After reading the first page, students can predict who they think the grouchy ladybug will meet next. Because the grouchy lady bug consistently says, “You’re not big enough!” students should use that clue to predict the next animal will bebigger than the previous. After the grouchy ladybug meets each animal, students can predict what animal they think the ladybug will meet next.

After the second or third animal, students may predict what the time will be when the grouchy ladybug meets the next animal.

Students can use the clock as an anchor for memory recall to help retell the story. Students with weak memory skills may benefit from showing them two animal pictures and asking for example “Which animal did the grouchy ladybug meet next, the yellow jacket or the sparrow?”

Use a tangible clock face and move the hands according to the time in the story.

Explain how voices change when asking a question versus shouting something out and model both ways. There are many opportunities to practice the same questioning lines (Repeated questions: “Want to fight?” – every second page).

Prereading the book(skimming the pictures) for comprehension fits nicely with expanding animal vocabulary. Students could even pick one of the animals in the story to use during Daily 5 – “work on writing”, to create a mini report or presentation to the class.

Some of the animals in the story may be new to the student like aphids, fireflies, stag beetle, praying mantis, lobster, and hyena. Using a dictionary or watching a You Tube video may help with retaining these new vocabulary words.