Additional Book Information:

• Copyright: 2022 by Johnnie Christmas

• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

• Publishing Date: May 17, 2022

• Reading Level (Accelerated Reader): 2.6.

5 key words to describe this book:

• Captivating

• Contemporary

• Entertaining

• Well-crafted

• Heartwarming

ELA CT Common Core Standard that might be met by reading this book:

RL.5.2 Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text.

Suggested Delivery:

• Independent Read

Electronic Resources: 

• johnniechristmas.com/faq 

  • Show students this website prior to reading Swim Team to teach them about the author, Johnnie Christmas, and what inspired him to write this book. 

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnSwy0VNcXo 

  • Play this video for students after reading text to introduce discussion of the book's main ideas and themes. 

Video to Build Schema:

• https://abc7ny.com/black-people-will-swim-swimming-learning-how-to-of-color/10914272/ 

ELA Teaching Suggestions:

Key vocabulary that may have to be taught for students to better understand the text:

• Stereotype: an assumption or belief many people have about all members of a social group

• Self-doubt: having no confidence in yourself and your abilities

• Discrimination: when someone is treated differently or unfairly based on an aspect of their identity

• Culture: the "way of life" of groups of people; food, clothing, language and celebrations are all a part of culture

• Access: the right or ability to enter, look at, or use something

• Anxiety: worry or fear about the future and about bad things happening

Reading strategy suggestions to increase literal and/or inferential comprehension:

• Before Reading

  • Students will fill out the  "What I Know" and "What I Want to Know" sections of a K-W-L chart in regard to the book's main themes of discrimination and stereotypes. 

• During Reading

  • After reading each chapter, ask students to summarize what they read (focusing on the main events, main ideas, and who, what, when, where, why, and how questions). A graphic organizer can be utilized. 

• After Reading

  • Students will create a story map that consider the setting, characters, beginning, middle, end, problem, and solution of the story.

Writing activity that requires students to demonstrate inferential comprehension:

• Students will create a "one sheet book" out of a piece of paper. The following video provides simple instructions on how to do so:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpqvTinDgVM 

• Students will choose at least 3 events from the story that they feel are most critical to the plot. They will summarize them, writing in the booklet they created.