READ 3226 Direct Instruction Lesson Plan

Grade Level/Subject:
Central Focus: Comparing the traits of a character in two books from a
Third/Language Arts
series.
Essential Standard/Common Core Objective:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.3: Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits,
motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the
sequence of events.
Date submitted:
Date taught:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.9: Compare and contrast the themes, settings, and
plots of stories written by the same author about the same or similar
characters (e.g., in books from a series).
Daily Lesson Objective: After both books have been read, students will answer questions comparing the character traits
from the two books in the series. In order to display mastery students must provide answers to all of the questions.
Students must show their understanding of the character traits and provide reasoning.
21st Century Skills:
Academic Language Demand (Language Function and Vocabulary):
Life and Career Skills- Social and CrossUnderstanding. In order to show mastery students will be comparing
Culture Skills: throughout the entire lesson character traits of the same character from two books in a series.
when there are discussions.
Students must understand the different traits that there are.
Students must compare and contrast the traits the character exhibits.
They will need to use listening in order to comprehend the books that are
read. They will use speaking during any sections where discussions are
allowed. They will need to use reading in order to read the directions on
the worksheet and to read the questions as well.
Prior Knowledge:
Character traits
Ability to make inferences
Understand what a series is
Emotions
Attitudes

Activity

1. Focus and Review

Description of Activities and Setting

Day one: (Miss Nelson is back) The teacher will have all of the students sit on
the rug at the front of the classroom. Once all of the students are seated the
teacher will say "remember last week when you all compared a character in
the Lilly series?" (allow time for discussion/responses). "Do you all remember
that she had different character traits in both books?" (allow time). The
teacher can ask the students questions like "have you ever been happy one
day and grouchy the next?" (allow time). "Those are both character traits

Time

2. Statement of Objective
for Student

3. Teacher Input

4. Guided Practice

5. Independent Practice

6. Assessment Methods of
all objectives/skills:

7. Closure

that we all have depending on what happens to us and the characters we

read about go through things as well that brings out certain traits."
Day two: (Miss Nelson is missing) Before reading the second book be sure to
review the story from the day before with the students. Point out and remind
them of some of the character traits from the first book.
The teacher will tell the students that today we are going to read Miss Nelson
is back and tomorrow we are going to read Miss Nelson is missing. By the end
of the lesson they will be able to determine character traits that a character
displays and compare those traits to other traits that character may have in a
different book within the same series.
Day one: The teacher will hold up the book from the Miss Nelson series that
they are going to read on the first day and let the students look at it for a
moment. Ask the questions about what they think the book is going to be
about based on the cover and the title.
Day two: Review the character traits from the first day and compare them to
the recently read book. Say to the students "hmmmmm when I read books in
a series I always ask myself after I have read a second book if the character
has changed or stayed the same.....?!?!?!". Also say to the students "it's
always neat to see if I'm right about a character!".
Day one: Read Miss Nelson is back and allow the students to jot down in the
journals at certain points during the story when they noticed a specific
character trait. Have the students write down why they thought the
character displayed that character trait.
Day two: Read Miss Nelson is missing and allow the students to do the same
them on the next page in their notebooks. Have them write down why they
displayed that certain character trait and have them compare it so a
character trait from the day before.
After students have heard/read both books they will then be given a piece of
paper with three questions on it pertaining to the character traits observed
from both books. The students will return to their desks and begin to answer
the questions.
The teacher question the students throughout the lesson. The teacher will also collect the
students' completed worksheets and see if they provided appropriate answers to the
questions. If the student correctly/appropriately answered three out of four questions
that would be considered meeting the objective. If the student answered less than three
questions that would be considered not meeting the objective. Those who do not meet
the objective would need another opportunity to listen to one more book to compare that
book to the second book. Then they will answer the same questions to see if they meet
the objective.
When students finish have them bring you their papers to the front of the
class and return back to the seats and read quietly to themselves until

everyone has finished. Once everyone has finished ask the students
questions about the books and the character traits they saw. What traits can
they relate to and what book they liked better and why (allow time for
discussion!!!).
The teacher will adjust next day's lesson as needed based on students not meeting the
8. Assessment Results of
objective for the day. The teacher will also correct responses from the printed questions
all objectives/skills:
on day two.
Targeted Students Modifications/Accommodations:
Student/Small Group Modifications/Accommodations:
One student will need to have the questions read
Those who need extra practice with character traits I will have
aloud to them. If there are any other students who
a one on one session with the group and review the lesson and
need any type of modification or accommodation will
ask them questions during the review and check for
be given a different worksheet containing different
understanding. I will also allow them to ask any sort of
questions or do something verbal with the teacher or
questions they might have.
the TA.
Materials/Technology:
Worksheets, pencils, character notebooks, and two Miss Nelson books.
References:
Reflection on lesson:
I'm not going to lie I was a little nervous at first before my two weeks began. I didn't know where to begin with trying to
write a lesson plan for students I had never met. When I asked the teacher what they were going to be working on and
she told me character comparisons I felt more comfortable with writing the lesson! I asked if I could use two books from
the Miss Nelson series & she said yes and gave me a stack of them and I read through them carefully and formulated
questions!
My reading lesson went very well. The students listened very closely to both books. I talked to them about the character
comparisons they had done previously. They all were engaged during the review and answering questions by raising
their hands. I stopped at many places to clarify or define some vocabulary words. If I could have done something
differently it would have been to do more of the think aloud. So they could have seen how I think to myself when I read
on my own. I gave them questions regarding the character and they all did very well. The majority of them received full
credit for all 4 problems. There was one student who I had to sit with and read the questions out to him. The teacher

told me that if he had tried to answer the questions on his own he more than likely wouldn't have gotten through the
first question. That student ended up answering all 4 questions correctly. That felt like such a reward!!!