A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck

Title:  A Season of Gifts (Peck, R. (2009). A season of gifts. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.)

Author:  Richard Peck

Copyright 2009 by Richard Peck

Published by:  The Penguin Group

Reading level: ages 10 and up, Grade level equivalent:  4.3, Lexile level 690L

Suggested Delivery:  Read aloud

Uplifting, Suspenseful, Encouraging, Fascinating, Engrossing

Electronic resources to support reading:

1.      http://www.edhelper.com/books/A_Season_of_Gifts.htm

a.      This website will provide students and teacher with a word wall to focus on vocabulary words throughout the text students will encounter.  A daily reading journal specific to the text is also provided for teachers to print up to share with the students.  Students can paste this handout into their daily journals to further digest and reflect on the text.

2.       http://www.richardepeck.com/biography/

a.      This is a website for students to learn more about the author, Richard Peck, through a page dedicated to his biography.  It is important students learn about popular writers, such as Peck, an established author, playwright, and retired academic who has written many popular novels, including the 2000 Newbury medal winner A Year Down Yonder and 1998 Newbery Honor winner A Long Way From Chicago.  Students can write their own one paragraph interpretation of Pecks biography, using this website as a guide for facts and relevant information, to look at Pecks’ life and how he became such a well-known author.   

Teaching suggestions:

1.      Vocabulary:

a.      Arsenal (pg3)

b.      Parsonage (pg 7)

c.      Sieve (pg 8)

d.      Consolation (pg 13)

e.      Sentry (pg 47)

f.       Staggered (pg 132)

2.       

a.      Before reading: Students could be asked to write a short paragraph about what it would be like to move to a new town and school where they do not know anyone.  They will be asked to think about what the first day of school would be like, if they think it would be difficult or easy to make new friends, and what life would be like in a new and unfamiliar neighborhood.  This will give students insight into what it would be like for the Barnharts in A Season of Gifts prior to reading the novel.

b.      During reading:  A discussion guide could be provided to the students to complete during and post the read aloud.  A discussion guide which could be printed out in the form of a worksheet can be found on the following website:  http://www.teachervision.fen.com/tv/printables/penguin/season-of-gifts_dg.pdf  Some of these questions can be asked orally by teacher throughout the read aloud to engage student’s comprehension.  Some great questions for oral engagement throughout read aloud:

                                                                        i.     What does Bob think of Mrs. Dowdel when he first moves in next door?

                                                                       ii.     How does his opinion of her change?

                                                                      iii.     Why does Ruth Ann idolize Mrs. Dowdel?

                                                                      iv.     What does Ruth Ann learn from Mrs. Dowdel and what does Mrs. Dowdel gain from having Ruth Ann around?

                                                                       v.     How have the Barnharts changed by the end of the story as a result of their interactions with Mrs.Dowdel? (http://www.teachervision.fen.com/tv/printables/penguin/season-of-gifts_dg.pdf)

c.      After reading:  Students can create a graphic organizer to become more aware of sequence of events throughout the text.  They will be asked to outline the sequence of significant events in the order that they happen in the text. Students will be asked to look at their outline and describe which events are cause and effect relationships (i.e.: Cause:  Barnhart family moves to an unknown neighborhood and Ruth does not have any friends in town.  Effect:  Ruth Ann takes an interest in Mrs. Dowdel and spends a great deal of time with her throughout the novel.)

3.      Writing activity:

a.      Students will be given the following prompt for writing a  one page typed narrative essay: 

                                                                        i.     Who are the Cowgills, the Flukes, the Leapers, and the Burdicks? How do their interactions with the Barnharts, Mrs. Dowdel, and the rest of the town shape the story? What is Mrs. Dowdel’s relationship to the other families in the neighborhood and how does Mrs. Dowdel give them all what they deserve? Modified from:  (http://www.teachervision.fen.com/tv/printables/penguin/season-of-gifts_dg.pdf) Students can complete this essay following the outline of sequence of events activity described above, which can be used as a guide for this essay.