Try one of these possible strategies in your instruction. Although we believe nearly any strategy can be tought with just about any book, these are a few highlights. Use them as a springboard for further instruction.
This is the story of Cinderella and her neighbor Cinder Edna. They each have to deal with a wicked stepmother and cruel stepsisters like the traditional fairy tale. The main difference between Cinderella and Cinder Edna is that Cinder Edna is resourceful and finds a way to make her life more enjoyable through her various interests. Both Cinders find themselves at the ball and losing a shoe at midnight. But will they both find their prince and end up living happily ever after?
How is the Cinderella in Cinder Edna similar and different from Cinderella in the original fairy tale?
You might choose to create a Venn diagram to compare and contrast Cinderella and Cinder Edna.
After reading the first two pages, pause to make a prediction about what will happen to both Cinders in the story.
Pause after other events (especially after the invitation to the ball is issued and Cinder Edna takes the bus) to confirm and/or revise predictions.
Model how commas, dashes, italics, quotation marks, question marks, and exclamation points signal how to change your voice, whether reading aloud or silently.
This story has some great words: lethargic, cinders, forlornly, and duets.
Demonstrate with words such as recycle, disbelief, discouraged, and preparations that have a root word and a prefix or suffix attached.
The teaching points for this lesson were written by Dena Argerson.
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