Say and ask: Please read the first page and be prepared to summarize, or retell in your own words, the main points. What is the main thing you learn about colonial life on this page, and how is it similar or different to your life?

Have children read the rest of the book independently. You may suggest they read through the book once, mark important points with sticky notes, and then read it a second time, stopping to complete the Venn Diagram as they come across the important points they marked. They may also mark any words or phrases they did not understand or could not pronounce. You can discuss and clarify these later. During this time, you may choose to work with another group or with individuals to monitor their oral reading and comprehension of parts of the text.

Say: I want you to finish reading the book at your own pace. As you do, stop at the end of each page and think about the important points or facts on that page. Read through it once, then read it again, stopping at the end of each page and marking facts or points for comparison to add to the Venn Diagram worksheet. 


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