Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie by Laura Rankin Teaching Tips

Ruthie is a quiet, happy little girl that enjoys her teeny, tiny treasures. One day at school, she finds a teeny, tiny camera. Ruthie spends her recess enjoying her new find, until Martin, one of her classmates tells her that the camera is his. Ruthie panics; she loves this new camera and doesn't want to give it up, so she does the first thing that comes to her mind...she lies. She tells Martin that the camera is hers! Martin is so upset that he goes running in to tell the teacher, but Ruthie sticks to her story, that the camera is hers. As the day wears on she is finding it harder and harder to concentrate and by the time she gets home, she is feeling miserable and very unhappy. What will Ruthie do? Will she tell her parents what she did? Will she tell her teacher and Martin that she lied? Enjoy reading this story with your students and discovering if Ruthie will do the right thing.

Reading level: 2.0

Theme/subject: honesty, friendship, feelings

Genre: fiction

Suggested vocabulary/phrases: imaginable, dinky, barely there, twirling, teensy, startled, mumbled, barely

Reading skills and strategies:

• Asking questions – these are just possible questions or wondering from either the student or teacher
• Before –
• I wonder what Ruthie’s lie is.
• I wonder if she will get in trouble for lying.
• During –
• I wonder why Ruthie didn’t just give the camera back to Martin.
• I wonder what the teacher will do.
• I wonder if Ruthie will tell the truth.
• After –
• I wonder if Ruthie learned her lesson.
• I wonder if Ruthie will get her own teeny tiny camera one day.

