I+Bet+I+Can

Day 1

 * "This is a story about a Bear who thinks he can do a lot of things, and he shows off about it to the other animals. Remember that good readers look through the book and think about what's happening in the pictures before they read. I want you to do that now, and I want to see you talking to yourself about each picture." Model it for them.
 * Share a few predictions. Name each animal as they preview.
 * Model how to stop and think about what happened on each page. Use an index card with a thought bubble drawn on it. Have students hold it up to their heads and think to themselves what just happened at the end of each page. Model it with the first 2 pages.
 * Review what good readers do when they get stuck on a word.
 * Send students off to read.
 * Share tricky words they got stuck on.

Day 2

 * Today, re-read and re-tell in your head. Stop and share after every 2 pages (with a partner, or with the whole group) so they can practice re-telling.
 * Talk about the ending. What is funny about the ending? What do you think the other animals thought when the bear said he could sleep all winter?
 * Comprehension questions: (Remind them that good readers go back to the book to try to find answers to questions they are asked about books.)
 * Is the story real or imaginary? How do you know?
 * Why can't the bear jump over the river?
 * Why don't the other animals believe what the bear says?
 * Do you think the bear should have tried all those things? Why or why not?

Day 3

 * Re-read for fluency.
 * Finish comprehension questions.
 * Teach the re-telling worksheet with quick sketches. Assign it for next time.
 * Reader's theater.