Book Summary
I'm All Right is a collection of seven poems that illustrate some of the common struggles students face and the positive character lessons they learn while growing up. These topics include self-esteem, arguments with friends, and losing at games. Realistic illustrations support each poem. 

Build Background
Ask students to explain what they know about poetry. Invite them to share favorite poems and/or poets. Explain that there are many different types of poetry. Invite students to identify types of poetry they know about. 

Discuss poetry's rhymes and rhythms. Explain that rhyming poetry follows a beat based on syllables and includes words that rhyme. Write the word right on the board. Invite students to identify words that rhyme with right. Write these words on the board. Remind students that not all poetry rhymes. Some non-rhyming poetry also follows a beat based on syllables. 

Preview the Poems
Discuss with students the meaning of the words fairness, kindness, sportsmanship, and trustworthy. Ask students why each of these traits is important. Invite them to share situations in which they would display one of these traits. 

Show students the front and back covers of the book and read the title. Turn to the title page. Discuss the information on the page (title of book, author's name, illustrator's name). 

For detailed lessons on teaching poetry, click here.

During Reading
Have students listen as you read the poems. Read the poems expressively and, where applicable, emphasize the words that rhyme in each pair of sentences. Discuss the line breaks in each poem and how they affect both the reading and meaning of the poem. 

Use think-aloud strategies to remind students to use what they already know to help make sense of each poem. React to parts of the poem with facial expressions and gestures. Allow students to stop to ask questions during reading, especially if they do not understand something. Invite students to identify characteristics of poetry (it uses lots of description, it expresses emotions and feelings, it allows a reader to see a topic in a different way through the concise use of vocabulary, and so on). 

After Reading
Reader Response
Ask students what they thought of the poems. Have them describe their favorite poem. 

Comprehension
Ask specific questions that allow students to demonstrate their understanding of the poems.

• What does the author suggest you do if you've made someone angry?
• What point do you think the poem It's Not Fair! makes?
• What types of character traits does this author feel are positive?