When reading this story, stop frequently to check for understanding. Ask the following questions: Who did we read about? What did Mean Jean do? Why do you think Mean Jean is acting this way?”

Read a page aloud without showing the pictures and allow students to visualize what is happening. Ask students to draw what they visualized. Two parts of the story that I would use for this strategy are P. 7 and P. 11. After the students have finished show them the pictures in the book.

Read the story the whole way through without showing students the pictures. Brainstorm describing words for Katie Sue and Mean Jean. Have students draw pictures of Katie Sue and Mean Jean. Show students the pictures from the book.

This text can be used to model the difference between reading a sentence that ends in a period, question mark or exclamation point. Model to students how to use intonation when reading. 
Examples:

• P. 15 – “She figured wrong. Kate Sue talked back!” 
• P.15 – “How DID you get to be so bossy?” 
• P. 15 – “Oh! Katie Sue was one quick kid. She bolted quick as lightning.” 
• P. 18 – “Mean Jean thundered close behind.”

Several parts of this story are repeated throughout the story.

“Say What?” Mean Jean growled. “Say who?” Mean Jean howled. “Say you! Just who do you think you’re talking to?” Mean Jean always got her way.

Students can work in their fluency as they read and reread these patterns.

Possible words include: thundered, amused, bolted, gaped, stared, sassy, charged.