Unit 1
Module A
ReadyGen Unit 1 Module A
The anchor text we are reading in Unit 1 Module A is Night of the Spadefoot Toads. We will also be reading two supporting texts, excerpts from Shells and Hatchet.
Unit 1 Module A consists of 18 lessons. For the first 11 of these lessons, we read our anchor text, Night of the Spadefoot Toads.
We are currently reading the support text, "Shells". We are on the final lesson related to "Shells", lesson 14.
A test on the vocabulary, language, and reading skills learned during the reading of "Shells" is tentatively set for October 23rd and 24th.
Vocabulary Words:
We have learned over 20 new words. In class, we have studied the words in context and have a vocabulary journal containing all of the words for our lessons. Students can access tools to review the vocabulary words using Quizlet through the Google Classroom.
How can your child study vocabulary words?
1. Make flashcards using the definitions they have in their Vocabulary journal.
2. Practice using online flashcards and games:
Finding Text Evidence
With each lesson, there is a strong focus on answering pointed questions regarding our text using text evidence. It is critical that students learn to think about texts from a deeper perspective and understand how to support their answers with evidence that is found in the text. When we’re talking about the use of text evidence in the classroom, we are usually talking about three separate, yet interrelated skills:
1. Making an inference/conclusion.
2. Supporting that inference/conclusion with direct evidence from a text.
3. Explaining, in your own words, how that evidence you chose supports the inference/conclusion you made.
Games that can help students practice how to find text evidence:
http://www.pspb.org/blueribbon/games/detective/DetectiveGame.html
https://jeopardylabs.com/play/text-evidence2
https://www.quia.com/quiz/4976340.html?AP_rand=1739275004
http://www.librarysparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/lsp_syc_treasurehunt_aug14.pdf
How can parents help practice the skills we are learning in class?
It is important that your child reads at least 20 minutes each day. Once they have completed their reading, there are questions you can ask him/her to help them practice the skills we are learning with each lesson. You should ask your child to provide text evidence to back up the answer they have provided and explain why that text evidence supports their answer. Where appropriate, I will also include links to websites where your child can practice these skills.
Below is a breakdown of each of the lessons from Unit 1 Module A for the text Hatchet and the skills that were learned with that lesson. Please refer to the “Ask Me” question within each lesson to see how you can help your child practice that skill with your child at home.
Lesson 15: Characterization
Characterization is the way writers create and describe a character for the reader. Students can think of the acronym 'STEAL' (What a character SAYS, what a character THINKS, the EFFECT a character has on others, a character's ACTIONS, and how a character LOOKS) to learn more about a character. These details allow us to infer things about the character that the author is implying rather than telling us explicitly.
Ask Me: Can you tell me some of the words, thoughts, actions, and feelings of your character in your story? What do these tell you about the character?
Lesson 16: Compare and Contrast Events
Comparing and contrasting events can help a reader gain a better understanding of the plot and theme of a story. There are several questions the reader can ask to help them compare and contrast: What is the character thinking? How is the character feeling? What is the character doing? What happens to the character? What is the outcome (ex. success/failure of something)?
Ask Me: Can you pick two events from your story and tell me several things that are the same and different with those two events?
Practice: https://www.quia.com/pop/523088.html
Below is a breakdown of each of the lessons from Unit 1 Module A for the text "Shells" and the skills that were learned with that lesson. Please refer to the “Ask Me” question within each lesson to see how you can help your child practice that skill with your child at home.
Lesson 12: Repetition
Repetition is when words or phrases are repeated two or more times in a literature. Repetition is used to emphasize a feeling or idea, create rhythm, and/or develop a sense of urgency in literature.
Ask Me: Can you show me an example of repetition in the dialogue in your text? What is it telling us about the story or the character?
Lesson 13: Understand Sequence of Events
Students are learning to identify the main (or most important) events that happen with the characters within a story.
Ask Me: What does it mean to sequence the events? Can you use details and examples from your story to describe the main events in the correct sequence?
Lesson 14: Compare and Contrast Characters
Readers compare and contrast characters in different stories to gain a better understanding about how those stories are alike and different.
Ask Me: What are some similarities between the main character in the book you are currently reading and the last book you read? What are some differences? Use evidence in the text to explain.
