1
©Amanda Garcia 2014
dear
M R.
henshaw
novel study
Listed below are the responses included in this unit. There are reading
responses for every chapter. The reading strategy pages can be used
throughout the book.
2
©Amanda Garcia 2014
PA G E
4
A Note to the Teacher
5
Common Core Alignment
6
Novel Packet Cover Page
7
My Predictions (Strategy Chart)
8
My Questions (Strategy Chart)
9
My Connections (Strategy Chart)
10-11
May 12
-Sept 20
12-13
Nov 15
-Nov 24
14-16
Nov 26
-Dec 21
17-18
Dec 22
-Jan 9
19
Jan 12
-Jan 19
20-21
Jan 20
-Fe b 4
22
-
23
Fe b 5
-Fe b 9
CONTENTS
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
Listed below are the responses included in this unit. There are reading
responses for every chapter. The reading strategy pages can be used
throughout the book.
3
©Amanda Garcia 2014
PA G E
24
Fe b 15
-Mar 5
25
-
26
Mar 16
-Mar 26
27
March 30
28
March 31
29-32
End of Book
33
Interactive Page: Character Study
34
Interactive Page: Summarizing
35
Interactive Page: Author’s Message
36-61
Answer Keys
62
Credits and Terms of Use
CONTENTS
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
4
©Amanda Garcia 2014
A Note to the Teacher
Thank you for your purchase of this
Dear Mr. Henshaw
unit! It is
intended to guide your students through each chapter clearly, and
challenge them to think deeply as they read.
Inside, you will find:
• A complete Common Core alignment guide for each chapter
• Strategy pages to be used throughout the story for: Making
Predictions, Asking Questions, and Making Connections
• Reading responses for every chapter that vary in question style
and targeted reading skills
• A Novel Packet Cover Page
• Bonus Interactive pages to be used at any time during the novel
study; students can write a Chapter Summary, determine the
Author’s Message, and complete Character Studies about two
important characters
These pages can be easily adapted for use in your Reader’s
Workshop, completed independently, in small groups, and in
literature circles.
Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or comments!
garciaresources@icloud.com Amanda Garcia
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
3
rd
GRADE 4
th
GRADE 5
th
GRADE
May 12
-Sept 20
R.L. 3.1 R.L. 4.1 R.L. 5.1
Nov 15
-Nov 24
R.L. 3.1
R.L. 3.3
R.L. 3.6
R.L. 4.1
R.L. 4.3
R.L. 5.1
R.L. 5.3
R.L. 5.6
Nov 26
-Dec 21
R.L. 3.1
R.L. 3.3
R.L. 3.6
R.L. 4.1
R.L. 4.3
R.L. 5.1
R.L. 5.6
Dec 22
-Jan 9
R.L. 3.1
R.L. 3.4
R.L. 4.1
R.L. 4.4
R.L. 5.1
R.L. 5.4
Jan 12
-Jan 19
R.L. 3.1
R.L. 3.3
R.L. 4.1
R.L. 4.3
R.L. 5.1
Jan 20
-Fe b 4
R.L. 3.1
R.L. 3.4
R.L. 4.1
R.L. 4.4
R.L. 5.1
R.L. 5.4
Fe b 5
-Fe b 9
R.L. 3.1
R.L. 3.2
R.L. 3.3
R.L. 4.1
R.L. 4.2
R.L. 4.3
R.L. 5.1
R.L. 5.2
Fe b 15
-Mar 15
R.L. 3.1
R.L. 3.2
R.L. 4.1
R.L. 4.2
R.L. 5.1
R.L. 5.2
Mar 16
-Mar 26
R.L. 3.1
R.L. 3.3
R.L. 3.5
R.L. 3.6
R.L. 4.1
R.L. 4.3
R.L. 5.1
R.L. 5.5
March 30
R.L. 3.1
R.L. 3.3
R.L. 4.1
R.L. 4.3
R.L. 5.1
March 31
R.L. 3.1
R.L. 3.2
R.L. 3.4
R.L. 4.1
R.L. 4.2
R.L. 4.4
R.L. 5.1
R.L. 5.2
R.L. 5.4
5
©Amanda Garcia 2014
COMMON CORE
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
©2017 Amanda Garcia
NAME: ___________
DEAR
MR. HENSHAW
preview
Name: ___________________
Readers predict by using what they know about the story to make a guess
about what may happen next. Often, our background knowledge helps us
to predict, as well! As you read, write your predictions in this chart.
