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| Overview |
When readers can grasp the emotions in dialogue effectively, their comprehension of other story elements increase as well. While graphic storytelling typically provides visual clues and text features that help readers identify characters’ feelings, Stinky is particularly rich with a variety of word balloons and sound effects that help guide expressive reading. |
| Subject |
English Language Arts |
| Grade Level |
1-2 |
| Suggested Time |
45 minutes |
| Objectives |
Students will improve their reading fluency by using visual clues and text features to read with greater expression. |
| Before Reading |
Briefly review or teach graphica’s text features such as word balloons, thought bubbles and sound effects. Highlight the analogous ways that prose identifies speakers and dialogue (e.g., quotation marks, the word said, etc.).
Have students share experiences of being the “new kid” or of welcoming a newcomer. Explore the feelings such situations evoke as a way of previewing the emotions of the main characters. To engage readers further, you might solicit examples of ostensibly “yucky” or “gross” things that students actually like, thus creating a connection to the characters. |
| During Reading |
On the splash page, draw attention to the way both the balloon shape and the lettering signal that a reader should “yawn” before saying the dialogue. Similarly, point out the “zzz” for snoring. As volunteers take turns reading each page or spread aloud, support their expressiveness by explaining how text features suggest volume, intonation, pitch and emotion. You may want to invite students to re-read after you’ve coached them or have other students revisit the same passage to provide their take on it. Gradually provide fewer examples and allow the students to take over. |
| After Reading |
Wrap up by having students complete the activity sheet or by assigning it as homework. If time permits, have students share their work with a partner. |
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