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