Middle School-Language Arts

Classroom Teacher Script

1. Give out Reciprocal Teaching Student Response Sheets.

2. Put the students in groups according to the numbers at the bottom of the cards. Give each group a Teacher/Leader Card. The Teacher/Leader will be the reader.

3. Tell the students that they will finish the story in groups. They should read the rest of the story and fill out all sections of the response sheet.

4. Remind students that they will follow the model of the lesson that they have been practicing.

     "At first," Mr. Crangle said, "the newspapers won't believe it. Even though some of it will happen right in the newspaper offices, they won't believe it. At first they won't. And then when they being to understand that it has happened to a lot of people everybody knows are evil, then they'll see the design."

     The clock said 3:59.

     "A great story," Mr. Crangle said. "A great newspaper story. And nobody will know who did it, Pet, nobody but you and me."

     The point of the big hand crept halfway past the 3:59 dot. Mr. Crangle's heart beat hard. His eyes were wide, his lips parted. He whispered, "Nobody will know."

     The tip of the big hand touched the dot at the top of the clock face. The alarm went off. Mr. Crangle felt a great surge of strength, like water bursting a dam, and a great shock, as a bolt of lightening. He closed his eyes.

     "Now!" he said softly, and slumped exhausted.

     By going to the window and looking down at the crowd in the street, he could have seen whether it had worked or not. He did not go to the window. He did not need to. He knew.

     The alarm bell ran down.

     Pet cocked her head and looked at him with an eye like polished stone.

     "Nut," she said.

     His hand, as he stretched it up, failed by a full foot and a half to reach the cage.

5. Elicit, share, and discuss group responses.

6. Ask for volunteers from the groups to help summarize the entire story on the overhead or chalkboard.

   This story about ________________ begins with ________________, discusses how ________________, and ends with ________________.

7. Do the reading comprehension quiz.