When You Reach Me by: Rebecca Stead

Title:  When You Reach Me 

Author:  Rebecca Stead

Award: 2010 Newbery Medal

Lexile Level: 750L

Recommended for

Ages: 8 - 12 years old

Grades: Third Grade to Seventh Grade

Summary

        The book titled When You Reach Me by: Rebecca Stead, is about a  twelve year old girl named Miranda who lives in New York City with her mother in the 1970s. This story focuses on Miranda receiving mysterious notes that she begins to receive shortly after her best friend, Sal stops talking to her and the hidden key to her home is stolen from the spot, used for emergencies. Miranda’s mother is practicing for her appearance on the game show called The $20,000 Pyramid.

        The notes from a mysterious sender urges Miranda to write down details of events that occur leading up to Sal deciding to not speak to her as well as the events that occur after. Miranda is told not to tell anyone and focuses on  these details that will help save someone.

        This book be be classified as part of the science fiction and mystery genres. The themes in this novel include time-traveling, friendship, learning independence as well as family.

Text  

•          I believe that the pace of the story is well-paced. The chapters are short, which allows readers to experience a sense of accomplishment. This novel consist of fifty-five chapters.
•          The text contains an allusion to the novel titled A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle, which is a science fantasy novel that This novel was published in 1962 and received a Newberry Medal in 1963. 

Learning Standards

—“ 3. Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story  or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character’ s thoughts, words, or actions)”

—6. Compare and contrast the point of view from which  different stories are narrated, including the difference between first- and third-person narrations.”( Reading Standards for Literature K–5: Grade 4 students)

—“3. Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text, including what happened and why, based on specific information in the text.” (Reading Standards for Informational Text K–5: Grade 4).

Learning Goals

•         Students will obtain an introduction and knowledge about the basic tenants of the Fifth Amendment and the historical significance that influence American Law as it relates to modern society and the justice system.
•          Students will identify the overall structure of a story, the difference between first- and third-person narrations. 

Learning Objective

• Students will describe the Miranda Law, relating to the Fifth Amendment in the United States Constitution, which is mentioned in the text titled When You Reach Me by: Rebecca Stead.

—         This learning objective connects to the book titled When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, when Miranda and her mother discuss  how Miranda was named.  Miranda’s mother states, “Technically? Maybe. The Miranda warnings are essential, you know. People need to know that they have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney.”(Stead 36).

         Learning Activity

—         This learning activity focuses on students learning how to understand the basics knowledge of          
         the Fifth Amendment, within the United States Constitution, through the case Miranda v.  
         Arizona (1966). Students will complete worksheets and answer teacher-initiated questions      
         regarding the law.

—         This activity connects the reading of this book into an activity that supports the Reading Standards for Informational Text K–5: Grade 4.

—        The JLG Reading Guide: Teachers Edition displays a few suggestions of activities can be utilized as part of a lesson plans. This guide states “Miranda’s mom thinks this warning is so important that she named her daughter after it. The warning is for people held by police for questioning about a crime. Its purpose is to ensure suspects know their Constitutional rights. Find out what the warning says and how it protects people. Share what you learn with your classmates”(JLG Reading Guide 8).

         By reading this novel, students were able to learn about Ulysses and his personality. The challenge to write in his perspective is a fun way of the students utilizing their creativity and what they have learned through the novel to complete this assignment. Students will present their poem to their peers.

        Learning Outcome

         —Students will be able to successfully identify the basic parts of the Fifth Amendment, within the  

         United States Constitution, through the case Miranda v. Arizona (1966).

        Selling Tool: Poster

       

        References

        —English Language Arts Standards » Reading: Literature » Grade 4. (n.d.). Retrieved September  
            14, 2017, from http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/RL/4/

        —Lexile Levels Made Easy. (n.d.). Retrieved September 15, 2017, from      http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/book-selection-tips/lexile-levels-made-easy

—        Mid-Hudson Library System --When you reach me / Rebecca Stead (n.d.). Retrieved September 17, 2017, from http://search.midhudsonlibraries.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1869363__Swhen%20you%20reach%20me__Orightresult__U__X7?lang=eng&suite=cobalt

—New York State P-12 Common Core Learning Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy. (n.d.). Retrieved September 15, 2017, from https://www.engageny.org/resource/new-york-state-p-12-common-core-learning-standards-for-english-language-arts-and-literacy

—When You Reach Me JLG Reading Guide: Teacher's Edition. (n.d.). Retrieved September 19, 2017, from https://www.juniorlibraryguild.com/images/9780982350690/StudyguideTeacher/WhenYouReachMe_TE_JLGGuide.pdf