Day 1

Date: 11/6/17
Daily Objective:
Students will be able to describe the differences and similarities
Mini-Lesson Focus: Using terms to compare and contrast two things.
Mentor Text:
Old Yeller by Fred Gibson
Instruction:
Read examples from Old Yeller. (Introduce words that are used to compare things;
I do: Compare the two characters in old yeller using a T-chart. Show the students how I can compare two
characters and how they can be organized into a diagram.
We do: Pick out the terms or vocabulary that shows the comparisons. Have students explain the
similarities and differences they see with my example.
What words or terms can I use to show that I am comparing? (
You do: Create a venn diagram and compare the two candy bars. Work in your groups to come up with
ideas. Have at least 3 ideas for each candy bar and 3 ideas of how they are the same.
Share: Share ideas with group members.
Plan for Conferring: No individual conferring this day but I will be walking around talking to groups about
what their comparisons are and they will have to explain their ideas.
Assessment:
As a class, we will create a “master” diagram by combining all of the groups ideas into one big venn
diagram. We will pull out terms that are used in comparing and contrasting as we come up with our
diagram. Each group will share their ideas as I write them on the board for the whole class. Students will
be expected to add ideas to their diagram to use as a reference for later in the lesson.
Teaching Notes:
Will need:
Old Yeller
Markers
Computer paper
Resources:
Serravallo, Jennifer. The Writing Strategies Book: Your Everything Guide to Developing Skilled Writers
with 300 Strategies. Heinemann, 2017.

Reflection:
 Day 2
Date: 11/8/17
Daily Objective:
Students will be able to write a paragraph comparing two objects.
Mini-Lesson Focus:
Mentor Text:
Old Yeller by Fred Gibson
Instruction:
I do: Using the T-chart that I created day 1, I show the students how I can create complete sentences
comparing the two characters using the vocabulary we came up with.
We do: Students help me create a sentence that shows comparison between the two characters. We can
then underline the vocabulary and/or terms that show the comparison.
You do: Students will write a paragraph (5 sentences) comparing the two candy bars from day 1. They will
use their venn diagram they created to help them in creating complete sentences.
Share: Focus on complete sentences and terms that show comparing and contrasting.
Plan for Conferring: Alex, Christian, Kaylon, William
Assessment:
Collect students’ writing notebooks and take anecdotal notes on students’ completion of sentences and
terms comparing the two candy bars.
Teaching Notes:
Will need:
Old Yeller
Writer’s notebook
Venn diagram from the day before
Resources:
Serravallo, Jennifer. The Writing Strategies Book: Your Everything Guide to Developing Skilled Writers
with 300 Strategies. Heinemann, 2017.

Reflection:
 Day 3
Date: 11/9/17
Daily Objective:
Students will be able to write precise details and direct quotations to support their ideas.
Mini-Lesson Focus: Elaboration and direct quotes
Mentor Text:
Old Yeller by Fred Gibson
Instruction:
I do: I will give the students an example of a sentence that I created from the mentor text and show how I
can elaborate on the details. Ex: Instead of: “Travis was working hard.” Write this: “Travis was exhausted
from the backbreaking hours of chopping wood. He sayed “The sweat poured off me.”
We do: As a class, we will create a sentence with details from another example I provide. Ex: Alayna was
tired.
They do: Students will then go back to their writing comparison of the two candy bars and elaborate on
details. Using the sentences they have created, they will add details and quotations about comparing and
contrasting them.
Plan for Conferring: Meet with Paige, Karelle, Christian, Sani
Assessment:
Collect students’ notebooks and take notes on how they are adding detail and quotations to their already
formed sentences.
Teaching Notes:
Will need:
Old Yeller
Writer’s notebook
Venn diagram from the day before
Resources:
Lesson adapted from Journey’s Curriculum, Unit 2

Reflection:
 Day 4
Date: 11/10/17
Daily Objective: Students will understand the details that are part of a compare and contrast essay.

Mini-Lesson Focus: Comparing two aspects from a story

Mentor Text: The Rabbit and the Hare
Instruction:
I do: I will display an example of a prompt and venn diagram comparing too different settings.
Prompt: Create a venn diagram comparing and contrasting two parts of the mentor text we read.
I will have an example of a Venn diagram comparing two settings. This will be used to show
characteristics of each setting in the story I am using as well as how the settings are the same. I will only
put 1 for each setting and one similarity because I want to students to add to it.
Explain that using a venn diagram can help them identify the similarities and differences that they want to
include in an essay.
We do: The class will add to the venn diagram anything they noticed about the story. This way they will be
able to understand how a venn diagram can be used using an aspect from the story.
You do: Students will then create their own venn diagram and compare and contrast two aspects of Old
Yeller. Have students think of two parts of the story they would like to compare and contrast. They might
choose two settings, two characters, two events, or even the language in two passages.

Plan for Conferring: Meet with Virgilio, Reyli, Dayan

Assessment:
When meeting with students for conferring, make notes on teacher clipboard of what parts of the story
they are going to compare and contrast.
Teaching Notes:
Will need:
Mentor text
Writer’s notebook
Pencil
Resources:
Adapted from Journey’s Curriculum, Unit 2

Reflection:
 Day 5
Date: 11/13/17
Daily Objective:

Mini-Lesson Focus:
Mentor Text:

Instruction:

Plan for Conferring:

Assessment:

Teaching Notes:
Will need:

Resources:

Reflection:
 Day 6
Date: 11/14/17
Sample outline of lesson
Daily Objective:

Mini-Lesson Focus:
Mentor Text:

Instruction:

Plan for Conferring:

Assessment:

Teaching Notes:
Will need:

Resources:

Reflection:
 Day 7
Date: 11/15/17
Daily Objective:

Mini-Lesson Focus:
Mentor Text:

Instruction:

Plan for Conferring:

Assessment:

Teaching Notes:
Will need:

Resources:

Reflection:
 Day 8
Date: 11/16/17
Daily Objective:

Mini-Lesson Focus:
Mentor Text:

Instruction:

Plan for Conferring:

Assessment:

Teaching Notes:
Will need:

Resources:

Reflection:
 Day 9
Date: 11/17/17
Daily Objective:

Mini-Lesson Focus:
Mentor Text:

Instruction:

Plan for Conferring:

Assessment:

Teaching Notes:
Will need:

Resources:

Reflection:
 Day 10
Date: 11/20/17
Daily Objective:

Mini-Lesson Focus:
Mentor Text:

Instruction:

Plan for Conferring:

Assessment:

Teaching Notes:
Will need:

Resources:

Reflection: