Weeks 1 & 2
Read-Aloud Tips As you read, stop periodically to check for
After p. 17: How does Caitlin’s letter make Martin feel? (main idea) He is very excited to have an American pen pal and feels a connection to her because he too loves to play soccer. After p. 23: How are Caitlin and Martin’s lives alike and different? (compare and contrast) Both live with families who care about them and want them to do well. Caitlin lives a very typical American life, with her own room and just one sibling. She has to share a computer with her family. Martin and his four siblings live in half of a one-room home with his parents. They share a fire pit outside and often do not have electricity. #6: Review the Book Instruct students to work independently or with a partner or group to write about this book in the back of their Student Handbooks. #7: Do a Book Project Students may choose to work independently or with a partner or group on a project, which they’ll complete in the back of their Student Handbooks. Projects : “Explore the World” and “Introduce Yourself.” In This Book: Explain that this book is a memoir—a story of someone’s life—written by two people: Caitlin and Martin. They alternate chapters to describe how their pen pal relationship affected their lives. In this excerpt, we see them exchange their first letters.
understanding and to encourage critical thinking and reflection. Also, reinforce the vocabulary words as you come across them.
#5: Read-Aloud Instruct students: As I read, take notes about how people develop ideas about countries they haven’t been to and why Caitlin and Martin are excited to connect with each other. Language Support: This book includes the names of many places, including the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, European countries, and Zimbabwe. It may help students to identify these places on a map and practice their pronunciations, just as Caitlin learns how to pronounce Zimbabwe . You may choose to use these prompts to guide discussion: After p. 4: When Caitlin chooses a pen pal from Zimbabwe, what kind of life does she think people in Africa have? (draw conclusions) She thinks her pen pal’s life will be different from hers, but she’s not sure how. After p. 7: How does traveling to Europe change Caitlin’s ideas about being different? (identify reasons and evidence) Caitlin stopped wanting to be like everyone else and starts enjoying being different. After p. 12: What does Caitlin share about her life in her letter? (key ideas and details) Caitlin shares what her family is like, the sports she plays, and what she likes to do for fun. After p. 13: How does Martin picture the United States, and why? (identify reasons and evidence) He thinks of U.S. popular culture and identifies it with men who make a lot of money, mostly because of his exposure to the WWF.
Grade 7 I Teacher’s Guide 11
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