7
©Amanda Garcia 2014
page #
MY PREDICTIONS
(I think _____ will happen because ____)
PREDICTING
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
preview
8
©Amanda Garcia 2014
QUESTIONING
page #
MY QUESTIONS
ANSWERS
Name: ___________________
Asking questions focuses readers, so that we are reading to find answers.
Write down any questions you have while reading. Later, write down any
answers you find!
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
preview
9
©Amanda Garcia 2014
CONNECTING
page #
T-
S, T-T, T-
W
Name: ___________________
Making connections helps us better understand the story. We can relate to
the characters, know what is happening on a deeper level, and possibly feel
the way the character feels. Record your connections as you read. Note
whether they are Text-to-Self (T-S), Text-to-Text (T-T), or Text-to-World (T-W).
DEAR MR. HENSHAW
preview
1. There are two misspelled words in the letter below. Find and correct
them. Put a line through each mistake, and write the word correctly
above the misspelled word.
2. What is Mr. Henshaw’s career?
a) teacher
b) author
c) dog walker
10
©Amanda Garcia 2014
Name: ______________
Di rections: Answer each question in complete sentences. Look back in the
story to provide evidence for your thinking.
May 12-Sept. 20
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
Dear Mr. Henshaw,
My teacher read your book about
the dog to our class. It was funny. We
licked it.
You r freind,
Leigh Botts (boy)
May 12
preview
3. Explain the rule that Leigh’s teacher shows him about the word friend.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
4. Now, explain a special rule about a word you know!
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
5. In what grade did Leigh Botts begin writing to Mr. Henshaw?
a) kindergarten
b) first grade
c) second grade
6. Name the 2 books by Mr. Henshaw that Leigh Botts read. Give at least
one detail about each book.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
11
©Amanda Garcia 2014
Name: ______________
Di rections: Answer each question in complete sentences. Look back in the
story to provide evidence for your thinking.
May 12-Sept. 20
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
preview
1. How does Leigh’s attitude toward Mr. Henshaw change from the
beginning of the book to November 24? Why does his attitude change?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
2. Reread Leigh’s answer to the question, “Who are you?” Give 3 details
about Leigh.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
3. Why did Leigh’s classmates call him Leigh the Flea?
a) He was always bugging them.
b) Leigh liked bugs in second grade.
c) Leigh was small in first and second grades.
12
©Amanda Garcia 2014
Name: ______________
Di rections: Answer each question in complete sentences. Look back in the
story to provide evidence for your thinking.
Nov. 15-Nov. 24
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
preview
4. Reread Leigh’s answer to the question, “What is your family like?” Give 3
details about Leigh’s family.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
5. Make a connection on your Connection Chart. How is Leigh’s family
similar to OR different from your own family?
6. Good readers visualize as they read. They make a picture in their mind of
what is happening in the text. Draw a visualization you had while
reading.
13
©Amanda Garcia 2014
Name: ______________
Di rections: Answer each question in complete sentences. Look back in the
story to provide evidence for your thinking.
Nov. 15-Nov. 24
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
preview
1. Complete the Cause and Effect Chart for Leigh’s letters dated
November 26-December 4. Two examples of cause and effect are
provided for you.
14
©Amanda Garcia 2014
Name: ______________
Di rections: Answer each question in complete sentences. Look back in the
story to provide evidence for your thinking.
Nov. 26-Dec. 21
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
CAUSE EFFECT
The sun comes out from behind
the clouds.
I take off my jacket.
I have been using flashcards to
study multiplication.
I passed my multiplication qui z!
The TV is broken and Leigh
can’t watch “Highway
Patrol.”
Leigh no longer has a pet.
Leigh sometimes has to hide
in the shrubbery so Mr.
