Feathers
by Jacqueline Woodson
Published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons

This is the story of Frannie, her family and friends. In this selection, Frannie and her best friend Samantha are expressing their reactions to the new boy in their class. Each has a very different perspective yet there’s something about Samantha that Frannie almost wants for herself.  Listen to discover what these girls think of the new boy.

1. What does “surreal” mean?
1. Why does Samantha think the new boy’s arrival is surreal?
2.  Samantha said, “We don’t know what the world looks like from inside his eyes.”
   
1. Samantha and Frannie have different perspectives on who the new boy is. Describe each girl’s perspective.
   
2. What might cause one person’s perspective to be different from another person’s?
3. What does Frannie promise to herself? Why do you think she makes these promises?
4. What does Samantha have that Frannie wants?
5. Describe Frannie’s growing pains. What does she mean that world is slipping away from her?

Played: 2109 | Download | Duration: 00:04:45

Check out these websites for more on Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson
Audio interview from Jacqueline Woodson
Video reading from Feathers

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
by E. L. Konigsburg
Published by Dell Publishing Company

This story is written by Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, herself and chronicles the grand adventure of Claudia and Jamie. Claudia decided to run away from home. In this selection we hear Claudia invite Jamie to go along with her. Listen to find out how she convinces him to come along.

1.    What is your grand adventure? Where would you go? What would you do there? Why do you want to go? Describe your plans for a grand adventure in two-three paragraphs.
2.    Have you ever made a plan to run away from home? What was your plan? Why did you want to run away? How close did you come to running away?
3.    Draw a picture of Claudia and Jamie on the bus. Listen for how they are sitting, where they are looking and what expressions are on their faces.
4.    Answer the following questions about the audio selection:
a.    Who does Claudia want?
b.    Who is one person that Claudia is running away from?
c.    Why didn’t Jamie want to talk to Claudia?
d.    What changed Jamie’s mind about running away with Claudia?
e.    What does Jamie say that he likes?
5.    Claudia corrected Jamie’s grammar. What two corrections did she make? Later, she “stifled the urge to correct his grammar, again.” What did he say that she wanted to correct?

Played: 2976 | Download | Duration: 00:03:43

More on From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler:
Mixed-Up Files on Wikipedia
Teacher CyberGuide from the San Diego Office of Education

Today’s excerpt comes from Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, published by Puffin Books. In this reading, Brian is in the middle of a very scary situation. Listen to discover how it turns out! After listening, choose two of the following activities to complete.

Think of a time when you were very scared, even terrified. Write one or two paragraphs that describe the situation and how you felt. Use many different adjectives to make your description have a lot of emotion.
Describe the first time you flew on an airplane. Where were you going? Why were you going there? How did you feel? What happened during your trip? Write two paragraphs describing this experience.
Draw an abstract picture that represents the feeling “scared.” What shapes are scary to you? What colors mean scary?
Name five things that you would want to have with you if you were lost in a deserted place. Give a reason for each item why you want to have it with you.
What is the Secret Brian remembers? How does he feel about the Secret?


Thank you for listening to The Reading Corner. For activities that accompany today’s selection from Hatchet please visit theteachingexperience.com.

Played: 2335 | Download | Duration: 00:05:32

More on Hatchet by Gary Paulsen:
Online Questions
Study Guide by BookRags.com

This is the story of Ailin, the third daughter in the Tao family. Ailin lives in China during a time of transformation. Ailin participates in this transformation by rebelling against the custom of binding the feet of young girls. After Listening, complete two of the following activities:

1. Describe each of the following people in two sentences:
1. Ailin
2. Grandmother (Aunti Tao)
3. Mrs. Liu
4. Hanwei Lui
2. What is Ailin’s reaction to public school? Why do you think she is interested in public school?
3. Mrs. Liu suggests that if Ailin’s feet were bound she would stop running around. Is Ailin’s behavior appropriate for a young girl in this Chinese culture? What is appropriate behavior?
4. Why can’t Ailin go to public school? Make a list of things that are typical things for boys and a list of typical things for girls. Do you know any girls that do things on the boys’ list? Do you know any boys that do things on the girls’ list? If so, who are they?
5. Why does Grandmother insist that the leaves for her tea be picked before dawn? How does this affect the flavor of the tea? You might need to do some research on this topic to find the answer!

Played: 2543 | Download | Duration: 00:06:07

Learn more about Ties that Bind, Ties that Break:
Lensey Namioka's Website
Teacher Resource File for Lensey Namioka
Chinese Tradition of Foot-binding

Today’s excerpt comes from The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster and published by Random House. In this reading Milo and his two friends find themselves on the island of Conclusions. Discover how they got there and what they need to do to escape. After listening, choose two of the following activities to complete.

1. Describe the attitude of the Humbug (often called “bug.”)
2. Canby
1. Name five of the things Canby says he can be.
2. Name the action (verb) that goes with each adjective:
1. tall:
2. short:
3. selfish:
4. strong:
5. weak:
3. How did they get to the Isle of Conclusions? What does it mean to jump to conclusions?
4. What do you think Canby means when he says “you can swim all day in the sea of knowledge and still come out completely dry?”
5. Think of a time when you “jumped” to a conclusion. What was the situation? What conclusion did you jump to? What was the result? What really happened? Write a paragraph describing your story.

Played: 2339 | Download | Duration: 00:06:10

Check out these cool websites about The Phantom Tollbooth:
B's Phantom Tollbooth Page: Contains teaching ideas and activities
The Phantom Tollbooth on Wikipedia: Contains background info, plot summary and characters
SparkNotes Study Guide for The Phantom Tollbooth

Today's excerpt comes from A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond and published by Dell Publishing Company. In this reading you will learn how Paddington gets his name and finds a home with the Brown family. After listening, choose two of the following activities to complete.

   1. Draw a picture of Paddington at the end of his visit to the buffet.
   2. Imagine you are Judy. Write a letter to your best friend from school telling her about your family's new house guest.
   3. Imagine a conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Brown that might happen tonight after Paddington and the children are in bed. Write the conversation in dialogue form using correct punctuation around the quotations.
   4. Write a scene where Paddington takes his first bath in a bathtub. What mischief might he get into? What could go wrong? Be as creative as you can!
   5. Answer the following questions about the reading:
         1. Who gives Paddington his name?
         2. Why is his name Paddington?
         3. Who is the family that takes Paddington into their home? What are their names?
         4. Who takes him to the buffet?
         5. What happens to Paddington at the buffet?
         6. What sort of bear is Paddington?

Played: 1998 | Download | Duration: 00:07:05