Learning Experience/Unit
Loser by Jerry Spinelli by ECSDM
Subject
English Language Arts (2005), English Language Arts (NYS P-12 Common Core)
Grade Levels
Intermediate, 5th Grade, 6th Grade
Objective
Students will examine the point of view of the narrative voice in Loser, and will specifically focus on how the narrator's perspective affects the way the reader interprets the events and characters of the book.
Activities
Do Now: How would you feel if someone called you a loser? Would you respond to them? Would you walk away?
Introduce story: Loser by Jerry Spinelli.
Introduction: Loser is a tender story about Donald Zinkoff, a young character who demonstrates great self-acceptance and who is not afraid to fail. With the encouragement of his family, he learns to approach life with a positive spirit and to enjoy all that it has to offer. Donald faces the familiar challenges of elementary-aged children—disagreeable teachers, peer pressure, social conformity, and competition. By maintaining a strong sense of self through his experiences, Donald Zinkoff teaches us all about important and unforgettable lessons of self esteem and happiness.
About The Author:
Jerry Spinelli is the author of Maniac Magee, winner of the 1991 Newbery Medal, and Wringer, named a Newbery Honor Book in 1998. He went to Gettysburg College and Johns Hopkins University. He and his wife, Eileen, also a writer of children’s books, have seven children. Jerry Spinelli’s books are funny and true to life. Whenever students ask him where he gets his ideas, he replies, “From you. You’re the funny ones.” Spinelli enjoys writing about the adventure in the typical experiences of children and young people.
- Read between 1-3 chapters in the novel daily and discuss with class.
- Have the students keep a running chart (slide 1 on SMART Board) and fill in one for each section of reading.
- Have the students independently complete the questions following each chapter read (slides 2-4).
- Additional activities to complete during various readings include:
- Reciprocal teaching: Reading and asking partners a question of what was just read
- Dramatic reading: Acting out what was read
- Sketch to stretch: Drawing what was visualized while reading
- Text to self, world connection: Responding to what was read
- At about chapter 15, have the students play the review game (slides 5 and 6 on the SMART Board).
- After completing the story, have the students copy the review questions for Loser (slide 7) into their notebooks and discuss the answers to these questions as a class.
- Give out test for Loser following the review (slides 9-11).
Closure
This lesson will be closed on a daily basis through discussion of chapters read and questions answered.
This unit will be closed through a test.
Assessment
Students will be assessed daily through their classroom discussion of chapters read and questions answered. They will also be given a test upon completing the story.
Materials
Duration
Each class is 45-minutes; this unit will take approximately three weeks to complete.