  **Remember to have your students answer/reflect their questions.

• Author's point of view – third person (she, her)
• Author's purpose – entertain
• Evidence
• The story is a bunch of animals talking.
• When Ruthie was not feeling so good she looked so sad.
• All the characters are so cute!
• Beginning, middle, end – the most important event from each
• Beginning – Ruthie found a teeny tiny camera on the playground and told her teacher that it was hers.
• Middle – Ruthie told her mom and dad that she lied about the camera.
• End – Ruthie came to school and told Martin and her teacher the truth.
• Cause and effect 
• Why did Ruthie have small toys? Because she loved tiny things. 
• How come Ruthie couldn’t believe her luck? Because she found a teeny tiny camera. 
• Why did Ruthie race back to class? Because Martin shouted at Ruthie that the camera was his. 
• Why did Martin say the camera was his? Because he got it for his birthday. 
• Why did Mrs. Olsen keep the camera in her desk drawer? Because she was going to keep it safe until they talked about it again tomorrow. 
• Why did Ruthie’s mom ask her what was wrong? Because Ruthie didn’t eat any dinner and was ready to cry. 
• Why did Mrs. Olsen give Ruthie a hug and a kiss on the top of her head? Because Ruthie told the truth about the camera.
• Character analysis - describe Ruthie or Martin {looks like, feelings, thoughts, character, how others think/see the character}
• Character changes –
• In the beginning – Ruthie is happy and excited that she found a new camera.
• In the middle – Ruthie feels really sick because she lied about the camera.
• In the end – Ruthie is relieved and happy that Martina and Mrs. Olsen understood about her lying.
• Compare & contrast
• Ruthie and Martin
• A lie you told and the lie Ruthie told
• Connections
• Text-to-self   
• Like to collect things like Ruthie
• Like to collect teeny tiny things like Ruthie
• Telling a lie and feeling horrible afterward
• Telling a lie and then telling the truth
• Text-to-text  
• Chrysanthemum – both books the characters are afraid to go back to school.
• Wemberly Worried – both books the characters are worried about something.
• Drawing conclusions & inferencing –
• Why do you think Ruthie’s stomach started flip flopping and she wasn’t able to concentrate at school?
• Text clues – Ruthie just got done telling her teacher and Martin a lie about the camera.
• What I know – Sometimes when I tell a lie or do something wrong, I start to not feel good because I am afraid I am going to get into trouble. It is all I can think about.
• My conclusion – I think Ruthie started to not feel good because all she could think about was getting in trouble because of the lie she told.
• Why did Mrs. Olsen’s desk seem very far away when Ruthie went to school the next morning?
• Text clues – Ruthie was afraid Mrs. Olsen would be mad at her and make her sit in the corner.
• What I know – I know that when I have to do something I am nervous about, it just feels like it takes forever.
• My conclusion – I think because Ruthie was afraid of getting into trouble the walk to Mrs. Olsen’s desk just felt like it took forever.
• Fact & opinion – about or within the story
• Fact
• Ruthie loved teeny tiny things.
• Ruthie found a teeny tiny camera on the playground.
• Ruthie lied about the camera being hers.
• Ruthie told Mrs. Olsen the truth about the camera.
• Martin got the teeny tiny camera for his birthday.
• Opinion
• Ruthie was mean to Martin.
• Mrs. Olsen wasn’t fair to Martin.
• Ruthie should have gotten in trouble for lying.
• Martin should have just taken the camera out of Ruthie’s hand.
• Teeny tiny toys are the best kinds of toys.
• Main idea & details
• Main idea – the story is mostly about Ruthie having to deal with the lie she told Martin and her teacher.
• Details
• Ruthie felt couldn’t concentrate at school because of her lie.
• Ruthie couldn’t eat he dinner because of her lie.
• Ruthie was nervous about telling her teacher the truth.
• Plot - the turning point or climax in the story was when Ruthie’s mom and dad tell Ruthie that she has to tell her teacher the truth and that both Martin and Mrs. Olsen would understand that she made a mistake.
• Predict
• What do you think the story is going to be about?
• What do you think the lie is?
• What do you think Mrs. Olsen will do?
• What do you think will happen to Ruthie at home?
• What do you think Mrs. Olsen will say to Ruthie?
• What do you think Martin will say to Ruthie?
• Problem & solution
• Problem – Ruthie told a lie about the camera being hers and now she doesn’t feel good.
• Solution – Ruthie tells her mom and dad about the lie and they tell her she must tell Martina and Mrs. Olsen the truth.
• Sequencing
• Ruthie finds a teeny tiny camera on the playground.
• Martin tells Ruthie the camera is his.
• Both Ruthie and Martin tell Mrs. Olsen they got the camera for their birthday.
• Ruthie’s stomach starts to flip flop.
• Ruthie tells her mom and dad about her lie.
• Ruthie walks to Mrs. Olsen’s desk.
• Ruthie tells Mrs. Olsen the truth.
• Mrs. Olsen hugs and kisses Ruthie’s head.
• Ruthie and Martin are friends again.
• Story elements - list title, author, characters, setting, beginning, middle, end, or problem & solution.
• Strong thought – someplace in the story that the reader has a strong reaction for example an “I knew it”, or “Don’t do it” type of moment while reading.
• What would you tell Ruthie when she lies to Martin and Mrs. Olsen?
• What would you say to Ruthie as she starts her walk to Mrs. Olsen’s desk?
• Summarize
• Someone – Martin
• Wanted – wanted his camera back
• But – but Ruthie told a lie about it
• So – so Mrs. Olsen kept the camera in her desk.
• Then – Then Ruthie told her mom and dad about the lie she told and she
• Finally – finally told Mrs. Olsen and Martin the truth.
• Theme – the lesson, message or moral of the story
• It is better to tell the truth.
• Lies can make you feel terrible.
• It is a brave thing to admit your mistake.

I have updated the Reading Skills & Strategies pack. If you have already purchased it make sure to go into your purchases and re-download it.

Happy Teaching!

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Little Bunny's Sleepless Night by Carol Roth - Teaching Ideas

This book brings back so many memories from when my kids were little. We read this book countless times. And sure enough as I had this book out working on these teaching tips my youngest (who is 18) grabbed it and said..."Oh I love this book, what memories!" I just love that about picture books, they are so comforting on so many levels.

