Read Aloud: In the Mail

Read Aloud:

In the Mail

By Shelia Wright

​​Standards and Indicators:

Literary

RL.MC.5.1 Ask and answer who, what, when, where, why, and how questions to demonstrate understanding of a text; use key details to make inferences and draw conclusions in texts heard or read. 

RL.MC.5.2 Make predictions using prior knowledge, pictures, illustrations, title, and information about author and illustrator.

RL.MC.7.1 Retell text, including beginning, middle, and end; use key details to determine the theme in a text heard or read. 

RL.MC.7.2 Read or listen closely to compare and contrast familiar texts and texts in author and genre studies

​

Informational

RI.MC.5.1 Ask and answer who, what, when, where, why, and how questions to demonstrate understanding of a text; use key details to make inferences and draw conclusions in texts heard or read. 

RI.MC.5.2 Make predictions using prior knowledge, pictures, illustrations, title, and information about author and illustrator.

RI.MC.7.1 Compare and contrast topics or ideas within a thematic or author study heard, read, or viewed.​

Objectives:

​​→ I can ask and answer who, what, when, where, why, and how questions to demonstrate understanding of text.

​

→ I can compare and contrast texts in a specific genre or by a specific author.​

In the Mail

In the summer, Martez takes a trip to Mexico with his Mom and Dad. He sends Kay a card with a picture of a place in Mexico on it. The card says, “Kay, I am on a trip with my mom and dad. It is fun, but I miss you. I can’t wait to get back so we can play.” Then there are some words that Kay can’t make out. “Mom!” Kay says, “Martez wrote me this card, but I think the last part of it is written in Mexican.” Kay’s mom looks at the card. She smiles. “That’s not Mexican,” she says.

“It’s Spanish. Lots of Mexicans write in Spanish.”

Compare/Contrast Fiction

“Why do they write in Spanish?” Kay asks.

“Well, you see, way back in the past, men from Spain came to Mexico. Because the men from Spain spoke and wrote Spanish, the Mexicans began to talk and write in Spanish, too. And that is why, to this day, lots of Mexicans still talk and write in Spanish.”

“But what do the words say?”

“Let me see,” says Kay’s mom. “I took a Spanish class. Martez says, ‘You are my best pal. See you soon!’”

Kay hugs the card and shouts, “Martez is the best!”

Compare/Contrast Fiction

Multiple Choice

What did Kay get from Martez?

Open Ended

Why do people from Mexico speak and write in Spanish?

Open Ended

Do you think Martez misses Kay? How do you know?

Open Ended

How does Kay feel when she gets the postcard from Martez? How do you know?