LOU GEHRIG~THE~ LUCKIEST MAN By David A. Adler. Recommended Reading for grades 4-6

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "LOU GEHRIG~THE~ LUCKIEST MAN By David A. Adler. Recommended Reading for grades 4-6"

Leo Marsh
7 years ago
Views:

1 LOU GEHRIG~THE~ LUCKIEST MAN By David A. Adler Recommended Reading for grades 4-6 DA Throughout eight years of grade school, he never missed a single day. During fourteen years as a first baseman for the New York Yankees, he didn t miss a single game. Lou Gehrig s stamina earned him the nickname Iron Horse and helped him to set what was then a world record-2,130 consecutive games. Lou considered himself a very lucky man indeed-even though on his thirty-sixth birthday he was diagnosed with a rare and deadly disease of the central nervous system. Steadfast, courageous, and modest, Lou Gehrig inspired many people. But perhaps what most deeply moved his admirers was the grace with which he faced the biggest challenge of them all.

2 Guidelines for Parents Multiple Choice Multiple-choice questions are designed to assess Common Core Reading and Language Standards. They will ask students to analyze different aspects of a given text, including central idea, style elements, character and plot development, and vocabulary. Almost all questions, including vocabulary questions, will only be answered correctly if the student comprehends and makes use of the whole passage. For multiple-choice questions, students will select the correct response from four answer choices. Short Response Short-response questions are designed to assess Common Core Reading and Language Standards. These are single questions in which students use textual evidence to support their own answer to an inferential question. These questions ask the student to make an inference (a claim, position, or conclusion) based on his or her analysis of the passage, and then provide two pieces of text based evidence to support his or her answer. The purpose of the short-response questions is to assess a student s ability to comprehend and analyze text. In responding to these questions, students will be expected to write in complete sentences. Responses should require no more than three complete sentences. Please write response with complete sentences, correct spelling and punctuation. Extended Response Extended-response questions are designed to measure a student s ability to Write from Sources. Questions that measure Writing from Sources prompt students to communicate a clear and coherent analysis of one or two texts. The comprehension and analysis required by each extended response is directly related to grade specific reading standards. Student responses are evaluated on the degree to which they meet grade-level writing and language expectations. This evaluation is made using a rubric that incorporates the demands of grade specific Common Core Writing, Reading, and Language standards. The integrated nature of the Common Core Learning Standards for ELA and Literacy require that students are evaluated across the strands (Reading, Writing and Language) with longer piece of writing such as those prompted by the extended-response questions. Please remember to write complete sentences, correct spelling, punctuation, opening paragraph, answer question with details from text and closing paragraph.

3 Name Grade Read the following text. Then answer questions 1 4. Christina Gehrig had great hopes for her son Lou. She dreamed that he would attend college and become an accountant or an engineer. She insisted that he study hard. Through eight 3 years of grade school, Lou didn t miss a single day. Lou s mother thought games and sports were a waste of time. But Lou loved sports. He got up early to play the games he loved -baseball, soccer, and football. He played until it 6 was time to go to school. In high school Lou was a star on his school s baseball team. After high school Lou Gehrig went to Columbia University. He was on the baseball team there, too, and on April 26, 1923, a scout for the New York Yankees watched him 9 play. Lou hit two long home runs in that game. Soon after that he was signed to play for the Yankees. The Yankees offered Lou a $1,500 bonus to sign plus a good salary. His family needed 12 the money. Lou quit college and joined the Yankees. Lou s mother was furious. She was convinced that he was ruining his life. On June 1, 1925, the Yankee manager sent Lou to bat for the shortstop. The next day 15 Lou played in place of first baseman Wally Pipp. Those were the first two games in what would become an amazing record: For the next fourteen years Lou Gehrig played in 2,130 consecutive Yankee games. The boy who never missed a day of grade school became a man 18 who never missed a game.