Fridley doesn’t see hi m.
preview
2. Support the following statement with 2 details from the story.
Mr. Fridley is a nice man.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
3. What bothers Leigh? Give 3 details from the story in your answer.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
4. Make a connection on your Connection Chart. What bothers you?
15
©Amanda Garcia 2014
Name: ______________
Di rections: Answer each question in complete sentences. Look back in the
story to provide evidence for your thinking.
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
Nov. 26-Dec. 21
preview
5. Choose the word that you think best describes Leigh’s mom. Support
your choice with 2 details from the text.
frustrated unfair caring
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
6. Pretend YOU are Leigh. Write a letter to your dad explaining how you feel
about him and what you want from him. Look back in the story to get
ideas about what Leigh may say to his dad.
16
©Amanda Garcia 2014
Name: ______________
Di rections: Answer each question in complete sentences. Look back in the
story to provide evidence for your thinking.
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
Nov. 26-Dec. 21
preview
1. What problem keeps happening to Leigh at school?
a) Kids are making fun of Leigh for being small.
b) Food is being stolen out of Leigh’s lunchbox.
c) Leigh keeps accidentally throwing away his retainer.
2. What 2 ideas does Leigh try in order to fix the problem?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
3. Compare and contrast this Christmas and last Christmas. What is similar
and what is different?
17
©Amanda Garcia 2014
Name: ______________
Di rections: Answer each question in complete sentences. Look back in the
story to provide evidence for your thinking.
Dec. 22-Jan. 9
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
LAST Christmas THIS Christmas
BOTH
preview
4. Make an inference: What might Leigh’s mom mean when she says that
Leigh’s dad was “in love with a truck?”
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
5. Good readers visualize as they read. They make a picture in their mind of
what is happening in the text. Draw a visualization you had while
reading.
18
©Amanda Garcia 2014
Name: ______________
Di rections: Answer each question in complete sentences. Look back in the
story to provide evidence for your thinking.
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
Dec. 22-Jan. 9
preview
CHARACTER TRAIT MAP
19
©Amanda Garcia 2014
Name: ______________
Di rections: Read Leigh’s letters from January 12 to January 19. Complete the
Character Map for
Leigh
.
a) OVALS - Think about
Leigh’s
attitudes and choices in the story so far. Write
one character trait that describes
Leigh
in each of the ovals.
b) RECTANGLES – Write a
text detail
in each rectangle that supports the
character traits you chose.
Leigh
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
Jan. 12-Jan. 19
preview
1. In the January 30 diary entry, Leigh writes, “If Dad loves all those things so
much, why can’t he love me?”
Do you think Leigh’s dad loves him? Support your answer with details from
the story and any of your own background knowledge.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
2. On January 31, Leigh writes, ”I am full of wrath.”
Reread the letter and use context clues to determine the meaning of the
word wrath.
a) sadness
b) confusion
c) anger
3. Near the end of the phone call with his dad, Leigh feels like his insides are
falling out. Explain what Leigh means.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
20
©Amanda Garcia 2014
Name: ______________
Di rections: Answer each question in complete sentences. Look back in the
story to provide evidence for your thinking.
Jan. 20-Fe b. 4
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
preview
4. Support the following statement with at least 3 details from the story.
Leigh is disappointed in his dad.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
5. Good readers visualize as they read. They make a picture in their mind of
what is happening in the text. Draw a visualization you had while
reading.
21
©Amanda Garcia 2014
Name: ______________
Di rections: Answer each question in complete sentences. Look back in the
story to provide evidence for your thinking.
Jan. 20-Fe b. 4
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
preview
CHARACTER TRAIT MAP
22
©Amanda Garcia 2014
Name: ______________
Di rections: Read Leigh’s letters from February 5 to February 9. Complete the
Character Map for
Leigh’s mom
.
a) OVALS - Think about the attitudes and choices of
Leigh’s mom.
Write one
character trait that describes
his mom
in each of the ovals.
b) RECTANGLES – Write a
text detail
in each rectangle that supports the
character traits you chose.