Little Bunny is tired of sleeping alone. He decides he is going to go visit his friend Squirrel and spend the night there.To Little Bunny's dismay, Squirrel starts to eat acorns just after he falls asleep. Little Bunny does not like this at all, so he leaves, but doesn't want to go home, so he goes to his friend Skunks house. Just as Little Bunny and Skunk fall asleep, Skunk gets scared and stinks up the room. Little Bunny cannot sleep with the stink so he leaves. Through the story Little Bunny continues going to different friends houses until he finally decides that home is where he needs to be. I cannot say it enough, this story is A-dorable (especially the skunk part)!!

To make it even better I have come up with the reading skills and strategies to make this a meaningful read.

Reading level: 4.2

Theme/subject: friendship

Genre: fiction

Suggested vocabulary/phrases: prickles, rumbling noise, advice

Reading skills and strategies:

• Asking questions – these are just possible questions or wondering from either the student or teacher
• Before
1. I wonder what the story is going to be about.
2. I wonder why the Little Bunny’s night is sleepless.
• During
1. I wonder whose house he is going to first.
2. I wonder whose house his is going to now.
3. I wonder where he will finally sleep.
• After
1. I wonder if he will try to spend the night at one of his friends’ house again.

  **Remember to have your students answer/reflect their questions.

• Author's point of view – Third person
• Author's purpose – Entertain
• Evidence
1. Animals don’t have bedrooms.
2. Animals don’t have sleepovers.
3. Owls don’t read books.
• Beginning, middle, end – the most important event from each
• Beginning – Little Bunny got lonely and couldn’t fall asleep.
• Middle – Little Bunny was having a hard time sleeping at his friends’ houses.
• End – Little Bunny went back home and fell right to sleep.
• Cause and effect  
1. How come the Little Bunny couldn’t fall asleep? Because sometimes he got so lonely he couldn’t.
2. Why did the Little Bunny leave Squirrel’s house? Because Squirrel started cracking acorns and making too much noise.
3. Why did Little Bunny leave Skunk’s house? Because Skunk got scared and sprayed so the room got really stinky.
4. Why did Little Bunny leave Porcupine’s house? Because Little Bunny got pricked by a quill.
5. Why did Little Bunny leave Bear’s house? Because Bear was snoring and making a loud rumbling noise.
6. Why did Little Bunny leave Owl’s house? Because he wouldn’t turn out the light.
7. Why did the Little Bunny have to drag himself home? Because he was too tired to hop.
• Character analysis - describe Little Bunny {looks like, feelings, thoughts, character, how others think/see the character}
• Character changes – In the beginning of the story Little Bunny was so lonely he couldn’t fall asleep but after trying to sleep at all his friends’ houses he was happy to be home alone in the peace and quiet.
• Classify & categorize
• Classify – Falling Asleep
1. Things that help you fall asleep
2. Things that keep you from falling asleep
• Compare & contrast
• A time you spent the night at a friend’s house with Little Bunny’s experience.
• Connections
• Text-to-self
1. Spending the night at a friend’s house.
2. Not being comfortable at friend’s houses and wanting to leave.
3. Loving your own bed.
4. Not liking to sleep with the light on.   
• Text-to-text  
1. Froggy’s Sleepover by Jonathan London – both books are about a sleepover.
• Main idea & details
• Main idea – the story is mostly about the Little Bunny trying to spend the night with a friend but ending up not being able to sleep at their houses because of all of the distractions.
• Details
1. Little Bunny’s friend Skunk made the room stinky so Little Bunny had to leave because he couldn’t sleep with the stink.
2. Little Bunny’s friend Squirrel started cracking acorns and Little Bunny had to leave because he could sleep with all the noise.
3. Little Bunny’s friend Owl wouldn’t turn his light off so Little Bunny had to leave because he couldn’t sleep with the light on.
• Plot - the turning point or climax in the story was when Owl told him that if he wanted to get some sleep he just needed to go home to his own bed.
• Predict
1. What do you think the story is going to be about?
2. What do you think Squirrel and Little Bunny will do?
3. What do you think will happen to make Little Bunny leave Skunks house?
4. What do you think will happen to make Little Bunny leave Porcupines house?
5. What do you think will happen to make Little Bunny leave Bears house?
6. What do you think will happen to make Little Bunny leave Owls house?
7. Do you think Little Bunny will ever get some sleep?
8. Do you think Little Bunny will want to sleep over at his friends’ houses anymore?
• Problem & solution
• Problem – The problem is that Little Bunny wants to spend the night at a friend’s house but he is not able to sleep because of something that happens.
• Solution – The owl finally tells Little Bunny that if he wants to sleep he should just go home to his own bed to sleep.
• Sequencing
1. Little Bunny got lonely and wanted to sleep at a friend’s house.
2. Little Bunny went to Squirrel’s house but left when Squirrel started cracking acorns.
3. Little Bunny went to Skunk’s house but left when Skunk got scared and made the room stinky.
4. Little Bunny went to Porcupine’s house but let after a quill poked Little Bunny while he was sleeping.
5. Little Bunny went to Bear’s house but left when Bear started snoring a loud rumbling sound.
6. Little Bunny went to Owls house but left when Owl wouldn’t turn out the light.
7. Little Bunny finally went home and fell asleep in his own bed.
• Story elements - list title, author, characters, setting, beginning, middle, end, or problem & solution.
• Strong thought – someplace in the story that the reader has a strong reaction for example an “I knew it”, or “Don’t do it” type of moment while reading.
• Little Bunny really wanted to spend the night at a friend’s house but he had trouble sleeping at each house.
1. What advice would you give to Little Bunny if he wanted to spend the night at Squirrel’s house again? Or Skunk? Or Porcupine? Or Bear? Or Owl?
• Summarize
• Someone – Little Bunny
• Wanted – wanted to spend the night at a friend’s house
• But – but he was having trouble sleeping there houses
• So – so Owl told him to go home and sleep in his own bed.
• Then – Then, when he did he
• Finally – finally slept well.

