Home Courses Login

LESSON

The Recess Queen

By Alexis O'Neil, Illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith

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.

Book Synopsis

Mean Jean is The Recess Queen, and nobody is allowed to do anything on the playground until she does. She rules the playground until Katie Sue, a new girl, stands up to her and wins her over with kindness.

Buy on Amazon*

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.

Membership required to view this resource. Join Now or Login

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.”
Membership required to view this resource. Join Now or Login

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.

Membership required to view this resource. Join Now or Login

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

Membership required to view this resource. Join Now or Login

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?”

Membership required to view this resource. Join Now or Login

The teaching points for this lesson were written by Leanne Gahan.

Print Lesson

* This page contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a small commission.

MORE LESSONS LIKE THIS

Bookshelf

Browse over 120 titles with suggested teaching points for your next read aloud or small-group instruction.

Find a book

MORE LESSON VARIETY

All Lessons

Practical lessons to help you teach with confidence and clarity.

Go now

MORE STRATEGIES

Literacy Strategies

Effective literacy strategies paired with ready-to-use resources—everything you need in one place.

I want to see the list