We Remember the Holocaust
Katie O'Malley

Reading

Teacher of the Lesson: Katie O'Malley
Lesson Topic: Reading
Grade Level: Fifth
Approximate Time: 45 to 60 minutes (Daily)

Objectives:

1. Students will review and answer chapter questions from designated chapters in The Devil's Arithmetic .
2. Students will discuss chapter questions as a whole class and in small literature circles throughout the book.
3. Students will differentiate , survey , role-play , color , compare , illustrate , design , relate , etc., all through the various activities done after each of the chapters. Some examples include Readers Theatre, illustrating scenes from the book, comparing this book with the total lit. book Number The Stars , and much more.

Materials:

• "We Remember" student notebooks, comprehension questions section
• 23 copies of the book, The Devil's Arithmetic
• "Novel Ties" (teacher resource)
• art supplies [crayons, markers, paint, paper, etc.]
• student self-evaluation sheets

Procedures:
Introduction --

1. It is important to start the novel only after a brief review of the times, historical background surrounding it. This may mean beginning the book one to two days into the unit.
2. Explain to the students that the content we learn from this reading will also be used for the culminating activity. Briefly book talk The Devil's Arithmetic and set the expectations and rules for the reading. This includes clarifying the literature circle activity and how it will run.
   Expectations:
   Students will answer all of the questions and do all of the activities assigned to them.
   Literature circles are pre-assigned and may or may not take place on any given day. The most important part of these is participation. Students will self-evaluate their level of participation at the end of the month as part of the unit.

Sequence of Instruction --

1. The class will meet for reading [typically] on a daily basis for approximately one hour. Within this time frame a variety of things may take place.
   Students may meet as a whole class or in their literature circles to discuss the questions from the previous night's reading assignment.
   Students will complete some type of activity every other day, either individually or in small groups.

Closure --

1. At the end of each class period, we will regroup (if necessary) and have some type of closure. The next assignment will be given and also due dates for the activities started or completed that day.

Evidence of Students Achieving Objectives

1. As in other written assignments for reading, student comprehension questions as well as other activities will be graded on a scale. It will take into account completion, thoroughness, effort, and creativity.
2. For the group work in the literature circles, students will self-evaluate their participation at the end of the unit. In addition to this, at the end of the book, students will self-evaluate their written work for The Devil's Arithmetic.

Adaptations of Reteaching Ideas

1. Even though the groups are pre-set, oftentimes some students do not prosper as well as had hoped when first placing them there. One adapting strategy may be to fluctuate and reorganize the groups to obtain the maximum from each student.
2. For the slower learner, the special education teacher may be on hand to help the student on an individual level with his/her comprehension questions and written activities.

Reflection

As a teacher of the intermediate grades, I feel it is important that one be a good leader of discussion. It is my goal in this series of lessons to work on my own skills as a leader of group discussion and as a monitor of small group discussion.