Guiding Comprehension

Author's Craft • Inferential

Question the Author Why do you think the author never tells us the boy's name?

Possible response: Not telling the boy's name helps the reader think the story could mean something to everyone.

Compare and Contrast

• Critical

Text to Text How is What About Me? similar to other fables or stories you have read?

Possible responses: Fables have morals, or teach a lesson. Many take place in the past. In many stories, characters learn about themselves during their journeys.

Summarize • Critical

Text to Self Reread the Grand Master's morals on p. 59. Pick one of the morals. In your own words, summarize what the moral teaches you. Then tell how the moral applies to something in your own life.

Although responses will vary, students should restate one of the morals in their own words and list events that correspond to the morals they choose.

Summarize When students finish reading the selection, provide this prompt: Imagine that a friend has asked you what What About Me? is about. In four or five sentences, provide a summary of the story. Use the story sequence chart you made to help you.

STRATEGY SELF-CHECK

Summarize

Have students identify the sequence of events in the story. Students can use this list to write a summary. Use Practice Book 3.1, p. 17.

SELF-CHECK

Students can ask themselves these questions to assess their ability to assess understanding of the selection.

Did I accurately identify the sequence of events?
Does my summary include the most important points from the article?

then… use the Reteach lesson on
p. 63b.

If… students are having difficulty identifying the sequence of events and writing a summary,

Sequence

Practice Book 3.1 p. 17

with | without Answers

"What About Me?"
by Ed Young

Student Edition
Unit 1, pp. 46–59

A fable is a story that teaches a lesson, or moral. What moral does this Selection Snapshot teach?

A young boy wanted knowledge. He asked the Wise One for it. In return, the Wise One wanted a carpet. So the boy went off to get a carpet. He asked a carpetmaker for one, but the carpetmaker needed thread. He told the boy to get him thread, and he would make a carpet. The boy went to the spinner. He told her that he needed thread for the carpetmaker. To make thread, the spinner needed plenty of goat hair. She told the boy to get her some, and she would make thread.

The boy found a man who raised goats, but he had none at the time. He told the boy to get him goats, and he would give the boy goat hair. The boy found a seller of goats, but the goats kept wandering away. The seller needed a pen to keep them from straying. He told the boy to get him a pen, and he would give the boy some goats. The boy asked for help from a carpenter, but the carpenter wanted help too. He wanted to find a wife. Then he would build a pen. The boy went in search of a wife for the carpenter. He asked a matchmaker, but she wanted knowledge in return. He explained that he too wanted knowledge. But he couldn't get it without getting all the other things first. She sent him away.

Many months later the boy was in a busy marketplace. There he saw a merchant who looked very unhappy. The sad merchant said that he had a daughter who would not get married. The boy went to see the daughter. She would not marry anyone but the carpenter she loved. She secretly loved the very carpenter who had promised to build a pen. At last, the boy had found the carpenter a wife.

After the wedding, the carpenter built the pen. The seller gave the boy goats. The man who raised goats gave the boy goat hair. The spinner gave him thread for the carpetmaker, who made a carpet. Now the boy had a carpet for the Wise One. Now he would get knowledge.

To his surprise, the Wise One said that the boy already had knowledge. It came from his experiences. The boy also received help from others because he had helped them. These were the great lessons of the Wise One.

What About Me? by Ed Young. Copyright © by Ed Young, 2002. Published by arrangement with Philomel Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. All rights reserved.



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	PRACTICE LESSON VOCABULARY As a class, complete the following sentences orally. Possible responses are given. When goats are straying, they are (moving away from where they belong). The job of a carpenter is to (make things out of wood). A merchant is a person who (sells things). BUILD CONCEPT VOCABULARY Review previous concept words with students. Ask if students have met any words today in their reading or elsewhere that they would like to add to the Concept Web.

"What About Me?"by Ed Young

"What About Me?"
by Ed Young