New Neighbors


John lived in the same neighborhood for over ten years.  One day, he noticed a new sign on his neighbor’s house.  The sign said “For Sale.”  John wondered when his neighbors were moving.  He also wondered if he would like his new neighbors.*

One day, a huge van arrived in front of his neighbor’s house.  It was a moving van.  The day had finally come!  John’s neighbors were moving out.*

Only a few days later, another moving van pulled up to John’s neighbor’s house.  “This must be my new neighbor,” thought John.  He wondered what the new neighbor would be like.  Would he or she be friendly?*

Finally, John worked up the courage to walk next door.  A man and a woman answered the door.  “These must be my new neighbors,” thought John.  John shook their hands.  “Welcome to the neighborhood,” said John.  His new neighbors smiled.* 


   


 
Lesson Plan Procedures

1. Pre-Reading:  Ask student to view the title.  Are there any words (s)he does not know?  Demonstrate similarity between the words neighbors and neighborhood.  Based on the title, what might the story be about?  Next, ask student to view the pictures.  What words are on the pictures?  Do the pictures give any more clues as to what the story might be about?
	Purpose for Reading: Encourage student to see if his/her predictions about the story are correct as the story is read.

2. Read the Story (During Reading):  Have student read the story or read the story to your student.  Stop at the end of each paragraph for during reading questions and conversation, facilitating the student’s meaning-making of the content.

New Neighbors

John lived in the same neighborhood for over ten years.  One day, he noticed a new sign on his neighbor’s house.  The sign said “For Sale.”  John wondered when his neighbors were moving.  He also wondered if he would like his new neighbors.*

During Reading Questions/Conversation:  Do you remember how long John lived in the neighborhood?  Can you summarize what has happened in the story so far?  How does John seem to be feeling?  Have you ever had this happen to you (had a neighbor move away)?

One day, a huge van arrived in front of his neighbor’s house.  It was a moving van.  The day had finally come!  John’s neighbors were moving out.*

During Reading Questions/Conversation:  Were your predictions about the story true?

Only a few days later, another moving van pulled up to John’s neighbor’s house.  “This must be my new neighbor,” thought John.  He wondered what the new neighbor would be like.  Would he or she be friendly?*

During Reading Questions/Conversation:  What do you think the new neighbor will be like?  Let’s read on to find out.

Finally, John worked up the courage to walk next door.  A man and a woman answered the door.  “These must be my new neighbors,” thought John.  John shook their hands.  “Welcome to the neighborhood,” said John.  His new neighbors smiled.* 

During Reading Questions/Conversation:  Did your predictions about the new neighbors come true?

3.  After Reading:  Determine with the student which words are difficult to spell.  These words might include neighbors, neighborhood, moving, would, friendly, answered, etc.  Write them on flashcards.  Practice the words with your student.  You might have the student go back and reread the story (or reread the story to your student) for fluency once the spelling words are mastered.

4.  Writing:  Using the Language Experience Approach, write about an experience when the student has gotten new neighbors as a result of someone moving.  Use student’s written copy of LEA to teach one or two areas as mini lessons (such as capitalization, punctuation, grammar, spelling, etc.).