Establish Reading Routines: A Long Walk to Water

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Lesson Synopsis

1. Opening

A. Engage the Learner - L.7.4c (5 minutes)

B. Reflect on the Module Guiding Questions - SL.7.1 (10 minutes)

2. Work Time

A. Read A Long Walk to Water, Chapter 1 - RL.7.1 (20 minutes)

B. Find the Gist: A Long Walk to Water, Chapter 1 (5 minutes)

3. Closing and Assessment

A. Reflect on Learning Targets (5 minutes)

4. Homework

A. Answer Selected Response Questions: Students complete Homework: Selected Response Questions: A Long Walk to Water, answering selected response questions about plot unfolding in chapter 1 of A Long Walk to Water and identifying the strategies used to answer the questions.

B. Preread Anchor Text: Students should preread chapter 2 of A Long Walk to Water in preparation for studying the chapter in the next lesson.

Daily Learning Targets

  • I can determine the difference between academic and domain-specific vocabulary. (L.7.4)

  • I can show empathy and respect as I listen to my classmates.

  • I can use evidence from the text to find the gist of chapter 1 of A Long Walk to Water. (RL.7.1)

Lesson Prep

  • Prepare the following:

    • Work to Become Ethical People anchor chart.

    • Vocabulary logs: Vocabulary logs could consist of a notebook in which students glue forms in the front and back or a folder with several copies of the Academic and Domain-Specific Vocabulary Form clipped into the fasteners. Students will continue to use these logs throughout the year and will only need new ones when they have run out of space. However, to distinguish among the topics they study in each module, they will need to flag where one module ends and a new one begins. If logs are not prepared for students in advance, allot the final 10 minutes of the lesson for students to prepare them.

    • Entrance Ticket: Unit 1, Lesson 2 at each student's workspace.

  • Post the learning targets and applicable anchor charts (see Materials list).

Lesson Plan

Opening

A. Engage the Learner – L.7.4c (5 minutes)

  • As students enter the classroom, invite them to respond to the questions on Entrance Ticket: Unit 1, Lesson 2.

  • Direct students’ attention to the posted learning targets, and select a volunteer to read them aloud:

“I can determine the difference between academic and domain-specific vocabulary.”

“I can show empathy and respect as I listen to my classmates.”

“I can use evidence from the text to find the gist of chapter 1 of A Long Walk to Water.”

  • Invite students to Turn and Talk about the most important words in the learning targets, and underline or circle those words.

  • Distribute vocabulary logs, and model the format for noting new words. Use the Academic and Domain-Specific Vocabulary Form(example for reference) for students who need extra support. Use the differentiated model to support students’ understanding of how and where to record new vocabulary words. ▲

  • Focus students on the word empathy. Use total participation techniques to select students to share what they think it means. If they don’t know the meaning, share the strategies they could use to determine the meaning (context, affixes and roots, dictionary).

  • Use a sentence frame to boost confidence and encourage participation (e.g., “Another word for empathy is _____.”). ▲


MEETING STUDENTS' NEEDS


When presenting empathy as a sample word for the vocabulary log, display images that demonstrate empathy, and encourage students to use the images to help them infer the meaning of the word.

  • Focus specifically on the use of reference materials such as online or print dictionaries as a strategy for determining the meanings of words. Ask students if they have experience using dictionaries to look up words. Model the process of looking up a definition, including pointing out the features of the dictionary (definition, etymology or word history, pronunciation). If there are multiple definitions of a word, invite students to share strategies for identifying the definition that best fits the context (identify what type of word it is, see if replacing the word with the definition makes sense in the sentence).

  • With student support, record the meaning of the word on the academic word wall, with translations in students’ home languages (the ability to understand the feelings of others). Write synonyms or sketch a visual above each key term to scaffold students’ understanding. ▲

  • Invite students to record this word in their vocabulary logs.

  • Repeat this process with respect (consideration for the feelings of others). Provide students the meaning of gist (what the text is mostly about), and add the definition to the domain-specific word wall.

  • At this time, address the prompts from the entrance ticket, and ask students to Turn and Talk:

“What does academic mean?” (having to do with school, learning, or study)

“What does domain-specific mean?” (relevant to a specific topic)

“What is the difference between the two?” (Academic words can be applied to any topic, while domain-specific words are usually relevant to a particular topic.)

