Book:  Bobby’s Secret is Out

Lesson Plan Packet I

This lesson plan packet is designed to assist readers in developing in the following reading instruction skills:

oAdvanced Vocabulary

oReading Comprehension Skills

oCultural Terminology

oGrammar and Usage

oWriting Development

oSpelling Proficiency

Lesson Plan 1

Language Skills Development

Prereading Instruction #1 – Advanced Vocabulary

Before you introduce Bobby’s Secret is Out to your readers, mention how important it is to learn and continue to learn new words, and learning new words will provide them with an opportunity to succeed at a higher level in reading, prepare for standardized tests, and communicate outside of their “comfort zone.”

Think of an advanced “new word” that your readers might not know the meaning of, use the advanced “new word” in a sentence, and ask the readers to define what the word means.  In addition, ask the readers to explain how they figured out the correct contextual meaning.  Emphasize that the meaning of the advanced “new word” can be identified by using context clues.  Then define context clues and demonstrate the skill.

Context Clues:  Use words before and/or after the unfamiliar word as clues to figure out the meaning and/or pronunciation of the unfamiliar word.

Ask readers to use a dictionary to identify an advanced “new word” that is unfamiliar to them.  If needed, use the pronunciation key and diacritical marks for correct syllabication and verbal articulation.  Then ask readers to locate the definition and use the advanced “new word” in a sentence.  The “new word,” definition, and sentence should be written in the advanced vocabulary section in their notebooks.

*Ask a few readers to share their advanced “new word,” definition, and sentence.  Of course, whenever it is necessary to make a correction, please do so without offending the reader.  Teaching without insult is imperative during reading instruction.

Prereading Instruction #2 - Cultural Language Application

Explain to the readers how important language is in different cultures.  For example, in the African American community, slang or creative expressions are used to communicate positive and negative feelings.  Write the slang terms and the definitions on the board, review each one, and ask readers to share a slang word and its meaning.

Slang Terminology

·Dis:insult, disrespect

             I never thought you would dis me like that.

·Boy:          friend

             That’s my boy!

·Crunk: have a good time (comes from the words crazy and funk)

             We had a crunk time at Bobby’s party.

·Boo:         girlfriend or boyfriend

             That’s my Boo!

·Cheese:  money, wealth

             Ha Boo, do you have any cheese?  I want to have a crunk time tonight with my boy, Leroy.

·Player hater:one who despises or speaks ill of another

              Ever since I started wearing new gear everyday, you have been a player hater.

Comparison/Contrast

Write compare and contrast on the board and their definitions.

Compare:      the sameness between two dissimilar (not alike, different) things

Contrast:        the difference between two similar (resembling, like) things

   Ask students to compare and contrast the Standard English language with cultural slang.

Organize readers in community groups.  Ask readers to creatively think of a positive slang expression, define it, and be prepared to share it with the other community groups.

Story Advanced Vocabulary

Introduce Bobby’s Secret is Out to readers.  Tell readers that the story has several advanced vocabulary words that they should become familiar with before reading the story.

Distribute the advanced vocabulary handout to readers, and review the entire list with readers (The list is on page 5).  Then ask readers to write a sentence for each advanced vocabulary word.  When the readers have completed this task, ask them to share their sentences.  As you write each sentence on the board, ask readers to examine each sentence and confirm whether or not each advanced vocabulary word was used in proper grammatical and semantic context.

Spelling

Have a spelling test on all advanced vocabulary words.  Allow the students a full week to study, since the words are advanced.

Lesson Summary

Tell the readers that this lesson was designed to demonstrate:

1.The importance of learning new and advanced vocabulary.

2.How to apply reading comprehension skills to help you figure out unfamiliar words and their meanings.

3.How important and powerful words are when we communicate in school, our community, and in other    environments.

4.To be sensitive to different cultural language styles.

5.How to apply advanced grammar usage correctly.

6.The application of writing scholarly sentences.

7.Spelling proficiency.

Advanced Vocabulary

vSedate: calm

vCountenance:    expression

vSignificant:  important

vSarcastic:    humorous

vDerogatory:insulting

vCriticism:     comment

vReplete:filled

vPlethora:      overabundance

vCatatonic:    wordless

vSuperlative:excellent

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