Hi! I am doing a model guided reading lesson with students in summer school (going into 3rd grade), and if all goes well, I should get the job according to the principal. I've been struggling a lot with creating a lesson due to the fact that I couldn't find a good book to use!
I finally chose and bought 7 copies of "Henry and Mudge: The First Book." If any of you have any cute or great lesson plan ideas to go directly with this book, I'd LOVE to hear them.
Any ideas on Word Work to do during the last 2 minutes of my lesson (if you've used this book before) would be helpful also. Thanks!
Sarah, I have a file of activities for a number of Henry and Mudge books that I got from ABC Teach. I would be happy to send to you if you send me your email. I would also love to see what you get from others.
Congrats on getting this far!! You must be so excited.
I've read this book, but haven't done any particular extensions with it... just wanted to warn you that if you don't know the kids you are working with and have a feel for their level, this book could be easy for them. (my first graders have it under their belt going into 2nd) I think it'll be great, though... just make sure you plan for a lot of higher level thinking questions just in case this happens.
If you have enough time, you might want to read them a different short book, and model how you would read through it, writing down any connections, questions, unknown words, etc... on a post it and sticking it in the page for a later discussion. They will do anything for a post it note, and this would also be a way to get in the reading-is-thinking mind-set.
I have been a little worried about that myself... :-\ I'm hoping that because they are in summer school maybe they are a little behind? Although I know that summer school these days are not always for students who need to catch up, and if they do need to catch up on something, it may be in an area other than reading. I just had a really hard time finding several copies of the same book at the bookstores and, as I said before, I have NO idea what level these students are so I didn't want to pick a book that may be easy for some but too difficult for others, so I just went easy. In my lesson, I spend nearly 20 minutes (I've practiced) introducing myself, the book, and the skill we're going to practice--predicting... so that just leaves 10 minutes for the reading and I will be providing sticky notes for them to record their predictions as they read. I also have questions prepared. Do you think I'll be okay ?
that's exactly what I thought when I read the post--Henry and Mudge, while DARLING, is pretty easy.
What books are available at the school? Are there books available for you to choose from, or do you have to come up with multiple copies on your own?
I'm thinking:
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
Stellaluna by Janel Cannon
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Schiezka
Chocolate Fever by Robert Kimmel Smith (chapter book)
Charlotte's Web (is that E.B White?) The school likely has multiple copies of this one.
For Word Work, how about just doing words in context? Target a few vocab. words whose meanings are gleanable from the text, ask what it means, how we know. Explain that readers use the context all the time to get the meanings of words they don't know. You only need to find about four or five.
I think you'll be OK... if the people observing you ask why the book you chose was easy, just say that you wanted to choose a text that the kids had command of so that you could focus soley on the predicting. GOOD LUCK! Let us know on this thread how it goes!
.... maryteach, your choices would be awesome- especially Owl Moon- I love that book, and there's so much room for discussion!
Well, I ended up using that book (b/c I didn't even see Mary's post till after I got back ), and it actually worked out well b/c the students I taught today, being students in the summer school program, were pretty low readers, so the book seemed just about right for them. Yay. Needless to say, I GOT THE JOB!!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH for your help and words of encouragement! I really really appreciate it.
-Sarah
Last edited by SarahE33; 07-11-2006 at 02:04 PM..
Reason: forgot a title
Haha! You are wonderful. Yes I will be teaching 3rd. Yesterday I told myself I was going to give myself a few days to just relax and enjoy my summer. But we all know as teachers, that only lasted for one evening. I'll be searching the 3rd grade boards all day on here! Then tomorrow I need to hit up the garage sales for classroom books b/c I only have picture books from 1st.
I'M SO EXCITED!
07-09-2006, 08:45 AM
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), and it actually worked out well b/c the students I taught today, being students in the summer school program, were pretty low readers, so the book seemed just about right for them. Yay. Needless to say, I GOT THE JOB!!! 
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