  • Ensure that students understand the difference between academic and domain-specific vocabulary by asking volunteers to give examples of academic words (words they might use in any class in school) and domain-specific words (math words, science words, literacy words, etc.).

  • Turn and Talk:

“What words about the Lost Boys did you read or hear in Lesson 1? What topic or domain are these words from?” (Responses will vary but may include war, Africa, and refugees.)

“What do you think you will be doing in this lesson based on these learning targets?” (engaging in discussions with my classmates; summarizing chapter 1 of A Long Walk to Water; finding new vocabulary)

“Why are we doing this? How is it meaningful to you? How will it help you to be successful?” (We’re learning to listen to one another and show respect so we can learn new things from our classmates. We’re developing our ability to summarize texts to help us understand what the text is about as we read.)


MEETING STUDENTS' NEEDS


Adapt work with the vocabulary log by adding other elements that may further help students develop their knowledge of a word. Examples follow below:

Word and pronunciation: "What is the word, and how do you say it?"

Forms of the word: "What are the different forms of the word?"

Translation and cognate: "What is the translation in your home language?" "Does the word look like a similar word in your home language?"

Synonyms and antonyms: "What words have a similar meaning?" "What words have the opposite meaning?"

Collocations: "What other words are commonly used with the word?"

Showing sentences: "Where else have you read or heard this word?" "What does it mean in the new sentence?"


B. Reflect on the Module Guiding Questions – SL.7.1 (10 minutes)

  • Review the appropriate learning target relevant to the work to be completed in this section of the lesson:

“I can show empathy and respect as I listen to my classmates.”

  • Remind students that in the previous lesson they were introduced to the guiding questions for the module. Invite students to reread the Module Guiding Questions anchor chart.

  • Explain that not all students will like the topic of the Lost Boys of Sudan or will have had positive experiences with their story. Ensure students understand that it is okay to have differing opinions.

  • To help build trust, share a personal story regarding feelings about the Lost Boys of Sudan.

  • Remind students that for homework they were asked to reflect on what those guiding questions mean to them and how they feel about them.

  • Focus students on the Work to Become Ethical People anchor chart. Explain that, as it says at the top of the chart, ethical people are people who treat others well and stand up for what is right.

  • Read aloud the habit of character recorded:

“I show respect. This means I appreciate the abilities, qualities, and achievements of others and treat myself, others, and the environment with care.”

  • Invite students to Turn and Talk to an elbow partner:

“Using the anchor chart as a guide, what does respect mean in your own words?” (appreciating what I and others are good at and treating everyone with care)

  • Tell students they will now use the Think-Pair-Share protocol to discuss their ideas with a partner. Remind them that they used this protocol in Lesson 1, and review the steps as necessary.

“What does respect look like? What might you see when someone is showing respect toward someone else?” See Work to Become Ethical People anchor chart (example for teacher reference).

“What does respect sound like? What might you hear when someone is showing respect toward someone else?” See Work to Become Ethical People anchor chart (example for teacher reference).

  • Read aloud the habit of character recorded on the Work to Become Ethical People anchor chart:

“I show empathy. This means I understand and I share or take into account the feelings, situation, or attitude of others.”

  • Invite students to Turn and Talk to an elbow partner:

“Using the anchor chart as a guide, what does empathy mean in your own words?” (thinking about how others might feel)

  • Tell students they will now use the Think-Pair-Share protocol to discuss their ideas with a partner:

“What does empathy look like? What might you see when someone is showing empathy toward someone else?” See Work to Become Ethical People anchor chart (example for teacher reference).

“What does empathy sound like? What might you hear when someone is showing empathy toward someone else?” See Work to Become Ethical People anchor chart (example for teacher reference).

  • Tell students they will now have the opportunity to share their reflections, if they would like to, with the whole group. Remind students to respond with respect and empathy as necessary.

  • Invite volunteers to share their reflections with the whole group. Be prepared to discuss any issues students feel they need to discuss further.

  • Invite students to reflect on their progress toward the relevant learning target, using a checking for understanding technique—for example, using Thumb-O-Meter or Red Light, Green Light. Scan student responses, and make a note of students who might need support. Check in with them moving forward.

Work Time

A. Read A Long Walk to Water, Chapter 1 - RL.7.1 (20 minutes)

  • Invite students to retrieve their copies of A Long Walk to Water, and remind them of what they thought the text might be about.