4 Multiple Choice Question 1 Which of the following best summarizes the main idea of the text? A Lou was a star baseball player. B Lou was an outstanding student. C Sports, school, and family were all important to Lou. D Lou never missed school or games. Multiple Choice Question 2 In line 12, the word furious means. A excited B confused C angry D anxious Multiple Choice Question 3 What line from the text shows that Lou was dedicated to his school work? A B C D Lou quit college and joined the Yankees. He got up early to play the games he loved -baseball, soccer, and football. Through eight years of grade school, Lou didn t miss a single day. The next day Lou played in place of first baseman Wally Pipp. Multiple Choice Question 4 In line 17, the word consecutive means. A important B unimportant C interrupted D uninterrupted Office use only 2 pt. question

5 Short Response Question 1 Then, during the 1938 baseball season-and for no apparent reason-lou Gehrig stopped hitting. One newspaper reported that Lou was swinging as hard as he could, but when he hit the ball it did not go anywhere. Lou exercised. He took extra batting practice. He even tried changing the way he stood and held his bat. He worked hard during the winter of 1938 and watched his diet. What happened to Lou during the 1938 baseball season? Use at least two details from the text to show what Lou did to try to overcome his situation. Office use only 3 pt. question Score

6 Short Response Question 2 On June 13, 1939, Lou went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, to be examined by specialists. On June 19, his thirty-sixth birthday they told Lou s wife, Eleanor, what was wrong. He was suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a deadly disease that affects the central nervous system. Lou stayed with the team, but he didn t play. He was losing weight. His hair was turning gray. He didn t have to be told he was dying. He knew it. I don t have long to go, he told a teammate. Lou loved going to the games, being in the clubhouse, and sitting with his teammates. Before each game Lou brought the Yankee lineup card to the umpire at home plate. A teammate or coach walked with him, to make sure he didn t fall. Whenever Lou came onto the field the fans stood up and cheered for brave Lou Gehrig. How did Lou Gehrig react to the news that he was dying from a deadly disease? Use two details from the text. Office use only 2 pt question Score

7 Short Response Question 3 The more than sixty thousand fans in Yankee Stadium stood to honor Lou Gehrig. His last words to them- and to the many thousands more sitting by their radios and listening- were, So I close in saying that I might have had a bad break, but I have an awful lot to live for. Thank you. Lou stepped back from the microphones and wiped his eyes. The stadium crowd let out a tremendous roar, and Babe Ruth did what many people must have wanted to do that day. He threw his arms around Lou Gehrig and gave him a great warm hug. The band played the song I Love You Truly, and the fans chanted, We love you, Lou. When Lou Gehrig left the stadium later that afternoon, he told a teammate, I m going to remember this day for a long time. Why do you think Lou Gehrig is going to remember this day for a long time? Use two details from the text to explain your answer. Office use only 2 pt. question Score

8 Extended Response Lou Gehrig believed he was the luckiest man on earth. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Use at least three details from the story to support your answer. Use one detail when Lou was a child. Use one detail when Lou played for the Yankees Use one detail from when Lou was no longer able to play baseball

9 Office use only 3 pts.

10 Score Name Grade SCORE SHEET Lou Gehrig ~The~Luckiets Man (grades 4-6) Score Multiple Choice 2pts. Short Response 1 3 pts. Short Response 2 2 pts. Short Response 3 2 pts. Extended Response 3 pts. Passing Grade pts. Your final score For Scorers Use Only Comments to Student: Thank you for participating in Mr. G s ELA Book Club. Please save these score sheets. Once you have completed three books and received three passing grades returns the sheets to my office for a free Dress Down Day

11 Tips for Parents 1. Read the entire book before filling out the form 2. Yes, you may read it to your child 3. Ask questions along the way ~ i.e. vocabulary inference, predicting what will happen next 4. When students answer your questions ask them what from the text gave them the clues to help with their answer 5. Have children do drafts on scrap paper for the written response first a. Review for spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc. b. Enhance the vocabulary words in the response i. Change ~ like to adore ii. Change ~ want to desire etc. 6. Develop vocabulary word list from the stories and use them at home whenever possible 7. Discuss what your child learned from the story not just retelling the story

PUSD High Frequency Word List

PUSD High Frequency Word List For Reading and Spelling Grades K-5 High Frequency or instant words are important because: 1. You can t read a sentence or a paragraph without knowing at least the most common.