Interactive Read-Aloud

Thursday January 17 2018

LEARNING GOAL / OBJECTIVE MCCRS

I can determine a character’s traits by drawing on Primary: RL.3.3 Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits,
specific details in a text. motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute
to the sequence of events.
Secondary: RL.3.1 Ask and answer questions to demonstrate
understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis
for the answers.
CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING MATERIALS

 Observation of student learning and behaviors/

anecdotal records Text: Chike and the River by Chinua Achebe
 Student Graphic Organizers – Monday-Wednesday (Chapter 11)
 TASK – Thursday - Evidence Chart
ACCOMODATIONS/MODIFICATIONS - Character Trait Chart

IL - CFU, repeated directions, modified

instruction, reduced workload (one trait/habit of
mind), preferential seating

AGENDA (Lesson Sequence) BIG IDEA/TASK

Lesson: A character’s traits can both help and hinder them.

❸ Explicit Teach - Thursday Module: Introduction to World Cultures
TASK: Students describe the characters in Chike and the River and
explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.
(RL.3.3)
LESSON SEQUENCE TEACHING MOVES & LANGUAGE
❶ - Thursday- State the purpose of the strategy, skill or task

Tuesday Jan. 23 Good readers look carefully at a character’s words and actions in order to determine their
Introduction & character traits. Often characters change throughout the story as they work to solve their
Establish Purpose problems. A character often has positive and negative traits that can both help and hinder
their ability to find a resolution. When we think of character trait, we can also relate it to a
Connect with Prior Learning character “habits of mind”. As we read, we will think about Chike’s action when faced with
challenges in order to determine which habit of mind he display and whether this helped or
hinder him in solving his problem.

❷ - Thursday Jan. 17 Name the strategy, skill or task.

Name It! Today we are going to think about Chike’s words and actions in order to make an inference
about his character trait.
Tell them what you will
 teach today. We will record Chike’s words and actions in Chapter 11 in order to determine his character
traits or habits of mind. We will determine how his character trait will help or hinder Chike.
The word hinders means to impede, or hold back. So, how do Chike’s traits or habits of mind
hold him back from solving his problem?”
Commented [J1]: I related character trait (a familiar term to
students) to habits of mind. I emphasized that habit of mind is how
a person is inclined to ask. Scholars then shared out several
different ways people may act in different situations. Examples of
character traits listed: brave, considerate, thoughtful, determined.

❸ - Thursday Jan. 18 Demonstrate how the skill strategy, or task is completed.

Explicit Teach/
Review the character trait anchor chart. Remind students that great readers look for
Direct Explanation character traits through the action and dialogue of a character.

Show them exactly how to Remind students that character trait describes how a character is like on the inside;
do it. Read and think aloud how they usually behave.
while they watch, or
demonstrate exactly what
Show students the graphic organizer they will use to help them gather details that Commented [J2]: Scholars tracked along with me as I
you want them to do. completed a think a loud and recorded my thinking on the graphic
they can use to make an inference about Chike’s character trait in order to answer organizer.
the focus question of the week “How do Chike’s character traits help or hinder him
from solving his problem?”

Text Evidence (Chpt. 11) Chike’s Character Trait How do Chike’s character
traits help or hinder him
from solving his problem
of crossing the Niger?

As readers, we use key details in the text to better understand information being
presented to us. Pay close attention to the main points the author is presenting
(Chike’s words and actions). We will use this information to make an inference about
Chike’s character trait.

After identifying Chike’s character traits, we will think about how his trait will either
help him or prevent him from solving his problem of crossing the Niger River. Is he
displaying persistence, bravery, or confidence? Or is he afraid, shy or cautious? We
will use the trait we identify to support our inference.

Read chapter 11.

Now that we have read chapter 11, lets stop and think about some of Chike’s words Commented [J3]: I emphasized that in order to truly
understand the prompt and answer it correctly, students have to
and actions that will help us identify his character trait (discuss the main details from stop and think about what they read.
chpt. 11)
On page 53 and 54 we read that:
-The bicycle was for adults and was too high for Chike but he made rapid progress
-Chike adopted the monkey-style; he rode standing on the pedals
-after one week of practice Chike was able to ride long distance without falling
-Although Chike was doubtful, he agreed to try riding his bike on one of the less busy
roads and he did very well

Lets record these details on our chart.

