Dade-Monroe Teacher Education Center

Lesson Plans

Middle School-Social Studies

Student Script
Student Teacher #5

Say: Please highlight any word or idea that you do not understand.

Read:

     People find it curious that those without homes would rather sleep sitting up on benches or huddled in doorways than go to shelters. Certainly some prefer to do so because they are emotionally ill, because they have been locked in before and they are determined not to be locked in again. Others are afraid of the violence and trouble they may find there. But some seem to want something that is not available in shelters, and they will not compromise, not for a cot, or oatmeal, or a shower with special soap that kills the bugs. "One room," a woman with a baby who was sleeping on her sister's floor once told me, "painted blue." That was the crux2 of it; not the size or location, but pride of ownership. Painted blue.

Ask: Who has Picture in Your Mind Card #5?
Please tell what you are picturing in your mind.
Ask: Who has Clarifying Questions Card #5? Please ask some clarifying questions.

Suggested Clarifying Question:

  1. What does the word "compromise" mean?
  2. What is a cot?
  3. What does "pride of ownership" mean?
Ask: Does anyone else have a clarifying question?
Ask: Who has Teacher-like Questions Card #5?
Please ask two teacher-like questions.

Suggested Teacher-like Questions:

  1. Why might some people not want to go to shelters?
  2. What happens in shelters?
  3. How do you know?
Ask: Does anyone else have a teacher-like question?
Ask: Who has Summary Card #5? Please summarize this part of the essay.

Suggested summary:

This paragraph tells why some people choose to be homeless instead of going to a shelter. It ends with an example of one woman who dreams of painting one room blue.
Ask: Why does the author keep going from general to specific? (Look back at Paragraph 3 to find the answer.)
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