Leigh’s
mom
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
Fe b. 5-Fe b. 9
preview
2. How does Mr. Fridley show that he cares about Leigh? Use 2 details from
the story in your answer.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
3. Write a short summary of what happened on Friday, February 9.
23
©Amanda Garcia 2014
Name: ______________
Di rections: Answer each question in complete sentences. Look back in the
story to provide evidence for your thinking.
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
Fe b. 5-Fe b. 9
Fi rst,
Next,
Then,
After
that,
Fi nall y,
preview
24
©Amanda Garcia 2014
Name: ______________
Di rections: Number the following story events into the correct order.
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
Fe b. 15-Mar. 15
#
STORY EVENT
Leigh’s mom helps him build a sandwich
shelf in his lunchbox.
Several other kids start bringing lunchboxes
with alarms to school! Leigh feels like some
sort of hero.
Leigh takes his $20 and lunchbox to the
hardware store.
Leigh waits for someone to steal something
out of his lunch, but no one does.
A nice, old gentleman helps Leigh find what
he needs to build a lunchbox alarm.
Leigh sets off the alarm at lunchtime. It
works!
preview
1. Support the following statement with details from the story.
Leigh’s phone call with his dad did not go well.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
2. Use what you know about writing, about Leigh, and about family. Why
do you think Leigh chose to write a story about riding with his dad for the
Young Writer’s Yearbook?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
25
©Amanda Garcia 2014
Name: ______________
Di rections: Answer each question in complete sentences. Look back in the
story to provide evidence for your thinking.
Mar. 16-Mar. 26
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
preview
3. Explain what we know about Barry. Use at least 3 details from the story in
your answer.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
4. What does Leigh’s story win?
a) first place
b) second place
c) fourth place
d) honorable mention
5. Make a connection on your Connection Chart. Describe a time that you
wanted to win or earn something and it didn’t happen. Did you try
again, try something new....? Write about it.
26
©Amanda Garcia 2014
Name: ______________
Di rections: Answer each question in complete sentences. Look back in the
story to provide evidence for your thinking.
Mar. 16-Mar. 26
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
preview
Cut flaps
Glue down the rectangular strip only
Character: ______________
Character: ______________
Name: ______________
Di rections: Cut out and glue into your interactive notebook. Think about 2
important characters in the story. Draw each character on the outside of the
flaps.
Inside the flaps
, write one adjective to describe each character. Then
give text evidence to support this adjective. (Ex:
Leigh is disappointed. Leigh
is disappointed because...)
33
©Amanda Garcia 2014
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
Character Study
preview
Cut flaps
Fi rst
Next
Then
After that
In the end
Name: ______________
Di rections: Cut out and glue into your interactive notebook. Li ft the flaps, and
write a chapter summary. Include the most important events from the
beginning, middle, and end of the chapter. Be sure to write the most
important characters’ names and include information about the setting!
Glue down the rectangular strip only
DEAR MR. HENSHAW CH. __
34
©Amanda Garcia 2014
DEAR MR. HENSHAW
Summarizing
preview
Glue down the rectangular strip only
AUTHOR’S MESSAGE
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
Name: ______________
Di rections: Cut out and glue into your interactive notebook. When authors
write a story, they often have a message, or lesson, for their readers. What
might the author’s message be in
Dear Mr. Henshaw
? Write about it below.
Then, li ft the flap and tell how this message applies to
your
li fe.
35
©Amanda Garcia 2014
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
Author’s Message
preview
1. There are two misspelled words in the letter below. Find and correct
them. Put a line through each mistake, and write the word correctly
above the misspelled word.
2. What is Mr. Henshaw’s career?
a) teacher
b) author
c) dog walker
36
©Amanda Garcia 2014
Name: ______________
Di rections: Answer each question in complete sentences. Look back in the
story to provide evidence for your thinking.
May 12-Sept. 20
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
Dear Mr. Henshaw,
My teacher read your book about
the dog to our class. It was funny. We
licked liked it.
You r freind friend,
Leigh Botts (boy)
May 12
preview
3. Explain the rule that Leigh’s teacher shows him about the word friend.
The i goes before the e, so at the end with will spell friend.
4. Now, explain a special rule about a word you know!
Answers will vary. Example answer: I can remember that principal is spelled
with an –al at the end (not an –el) because a principal is your pal.
