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Sample
Guided Reading Book Introduction
Book - “Dancing With Manatees”
by Faith McNulty
GRL-N DRA-30 |
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| Teacher:
The story we are going to read “Dancing With Manatees” reminds
me of our last book “Playing With Dolphins”. They are the same
genre......realistic fiction. I’m going to give you your
copy. Just look at the cover and tell me what you notice is the same
about this new book and our last book. |
| Laurna:
There is a mother manatee and a baby manatee and on the other book. It was
a mother dolphin and baby dolphin. |
| Teacher:
Very good observation, Laurna. I didn’t even notice that. I like how
I learn from you. |
| Andy:
(pointing to “Hello Reader” symbol) It is this kind of book. |
| Teacher:
Yes, this book is published by the same company--“Scholastic”. |
| Corey:
The book is written by the same author....Faith McNulty. |
| Teacher:
That is one of the reasons I chose the book. I want us to compare
and contrast Faith McNulty’s style or voice in the two books
and talk about her purpose for writing these books. |
| Ben:
I notice something else that’s the same..........there are three words
in both titles, “Playing With Dolphins” and Dancing With Manatees”. |
| Teacher:
Yes, you boys and girls are coming up with more comparisons than I even
thought of. I love how we can learn from each other when we talk about books. |
| Jacquelyn:
In the picture, they are underwater and there are fish around like the other
book’s cover. |
| Joycelynn:
I think it is the same illustrator. |
Teacher:
It does look that way girls.
Teacher: I like the way you were thinking about the cover.
That’s what good readers do when they pick up a new book. Open up
to the first page. I would like you to listen to me read it and tell us
more about your thoughts.
TEACHER READS FIRST PAGE.
Did you notice this was a personal narrative just like the other
book by Faith McNulty.? |
| Corey:
I was wondering “Who is Alice?” |
| Teacher:
Great question Corey. Good readers ask themselves questions as they read.
It helps them understand the story better. |
| Andy:
I think Alice is going to be the manatee. |
| Teacher:
Andy, great prediction. How did you know Alice isn’t
the name of the little girl? |
| Andy: (Reads
from the book) It says “Alice is taking a nap.” and the little
girl in the picture is not napping. |
| Teacher:
Very good evidence from the story for your answer. |
| Jacquelyn:
They didn’t tell us the girl’s name again. |
| Teacher:
You're right. |
| Jacquelyn:
It makes it more fun to read it that way because you keep looking for her
name. |
| Teacher:
Good authors think of those ways to grab our attention. |
| Ben: The
2 dolphins in the other story were Amelia and Annie and the animal in this
story is Alice. They all start with “A”. |
| Teacher:
Wow, what a great text-to-text connection. I didn’t
notice that either. This is making me curious about the author, Faith McNulty.
Why does she write about sea animals? |
| Laurna:
There’s also an older character with the little girl like in the other
story. |
| Teacher:
Another text-to-text connection. This was a great conversation
today. Thank you for sharing all your good thoughts. You are going to read
the next 17 pages and I want you to use 3 sticky notes in the places of
the book that remind you of the last book we read. In other words you are
going to make text-to-text connections. Also put a sticky note
under the words that tell the setting of the story. Can someone remind us
of what setting means? |
| Corey:
Where the story takes place. |
| Teacher:
Yes. You know your job as readers today. Please be ready to share your connections
tomorrow. |
