Reader’s Workshop Mini-Lesson Template

Comprehension Strategy (Unit of Study): Inferring

Mini-Lesson Topic:Inferring Theme

Materials needed: Teammates by Peter Golenbock

Connection / Yesterday we learned about…
Today, I’m going to teach you about/how to…
Infer the themes of a story. (Explain to students that themes are the underlying ideas, morals, and lessons that give the story its texture, depth, and meaning. The themes are rarely written out in the story. The theme can often be thought of as the underlying message the author wanted us to learn from reading the story.) We infer themes. Themes often make us feel angry, sad, guilty, joyful, frightened. We are likely to feel themes in our gut.
Teach
Mentor Text:
Teammates by Peter Golenbock
Anchor chart:
Themes / Today, I’m going to show you how…
readers think deeply about stories and infer the theme or moral of the story
Using…
the book Teammatesby Peter Golenbock. (Give students some background info. about the book. ) This is the story of Jackie Robinson’s courageous journey in becoming the 1st African-American baseball player in the all-white major leagues.(Read pg. 1-5) This doesn’t seem very fair to me. The baseball players are being treated differently just because the color of their skin. I think maybe this might be a theme in this story. I’m going to write a sticky note with the theme of racial inequality. I’m also thinking that the anger those negro players were feeling might be a theme as well. I’ll create a sticky note with that also. The author didn’t tell me these words outright. I have to use what I know to infer what I think the author wants me to understand. (Create an anchor chart for Themes. Write anger and racial inequality on the chart. Read pgs. 6-8.) It seems to me that using self-control might be a theme also. The author tells us that Mr. Rickey needed someone who “would have to possess self-control not to fight back when opposing players tried to intimidate or hurt him.” (Discuss with students. Add self-control to the anchor chart. Finish reading the story.)
Active Engagement
(Turn and talk to partner,
share with group) / Now it’s your turn to try…
Turn and talk to a neighbor about what you think the big ideas are in Teammates. (Themes might include: bravery/courage, loneliness, segregation, self-determination, teamwork/working together, sadness, racism, friendship, fairness/unfairness, internal pain, taking a stand, living up to the best of your ability, violence, self-respect.)
Link / Today, I taught you how to…
infer big ideas (themes) from stories.
When you go off to read today and every time you read, you’re going to…
think deeply about the story that you are reading and infer what the author wants you to understand and learn from the story.
Independent reading time
(conferences) / Students to conference with:
Possible future teaching points:
Sharing(individual, partner, group) / Students to share:
Focus:Did anyone infer the theme of the book you are currently reading? What clues did you use to make your inference?