  • Invite students to turn to page 1. Read aloud chapter 1 as students read along silently. If students are able to read independently or in small groups, group students accordingly, and set the time for them to read chapter 1. As some students read independently, read aloud to students who need additional support, using the Text Guide: A Long Walk to Water for sample vocabulary and comprehension questions. Remind students that as they respond to the comprehension questions, they must use evidence from the text to support their ideas. If students do not finish reading the chapter within the allotted time, use the Synopsis: A Long Walk to Water, Chapter 1 document to review the key details from chapter 1.

  • Ask students to note new vocabulary words in their vocabulary logs as they read the text.

  • Give students 2 minutes to silently reflect on the text. Encourage them to consider how the chapter made them feel. They can write or sketch, or just sit and think.

  • Think-Pair-Share:

"What happened in this chapter?" (In 2008, an eleven-year-old girl named Nya is carrying a plastic container somewhere in southern Sudan, but we don't know where. Also in southern Sudan in 1985, an eleven-year-old boy named Salva is sitting in a classroom thinking about being back home and playing with his brothers. Suddenly, there is the sound of gunshots outside the classroom and the teacher tells the students to run away. Salva knows that this must be part of the war being fought between the rebels and the government in the North, and he runs away from the school and into the bush.)

  • Invite a student to paraphrase the key points in more comprehensible language for those who need heavier support.

  • Capture any questions students have about what is happening in the chapter on a Questions about A Long Walk to Water anchor chart. This first day, encourage students to ask any question. As the weeks progress, guide students to refine the questions to better align to research questions. If necessary, for this lesson, provide sentence frames such as the following: "Who is . . . ?" "What is . . . ?" "How does . . . ?" "Why does . . . ?"

  • Choose a page from the chapter, and invite students to suggest academic and domain-specific words on that page to check for understanding.

  • Direct students' attention to the Work to Become Ethical People anchor chart, and review respect and empathy as needed before inviting students to share their reflections if they choose.

B. Find the Gist: A Long Walk to Water, Chapter 1 (5 minutes)

  • Review the appropriate learning target relevant to the work to be completed in this section of the lesson:

"I can use evidence from the text to find the gist of chapter 1 of A Long Walk to Water."

  • Distribute two different-colored sticky notes to each student, and explain that they will use one color to record the gist of Nya's story and the other color to record the gist of Salva's story. Also explain that students should write the chapter number and their initials on each sticky note. Remind students of their definition of gist, created earlier in the lesson (a gist is what something is mostly about.) Lead a whole-class discussion of what gist is and why we find it (to check our understanding of the text and to help us navigate back to places in the text quickly). Invite students to think of these key questions when deciding on the gist of a chapter or story: What are the main events? How is the plot unfolding?

  • Model recording gist (key words, not full sentences) on a sticky note, and invite students to do the same, sticking them at the front of the chapter for quick reference. Have students Turn and Talk:

"What is the gist of this chapter? What is it mostly about?" (Nya: walking somewhere with container in the heat; Salva: in school, hears gunshots, runs away)

Closing

A. Reflect on Learning Targets (5 minutes)

  • Invite students to reflect on their progress toward the learning targets, using a checking for understanding technique—for example, using Thumb-O-Meter or Red Light, Green Light. Scan student responses, and make a note of students who might need support. Check in with them moving forward.

  • Invite students to reflect on the habits of character focus in this lesson, discussing what went well and what could be improved next time. Invite students to share specific examples of where they saw other students showing respect and empathy and update the “What Does It Look Like?” and “What Does It Sound Like?” columns of the anchor chart accordingly.

  • Incorporate reflection on and awareness of the following academic mindset: “I belong in this community.”

  • Ask:

“How do empathy and respect help you feel a sense of belonging in this classroom community?” (Possible response: When my classmates listen to me and show they understand my feelings, I feel like I have a safe place in this classroom.)


MEETING STUDENTS' NEEDS


Remind students of the definitions of respect and empathy before asking them to reflect on how they foster a sense of belonging.


Before asking students to reflect on respect and empathy, briefly describe concrete examples of respect and empathy that you have observed between students in the class during work time or in an earlier lesson. Then, explain that these are the type of interactions that you mean when you are referring to instances of empathy and respect. These concrete examples help ELLs to better understand abstract terms for values which are often difficult to convey in comprehensible language.