• Theme – the lesson, message or moral of the story
1. Sometimes the best place to be is home.
• Visualize – what do YOU picture…
• Little Bunny left his friends’ houses when he couldn’t sleep. Visualize yourself sleeping at a friend’s house and you can’t sleep.
1. What would you do if you couldn’t sleep?

Happy Reading!

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The Cow That Laid an Egg by Andy Cutbill - Teaching Ideas

Does the cow really lay an egg or was it just a practical joke? Your students will love this hilarious book!

Reading level: 2.0
Theme/subject: friendship
Genre: general fiction 

Suggested Vocabulary/phrases: down in the dumps, ordinary, hatched a cunning plan, almighty commotion, astonished, pleased as punch, crafty chickens, hatch, promptly 

Reading skills and strategies:

• Asking questions - {possible questions before} I wonder what the story is about. Can cows really lay eggs? I wonder where the egg came from. {possible questions during} I wonder how the other cows can do handstands. I wonder why the chickens want to help Marjorie. I wonder why Marjorie believes she laid an egg. I wonder why the farmer and his wife believed Marjorie laid an egg. I wonder where Marjorie is taking the egg when she wheels it around in the wheel barrow. I wonder how the cows could prove that Marjorie didn’t lay an egg. I wonder why the baby chicken said Moo. I wonder why Marjorie thinks the chicken is a cow. {possible questions after} I wonder how the other cows are going to treat Marjorie now that she thinks the chicken is her baby cow. **Remember to have your students answer/reflect their questions.
• Author's point of view – Third person. Be sure to find 3 pieces of evidence to support this. (The chickens, the other cows, them, Marjorie)
• Author's purpose – entertain {evidence} cows do not lay eggs. Chickens cannot play tricks. The illustrator drew some silly pictures.
• Beginning, middle, end - {most important event from beginning} Marjorie the cow felt very ordinary because she couldn’t do anything special. {most important event from middle} Marjorie woke one morning to find that she had laid an egg. {most important event from end} The egg hatched and out popped a chicken that MOOOed.
• Cause and effect – What caused Marjorie to feel down in the dumps? Marjorie didn’t feel special because she didn’t think she could do anything special. Why did Marjorie shriek that she laid an egg? Because the chickens hatched a cunning plan to help Marjorie feel special. Why did the other cows feel astonished? Because none of them had even laid an egg before. Why did people come from far and wide? Because they wanted to see the egg that the cow laid. Why did Marjorie now feel special? Because she had laid an egg. How come the other cows were not happy? Because they couldn’t believe that Marjorie really laid an egg. How come the cows didn’t think Marjorie laid that egg? Because they though the crafty chickens did it. How come there was tapping on the egg? because is was starting to hatch. How come the chicken that hatched said MOO? Because it was Marjorie that sat on the egg and she was the first person the baby chicken saw. Why did Marjorie think that the little chicken was a cow? Because when she hatched she said MOOO.
• Character analysis - describe Marjorie. Describe the other cows. Describe the chickens. {looks like, feelings, thoughts, character}
• Character changes – At the beginning of the story Marjorie was very sad and felt very ordinary. At the end of the story Marjorie was very happy, she felt very special; she had laid an egg and had a new chicken/cow baby to take care of and no other cow had ever done that before.
