Before Reading

Lesson Plans for THE MYSTERY WIND level N

Before Reading

Introducing the Book
Show children the book and ask: What do you notice? (title, author, illustrator names) Why are the lines swirling around her head? Look at the title page and the back page and have children point out how the illustrator shows the wind. Ask children what they think the book will be about. Look through every page of the book.

Building Background
Make connections to other stories that you might have read about making wishes (The Magic Fish). Talk about when children make wishes (blowing out birthday candles, for instance). Ask: What are some things you would wish for, if you had a chance? What do you think Taba, the girl in the story, will wish for?

Book Walk
Show children the book and point out that this book has chapter titles. Ask: Why do you think books have chapter titles? How will the chapter titles help us understand the story? Have someone read the title of the first chapter. Ask: What do you think this chapter will be about? Why do you think this?
Turn to page 6 and have someone read the chapter title. Ask: What do you think this chapter will be about? Why do you think this? Continue on through the book, having children read the chapter titles on pages 11 and 16.

Reading Strategies
Discuss any reading strategies children can use to help them read. You might ask the following questions:

How will the pictures help you read the words?
What can you do when you come to a word you cannot read?
What can you do if you don’t understand a part you have just read?
Suggest a think-aloud strategy to model how you would deal with an unfamiliar word.

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