Text Talk Lesson For

Lauren Leslie RE 3030-414 Dr. Woody Trathen March 6th, 2006 Text Talk Lesson for Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day By Judith Viorst Scholastic Inc, 1972

Summary: Alexander wakes up one morning and everything seems to be going wrong. His day just continues to get worse as he gets ready, drives in the car, goes to school, visits the dentist, goes shoe shopping, picks up his dad from work, eats dinner and gets ready for bed. His family shows little sympathy for Alexander. He doesn’t really know how to fix his bad day so Alexander just wishes he could move to Australia and ends up taking his frustrations out on friends and family. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad for Alexander in another country but before bed, his mother tells him that “some days are just like that”…even in Australia”.

Focus: A focus for this story is that everyone everywhere around the world has a bad day every once in a while where everything seems to go wrong. It is important to recognize bad days, try and work to make your day better, and reduce stress.

Cover: Show the cover and read the title. Ask students what they think the book might be about and what the title means. Then begin to read the story.

1. How does Alexander’s day start off? Name some things that have already gone wrong. (Alexander’s day starts off horribly. He trips on a skateboard, got water on his sweater, got gum in his hair, didn’t get a toy in his cereal box) 2. Why would Alexander want to move to Australia? (He might think by moving somewhere else his days wouldn’t be so bad. He might not have these problems)

1. Why might Mrs. Dickens have liked Paul’s picture better than Alexander’s? (Alexander’s picture was an invisible castle which meant he didn’t really draw anything)

1. Why was Alexander so mean to Paul? (Paul told Alexander that he wasn’t his best friend anymore. Alexander was only his third best friend to Philip Parker and Albert Moyo) Page 11 1. What do you think will happen after lunchtime? (Alexander might get in trouble with his teacher, he might not be able to play at recess, he might miss his ride back home… etc.) 2. Do you think Alexander’s “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day” is going to continue even after he leaves school? Why? (Yes, I think his day will continue to be bad because of the title of this book and Alexander doesn’t seem to have a very good attitude. He doesn’t seem to be trying to make his day better)

1. Why didn’t anyone answer when Alexander told his brothers and mom that he was having a “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day”? (They were probably upset with him for punching Nick and getting muddy)

1. What did Alexander do in his dad’s office? (He played with his copy machine, knocked some books off his desk with his elbow, used his phone and might have called Australia)

1. What are some things that Alexander says he hates? (Lima beans, kissing, railroad- train pajamas)

1. So Alexander is about to end his day and go to bed but what do his brothers Anthony and Nick do that continues to make it a terrible day? (Nick takes back the pillow he gave Alexander and Anthony gets to sleep with the cat tonight) 2. What does Alexander’s mom tell him right before he goes to sleep? (that some days are just terrible, horrible, no good and very bad… even in Australia)

Wrap-Up Have any of you had bad days similar to Alexander’s? What did you do to try and make things better? What do you think happened to Alexander when he woke up the next morning?

Vocabulary Mistake Invisible Scolded

Mistake: In the story Alexander drops his sweater in the sink while the water was running by mistake. A mistake is a wrong action or error made by someone or something. It usually is an accident. Say the word mistake. I’m going to say a few examples. You tell me if you think it is a mistake or something that happened on purpose. If it’s a mistake say “mistake!” and if not, say “not a mistake”:

1. misspelling one letter of the word “garbage” during a spelling test (mistake!) 2. putting a frog in your little sister’s dresser drawers (not a mistake) 3. drawing with crayon all over your newly painted dining room walls (not a mistake) 4. spilling a little milk on the floor out of a cup (mistake!)

What is our word again? mistake

Invisible: In the story, Alexander draws a picture of an invisible castle. When something is invisible it means that it is impossible to see with your eyes. Say the word invisible.

I am going to list a few characteristics, words, or phrases. If you think these words could be associated with or a part of the term invisible say “invisible” and if not, say “not invisible”:

1. see through (invisible) 2. blank (invisible) 3. colorful (not invisible) 4. elaborately decorated (not invisible) 5. hidden (invisible) 6. clear (invisible)

Name our word again: invisible

Scolded: In the story, Alexander’s mom came back with the car after going to the dentist and scolded Alexander for being muddy and fighting with his brother. To be scolded means to be punished. Say the word scolded.

Choose the situation where you’re more likely to be scolded:

1. breaking your mom’s favorite dish or taking out the trash (breaking the dish) 2. getting a bad grade or washing your own dishes 3. playing with your toys or throwing all your toys across the living room (throwing your toys) 4. putting on your pajamas or tracking mud all over your house with your shoes (tracking mud)

What’s our word again? Scolded

We talked about three words: mistake, invisible, and scolded. Let’s think about them some more.

 Name a mistake you have made in school this year.  Which person is considered invisible? An imaginary friend or the person that sits next to you in class? (imaginary friend)  What have your own parents scolded you for?