5. In what grade did Leigh Botts begin writing to Mr. Henshaw?
a) kindergarten
b) first grade
c) second grade
6. Name the 2 books by Mr. Henshaw that Leigh Botts read. Give at least
one detail about each book.
He read Ways to Amuse a Dog and Moose on Toast. Ways to Amuse a Dog
is a thick book with chapters. There’s a boy in the story named Joe who
needs 7 ways to amuse his dog. Joe’s dad doesn’t get mad when his dog
howls to music, and Joe taught his dog how to slide down the slide. In
Moose on Toast, there are 1000 pounds of moose in the freezer so they eat
moose burgers, moose stew, moose meat loaf, moose mincemeat pie, and
creamed chipped moose on toast. The boy’s father shot the moose in
Alaska.
37
©Amanda Garcia 2014
Name: ______________
Di rections: Answer each question in complete sentences. Look back in the
story to provide evidence for your thinking.
May 12-Sept. 20
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
preview
1. How does Leigh’s attitude toward Mr. Henshaw change from the
beginning of the book to November 24? Why does his attitude change?
First, he likes Mr. Henshaw. Leigh enjoys his books and wants to learn more
about him, so he writes a letter with 10 questions. Leigh’s attitude changes
because Mr. Henshaw’s answers are silly. Mr. Henshaw writes back, asking
Leigh to answer 10 questions and no other author does that. Leigh doesn’t
want extra work, so he’s upset.
2. Reread Leigh’s answer to the question, “Who are you?” Give 3 details
about Leigh.
He writes that he is Leigh Marcus Botts. He doesn’t like his name because it
can be either a girl or boy name, and people don’t always know how to
pronounce it. His dad is Bill, his mom is Bonnie, and he is not Gifted or
Talented, but not stupid.
3. Why did Leigh’s classmates call him Leigh the Flea?
a) He was always bugging them.
b) Leigh liked bugs in second grade.
c) Leigh was small in first and second grades.
38
©Amanda Garcia 2014
Name: ______________
Di rections: Answer each question in complete sentences. Look back in the
story to provide evidence for your thinking.
Nov. 15-Nov. 24
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
preview
4. Reread Leigh’s answer to the question, “What is your family like?” Give 3
details about Leigh’s family.
Dad and Bandit went away and his dad drives a big truck. Leigh writes that
the truck is why his parents divorced. His dad bought the big rig and
couldn’t make the mobile home payments. His mom works for Catering by
Katy, takes community college courses at night to be a nurse, and she is
almost always home when Leigh gets home from school.
5. Make a connection on your Connection Chart. How is Leigh’s family
similar to OR different from your own family? Connections will vary.
6. Good readers visualize as they read. They make a picture in their mind of
what is happening in the text. Draw a visualization you had while
reading.
39
©Amanda Garcia 2014
Name: ______________
Di rections: Answer each question in complete sentences. Look back in the
story to provide evidence for your thinking.
Nov. 15-Nov. 24
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
Visualizations will vary.
preview
1. Complete the Cause and Effect Chart for Leigh’s letters dated
November 26-December 4. Two examples of cause and effect are
provided for you.
40
©Amanda Garcia 2014
Name: ______________
Di rections: Answer each question in complete sentences. Look back in the
story to provide evidence for your thinking.
Nov. 26-Dec. 21
DEAR M R. HENSHAW
CAUSE EFFECT
The sun comes out from behind
the clouds.
I take off my jacket.
I have been using flashcards to
study multiplication.
I passed my multiplication qui z!
The TV is broken and Leigh
can’t watch “Highway Patrol.”
Leigh continues answering
Mr. Henshaw’s questions.
Dad took Bandit in the divorce
because Mom couldn’t work
and look after a dog.
Leigh no longer has a pet.
There’s a school rule that you
can’t be at school too early. Leigh
doesn’t like being alone in the
morning when his mom goes to
an early class, so he walks to
school early, and walks slowly.
Leigh sometimes has to hide
in the shrubbery so Mr.
Fridley doesn’t see hi m.
preview