Text Evidence (Chpt. 11) Chike’s Character Trait How do Chike’s character
traits help or hinder him
from solving his problem
of crossing the Niger?
-The bicycle was for
adults and was too high
for Chike but he made
rapid progress
-Chike adopted the
monkey-style; he rode
standing on the pedals
-after one week of
practice Chike was able to
ride long distance without
falling
-Although Chike was
doubtful, he agreed to try
riding his bike on one of
the less busy roads and
he did very well

Now that we have recorded the main details from chapter 11, let us stop and think
about the character trait that we can use to describe Chike. Remember that
character traits are words (adjective) that describe how a character is on the inside.
You can say that a character trait is a person “habit of mind”, how a person is
inclined to act. In order to determine Chike’s habit of mind, you have to ask yourself,
“what are his actions and how are his actions either helping him or hindering him
from solving his problem?” Commented [J4]: I emphasized to students that a character’s
action s can help a reader make it inference about how that
character may act under a similar situation.
-One character trait that can be used to describe Chike is determined. Chike Commented [J5]: Students were in agreement with me that
continued riding his bike until he was good at it. He did not give up but stuck to the Chike was demonstrating determination (students use
determination and persistence interchangeably. They eagerly
plan until he accomplished his goal. nodded their head to show that they understood. I completed a
check for understanding by asking scholars to put their thumbs
down if they did not agree that Chike demonstrated persistence. All
-Chike was also resourceful. Although the bike was too big for Chike, he thought of a thumbs went up to show that they understood.
way to still ride it

I am going to record my thoughts down under “Chike’s character trait”.

 Text Evidence (Chpt. 11)
-The bicycle was for
adults and was too high
for Chike but he made
rapid progress
-Chike adopted the
monkey-style; he rode
standing on the pedals
-after one week of
practice Chike was able to
ride long distance without
falling
-Although Chike was
doubtful, he agreed to try
riding his bike on one of
the less busy roads and
he did very well
Chike’s Character Trait How do Chike’s character
traits help or hinder him
from solving his problem
of crossing the Niger?
-determined/persistent
Chile continued to
practice riding the bike
until he became good at
it.
-resourceful
Although the bike was
too big for Chike, he came
up with a way to still ride
it.

Alert learners about errors to avoid

When identifying character trait or habit of mind, you have to focus on the key details about
the characters words and actions. Including specific details about the character and not
simply restating all the details in the text will help you to make an appropriate inference
about what habit of mind or character trait the character is displaying.

Now that we have recorded Chike’s character traits, let’s think about the answer to the focus
question “How do Chike’s character traits help or hinder him from solving his problem of
crossing the Niger?”

-We stated that Chike was persistent because he continued to practice riding the bike until
he was good at it. Being persistent will help Chike solve his problem because it will push him
to keep trying to find ways to get the money he needs to pay for the ferry.

-We also stated that he was resourceful. Chike’s resourcefulness will allow him to think of
creative ways to raise the money he needs to cross the Niger River.

I am going to record my response in the last section of my chart.

 Text Evidence (Chpt. 11)
-The bicycle was for
adults and was too high
for Chike but he made
rapid progress
-Chike adopted the
monkey-style; he rode
standing on the pedals
-after one week of
practice Chike was able to
ride long distance without
falling
-Although Chike was
doubtful, he agreed to try
riding his bike on one of
the less busy roads and
he did very well
Assess the use of the skill
Display question on blackboard:
Define the Habit of Mind of “persistence”.
How did Chike Demonstrated persistence in the text, Chike and the River. Cite specific
evidence from the story.
Chike’s Character Trait How do Chike’s character
traits help or hinder him
from solving his problem
of crossing the Niger? Commented [J6]: Scholars were given an opportunity to discuss
with their carpet partner about whether the traits we identify will
help or hinder Chike. I asked students to state the definition of
-determined/persistent The character traits that hinder and a scholar said “hinders means to prevent or stop
something from happening.” Some friends used the definition of
Chile continued to Chike demonstrated in determined to support their thinking that Chike will accomplish his
practice riding the bike chapter 11 will help him goal because “he will not give up until he accomplished his goal just
like he didn’t give up on learning how to ride a bike.”
until he became good at to solve his problem of
it. crossing the Niger River.
Chike’s resourcefulness
-resourceful will allow him to think of
Although the bike was creative ways to raise the
too big for Chike, he came money he needs to cross
up with a way to still ride the Niger River. Chike’s
it. determination and
persistence will push him
to keep trying to find
ways to get the money he
needs to pay for the ferry.
Commented [J7]: To access students’ understanding of what it
means to be persistence, I asked them to reflect on the details we
read in Chike and the River in order to draft a claim as to whether
Chike was or was not persistence. All scholars demonstrated
understanding of this habit of mind.