Practice: https://www.ixl.com/ela/grade-5/compare-and-contrast-characters
Below is a breakdown of each of the lessons from Unit 1 Module A for the text Night of the Spadefoot Toads and the skills that were learned with that lesson. Please refer to the “Ask Me” question within each lesson to see how you can help your child practice that skill with your child at home.
Lesson 1: Compare and Contrast Characters
Readers can look at how an author develops characters (including their traits, personality, and actions) to see how those characters are the same and how they are different.
Ask Me: How is the main character similar to another character in the story? How are the characters different? Use evidence in the text to explain.
Practice: https://www.ixl.com/ela/grade-5/compare-and-contrast-characters
Lesson 2: Determine the Meaning of Words and Phrases
Readers can use context clues within their text to help them understand the meaning of new words and phrases.
Ask Me: What is a BIG word in your text that you did not know the meaning of? How can you use context clues to figure out what the word means? Hint: they should use the sentences before and after the word.
Practice: https://www.ixl.com/ela/grade-5/use-context-to-identify-the-meaning-of-a-word
Lesson 3: Point of View
Point of view describes how the story is being told. A first-person narrator is a participant in the story and uses pronouns I, me, my, we, and our. Second-person point of view can involve one character telling a story to another or giving directions and using the pronoun you. Third-person point of view is told by an observer rather than a participant and uses pronouns such as they, it, her, him and she.
Ask Me: What point of view is your story written in? What words (hint: pronouns) in the story helped you figure that out?
Practice: https://www.ixl.com/ela/grade-5/identify-the-narrative-point-of-view
Lesson 4: Plot
Plot is the pattern of events in the story. It centers on the main character as he/she is engaged in a conflict, or problem. Introducing the conflict is part of the rising action, which builds to the climax, the most exciting moment in the story. The events after the climax are the falling action.
Ask Me: What is the plot of your story? Can you identify the events that make up the rising action? What event is the climax of your story? What events unfold during the falling action?
Lesson 5: Character Motivation
A character’s motivation to act can be revealed by his thoughts, feelings, or actions.
Ask Me: What key details in the text help you to understand why the characters act the way they do?
Practice: https://www.ixl.com/ela/grade-5/use-actions-and-dialogue-to-understand-characters
Lesson 6: Compare Settings
Characters can be influenced by the setting, or time and place of the story.
Ask Me: Can you describe the key details that the author uses to describe the setting(s) in your story?
Practice: https://www.ixl.com/ela/grade-5/identify-story-elements
Lesson 7: Style
Writers use a unique style to keep readers interested and help them understand the meaning in the text. This can include elements such as short or long sentences, repetition, punctuation, and the use of italics.
Ask Me: What style details did you notice the author uses in your book? How does it help you understand what is happening in the text?
Lesson 8: Dialogue
One effective way an author develops characters is through dialogue. Dialogue provides examples of how characters communicate and offers clues as to what characters are thinking. Authors can use word choice and sentence structure in dialogue to help readers better understand a character.
Ask Me: What is the dialogue in the book telling you about your character? Can you show me an example of how you were able to use the dialogue to understand your character better?
Practice: https://www.ixl.com/ela/grade-5/use-actions-and-dialogue-to-understand-characters
Lesson 9: Theme
The theme of a work is the author’s message about life. Readers can identify theme by first identifying the topics of a text. Next, readers can determine what the characters say and do that relates to the topic, paying attention to how a character changes. Finally, readers should attempt to answer the questions, “What is the author saying about the topic?” and “What lesson about life does the reader learn?” Note: there can be multiple themes within a text.
Ask Me: What is the theme of the book you are reading? What details in your text helped you determine the theme?
Practice: https://www.ixl.com/ela/grade-5/determine-the-themes-of-short-stories
Lesson 10: Theme & Figurative Language
Writers use various techniques to communicate information about characters, the actions they take, and how they respond in different situations. To understand the theme, readers must look not only at the actions and dialogue in a story but also at the language in the story. Figurative language (such as similes and metaphors) can help a reader gain a better understanding of the text and its theme(s).
Ask Me: Can you show me an example of figurative language in your text? What does it mean in the context of the text?
Practice: https://www.ixl.com/ela/grade-5/analyze-the-effects-of-figures-of-speech-on-meaning-and-tone
Lesson 11: Theme & Response to Change
Authors often use the idea of responding to change to develop a story’s theme.
Ask Me: How has the main character of your text changed over the course of the story? How did this help you determine the story’s theme?