Recommended Grades: 3-5
Mrs. Spitzer is a wise teacher. She knows about gardens and she knows about children. She knows
how both will flourish if they are tended to lovingly. Using the metaphor of a garden, Pattou expertly
describes what happens when a teacher tends to her students.
Lesson Idea:
Author’s Message:
Mentor Texts: Read aloud Mrs. Spitzer’s Garden and discuss what the author is trying to tell the reader. What is her message? Use this as a ladder to more complex texts when helping students determine author’s message. Eventually, provide a book or short story for students to determine if they are able to find the author’s message independently.
*Based on an idea Franki Sibberson shared at the All Write Summer Institute*
©2012 by Dawn Little for Picture This! Teaching with Picture Books. All Amazon links are affiliate links
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July 2, 2012 at 8:16 AM
Love this book, and love this idea! Thanks for sharing it.