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Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources for Out of My Mind

The cover for Out of My Mind Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources

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Use Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper to turn your read aloud or small group work into a time to improve comprehension and talk about the text in purposeful ways.

Melody is a typical fifth grader in some ways; she struggles to fit in, worries about tests and who she will sit with at lunch, and, at times, is frustrated by her parents and teachers. Melody is also unique in that she has cerebral palsy, a condition that limits her ability to control her body and communicate, but does not effect her mind. This powerful, coming-of-age story is an ideal first-person narrative to anchor this Book Club that explores the development of theme throughout the novel.

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Explore lesson plans and activities to help you teach with Out of My Mind in the drop down below.

Instructional Overview

The instructional overview includes the instructional background for determining theme, instructional objectives for each of the Book Club meetings, and a list of the materials and preparation necessary to host the Out of My Mind Book Club.

Common Core State Standards Alignment

TEKS Alignment

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Management Resources

The management resources include a Book Club Calendar, conversation prompts, Student Self-Evaluation forms, Reading Response Board (with optional Common Core alignment), and an Expectations for Book Club anchor chart.

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Meeting 1

This opening Out of My Mind Book Club meeting introduces the concept of theme using several hands-on activities. Students will practice identifying a common theme among real-world photographs and of children's picture books that they are familiar with. Priming student thinking about theme in this way prepares them to tackle the determining theme work that is associated with this Book Club.

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Meeting 2

An important skill related to determining theme is the ability to clearly and concisely summarize the text. Strong summaries contain the main points written in the reader's own words. This meeting introduces a graphic organizer for students to track possible important details as they read Out of My Mind.

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Meeting 3

Authors, like Sharon Draper, leave clues throughout the text that help guide readers in determining the theme of the piece of writing. This Out of My Mind Book Club meeting draws student attention to the theme clues that are imbedded in the characters' actions.

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Meeting 4

Mirroring the work that was completed during the last Book Club meeting, students will broaden their focus to include character thoughts and dialogue as possible clues for the theme of Sharon Draper's Out of My Mind. The role of thoughts in determining the theme of this novel is very important because the story is told from Melody's unique perspective.

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Meeting 5

Until this point, students have focused on supporting a predetermined theme using Out of My Mind. The objective for this meeting changes to have the readers identify an alternate theme for the novel. These alternate themes will be supported with evidence from the text over the course of the remaining meetings.

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Meeting 6

Students will explore how their chosen theme is support by character actions in Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper. Discussion also includes why authors use themes in their writing and what it means if they are unable to support their proposed theme with evidence from the text.

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Meeting 7

Diving deeper into their chosen themes, students will look for evidence in character thoughts and dialogue for support. This Out of My Mind Book Club meeting discussion also explores the importance of theme to the reader.

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Meeting 8

This final Out of My Mind Book Club meeting provides an opportunity for readers to showcase their learning related to determining theme. Students will discuss the ending of the story, complete a polished final version of their summary statement, and creatively express how theme was developed by Sharon Draper throughout the novel.

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Vocabulary Connections with Out of My Mind

This set of vocabulary development resources for Out of My Mind highlights the words that are most important for students to know and understand while reading the book. Through engaging in fun word games, matching words to definitions, and practicing how to categorize words, students will develop the vocabulary necessary to comprehend this story and many others.

Common Core State Standards Alignment

L.4.4a,L.4.5c,L.4.6

TEKS Alignment

4.7E,4.7F,4.3A,4.3B

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Focus Assessment and Rubric

Use this six-question assessment to determine whether or not students understand the key concepts associated with Theme.

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Comprehension Assessment with Out of My Mind

This 9 question Common Core aligned assessment can be used to determine students' overall comprehension of Out of My Mind and their mastery of the Common Core State Standards.

Common Core State Standards Alignment

TEKS Alignment

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Management Resources - Spanish

The management resources include a Book Club Calendar, conversation prompts, Student Self-Evaluation forms, Reading Response Board (with optional Common Core alignment), and an Expectations for Book Club anchor chart.

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About the Book

Title: Out of My Mind

Author: Sharon M. Draper

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Themes: Perseverance, Relationship Skills, Self Awareness, Friendship

ISBN: 9780606256728

Publisher's Summary:

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper is an inspiring novel that centers around Melody Brooks, an eleven-year-old girl diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Despite being unable to walk or speak, Melody possesses a brilliant mind and a photographic memory. Living in a world that often overlooks her abilities and focuses solely on her physical limitations, Melody must navigate daily challenges both at home and at school. Her determination to express herself and be seen for her intelligence lies at the heart of the story.

The novel invites readers into Melody's world, where she faces societal prejudices and the assumption that her disability defines her. Supported by her loving family and her neighbor Mrs. V, Melody strives to break free from the confines others place around her. Her journey takes a hopeful turn when she gains access to a communication device, allowing her to share her thoughts and feelings for the first time.

Out of My Mind explores powerful themes such as resilience, the importance of empathy, and the dangers of underestimating others. It encourages students to consider how they view and treat people with disabilities. Teachers will find this book an excellent resource for sparking classroom discussions about inclusion, diversity, self-advocacy, and the value of every individual's voice. The novel's honest portrayal of Melody's struggles and triumphs makes it a compelling and valuable addition to any classroom library.

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Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources for Out of My Mind