• Classify & categorize – Classify cows and chickens? Categorize what chickens do and what cows do.
• Compare & contrast – compare and contrast cows and chickens
• Connections - {possible text-to-self connections} A time when you felt ordinary. A time when someone helped you feel extra special. A time when you felt extra special.
• Drawing conclusions & inferencing – Why do you think the baby chicken said MOOO? {text clues} Marjorie sat on the egg the whole time. Marjorie was the first person the little chicken saw. {what I know} When babies are born their moms are usually the first people they see. {my conclusion} I think the little chicken said MOOO when she hatched because Marjorie was the first person she saw.
• Fact & opinion – {fact} Marjorie was a cow. Marjorie was felt very down in the dumps. The chickens hatched a plan to help Marjorie. The farmer and his wife were very proud of Marjorie. The other cows didn’t believe that Marjorie laid the egg. {opinion} The other cows were bullies. The chickens were clever. The farmer and his wife were not very smart. Marjorie was happy that she laid an egg. The other cows were jealous of Marjorie’s egg.
• Main idea & details - {main idea} The story is mostly about Marjorie finally feeling special. {details} Marjorie felt very ordinary compared to the other cows. The chickens helped Marjorie feel special by putting an egg under Marjorie as she slept. The farmer and his wife were very proud of Marjorie.
• Plot - the turning point or climax in the story was when Marjorie woke up and yelled, “I’ve laid an egg!”
• Predict – What do you think the story is going to be about? How do you think the cow laid an egg? What do you think the chickens’ cunning plan was? How do you think the other cows will react to Marjorie laying an egg? What do you think is going to hatch out of the egg? How do you think the story is going to end?
• Problem & solution - {problem} The problem in the story is that Marjorie feels very ordinary. {solution} Marjorie’s problem is solved when she woke up one morning to find that she laid an egg that was put there by the chickens.
• Sequencing – Marjorie felt like an ordinary cow. The chickens hatched a plan. Marjorie woke one morning to find she had laid an egg. The other cows were astonished. The farmer ‘s wife called the newspaper. People came from all over to see the egg. The other cows didn’t believe that Marjorie laid that egg. Everyone waited for the egg to hatch. The egg hatched. Out popped a chicken. The little chicken looked at Marjorie and said MOOO. Marjorie named the little chicken Daisy.
• Story elements - list title, author, characters, setting, beginning, middle, end, or problem & solution.
• Strong thought – Marjorie was finally happy but the other cows wouldn’t just let her be, they wanted her to prove that she laid that egg. How could the other cows have behaved instead of telling her to prove it?
• Summarize - {someone} Marjorie {wanted} wanted to feel special {but} she just felt ordinary {so} so the chickens devised a plan to help her. Marjorie woke one morning for find she laid an egg and {then} then the other cows were jealous of Marjorie. {finally} Finally Marjorie felt special.
• Theme – Friends can help you feel special. With the help of friends it is easy to feel special.
• Visualize – The chickens helped Marjorie by making it seem like she laid an egg. If you were Marjorie’s friend visualize what you would have done to help her feel special?

Here is a text-to-self connection freebie for you. Click the picture below to take you to the Freebie.

 

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Happy reading!

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