Houghton Mifflin Reading

Second Grade

Delights

Talent Show C Theme 6 

The Art Lesson by Tomie dePaola 

Before reading – discussion of evaluation 

The basal suggests evaluation for the Comprehension Strategy Focus. It states, "As you read about a boy who loves to draw pictures, evaluate the way the author uses words and pictures to tell the story (Page 292)" 

In the book, Guided Reading the Four Blocks Way, Evaluating and Applying are described like this: "Perhaps the most lasting traces you have of the multitude of things you have read across the years are the opinions you form and actions you take based on what you read. ... Not all your opinions or evaluations will be momentous. You also form smaller opinions as you read. ... How much you evaluate and apply of what you read depends on all kinds of factors – what you are reading, why you are reading it, the mood you are in while you are reading it, the particular life challenges and opportunities facing you at the moment you read it, etc. Evaluating and applying is a strategy your brain uses while you read to understand, enjoy, and learn (pages 46-47)." 

While it is true that we need to teach evaluation, a better tool may be an author study or connecting evaluation to the self selected reading time so the students are reading books that they are interested in. 

During reading –

Set purpose for reading – While you are reading today notice how did the other characters in the story feel about Tommy's talent for drawing. 

After reading – Discuss set purpose