breakdowns in fluency.

DURING READING: Provide pronunciations of names or words fairly quickly in order to keep the reading fluent.

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

1. List some of the things in Kiarra's life that contribute to her likely success at a career in art.
2. Why doe Kiarra prefer to work from photos rather than from live models?
3. What are some of the things Kiarra says she fears?
4. What do you see as the message in Kiarra's long poem called "Snickers' Mistake?'