Thank you, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco
Thank you, Mr. Falker
Written & Illustrated by Patricia Polacco
Published in 1998 by Babushka Inc.
ISBN: 0399257624
Grades: 2 - 5
Trisha is so excited to start school and to learn how to read. However, when she tries to read, she learns that it doesn’t come easy for her because the letters and words blur together. To make matters worse, her classmates make fun of her instead of helping her. Finally, in fifth grade, Trisha receives the help in reading, and the support and encouragement, that she really needs from a new teacher.
Reflection:
As teachers, we often have students who struggle in our classes - they read at a level much lower than other students, they struggle with writing or with math. It’s important that these students know not to give up and to continue to try their hardest in school. It’s also important that they know that we, their teachers, care about them as people and as students. We need to help students reach their fullest potential and in order to do so, we must believe in them. Whether you struggled in school or not, you had a teacher like Mr. Falker. My “Mr. Falker” teachers made me want to become a teacher so that I could help children love school and learning and work to their greatest potential.
Classroom Applications:
Connect: Have you ever felt out of place like Trisha? Has something ever been difficult for you? How did it make you feel? What did you do to overcome this obstacle?
Mentor Text – Autobiographies: Patricia Polacco wrote this story from an experience that she once had. As writers, students use their personal experiences all the time to create stories. Polacco’s story can serve as a mentor text and guide for student writers of all ages.
Connect:Have you ever had a teacher like Mr. Falker? What did that teacher do for you that stands out in your mind? How did he/she make you feel?
Close Reading: Students can closely read the illustrations to determine how the characters are feeling.
Follow this link to learn more about how to develop students' comprehension through text-to-self connections using Thank you, Mr. Falker: http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/digging-deeper-developing-comprehension-826.html