Building Background
Ask questions that uncover what children already know about the topic. What do they know about homework and responsibility?
Ask: Have you ever put off something that you were supposed to do? What happened? 

Book Walk
Go through as much of the book as you feel is necessary, pointing out things you feel will challenge children. Look at the pictures with children and discuss what they see. You may want to write down some of the words they suggest. This step helps reduce the anxiety that some children feel when they are faced with a book with unfamiliar text.
Cover and title page
Say and ask: This book is about homework. What does the title tell you about the story? Do you think this is fiction or nonfiction? What clues tell you it is fiction? What do you think the “homework” lesson is? Record children’s ideas and suggestions. 

Reading Strategies
Remind children to use any or all of the following strategies to help them in their reading. Say and ask:

• Ask yourself, does it make sense? Does it sound right? Does it look right?
• What can you do if you don’t understand a part you just read? Reread any sentence or page that was difficult, to make sure you understand the text.

Ask children about the strategies they think they will use if they get to a difficult word. You may want to act as a model to show them how it might look or sound when they read. Pretend to read, getting confused or slowing down because you do not understand a word or sentence. Model a strategy you think will help children gain meaning, such as asking questions or looking at the illustrations.