Our students write in their journals every day for ten minutes.  The students are required to write at least five sentences, which is the equivalent of one paragraph.  The students are expected to use Standard English conventions in each entry of their journal.  The student’s journals are graded at the end of each week based on their ability to write grammatically correct sentences and express the topic in five sentences.  Points are taken off for run-on sentences, sentence fragments, capitalization errors, spelling errors, and incorrect use of punctuation.  The students are returned their journals so they may see where the errors in their writing occurred.

Our students participate in a read aloud activity with Winn-Dixie every Friday.  Students were asked to read as a class aloud with each student taking turns for two chapters.  Some Friday’s students read in small groups of 3 or 4 with each student taking a turn to read.  When the students read in smaller groups, they had longer segments to read.  Questions were assigned after every three chapters for each student to do on their own to ensure that the students were comprehending the information clearly.  The students are given a final Winn-Dixie test at the completion of the novel demonstrating their reading comprehension skills.

Four days out of the week our students are given twenty minutes to read two chapters in Because of Winn-Dixie silently.  The students are asked to complete questions in their Winn-Dixie packets after silent reading in order to ensure that the students are comprehending the material.  At the end of the class period, we leave ten minutes for a question and answering session with the students.  We ask our students questions about the chapters they have just read.  We also leave the floor open for any questions that the students may want to ask of the class.  The students are given a final Winn-Dixie test at the completion of the novel demonstrating their reading comprehension skills.

Every week (except for the shortened weeks) our students were given a list of spelling words that related to the themes and important aspects of Because of Winn-Dixie. Strategies such as a Knowledge Rating Sheet were used, as well as, the establishment of the role of Word Wizard in the Literature Circles.  On Monday, our students were given the definitions of each word.  The students were required to write down the definition of each word to help them memorize the list.  We went through the list of definitions of each word clarifying word meanings by providing the students examples of each definition.  The spelling words were also used in a sentence exhibiting the definition of the word for the students in a different form.  The students are given a spelling test at the end of the week that includes the identification of the definition of each spelling word. 

Our students participated in Literature Circles in the third week of our unit plan.  The students were each assigned a specific role: Passage Picker, Word Wizard, Discussion Director, and Character Sketcher.  The Character Sketcher specifically used the reading strategy Open Mind in order to promote his or her discussion.  Each member of the group had an assigned day in which that member would explain their completed tasks to the rest of the group.  Students were encouraged on their day to present to engage their other group members in a discussion about Because of Winn-Dixie based on their findings.  After the group member presented, the group worked together to discuss what conclusions can be made based on the presentation about the novel.  The students are assessed in the form of a group grade and an individual grade. 

Throughout the unit, students are asked to respond orally to the book Because of Winn-Dixie through the use of many strategies.  The Literature Circles in week three of the unit allow for oral discussion of the novel which is excited by a different group member each day.  Once a group member starts a discussion, the rest of the group continues the discussion for the time allotted for the Literature Circles in that period.  Student discussion is also encouraged after the students read for the day.  Discussion usually takes place at the end of the period.  The students are assessed in the form of a participation grade, which includes the Literature Circles.

Everyday our students are required to actively listen to ideas and information presented by their classmates and their teachers about Winn-Dixie.  Within the Literature Circles, classroom discussions, and other activities the students are required to listen to their classmates and teachers.   The students will then formulate and analyze the information they are presented with.  The students are not allowed to speak over other students or talk out of turn.  The students are allowed to express their own opinions about Because of Winn-Dixie with the rest of the class.  The students are assessed on their ability to take information that they are presented with and formulate their own ideas.

In the very last week of our unit plan, the students are required to participate in a final writing activity.  The students will demonstrate their knowledge of the characters and themes of Winn-Dixie by adding on another chapter or changing the ending of the book.  The students are required to pay strict attention to the inclusion of setting, dialogue, developed characters, and a resolution to their chapter or new ending.  The students are given graphic organizers as a Pre-Writing activity in order to aid them in their writing.  The graphic organizers require the writing of the characters that will be used in the story, the setting, problem, and resolution.  The students will be graded at the end of the week based on their ability to incorporate these elements into their writing activity.  The students will also be graded on their ability to write in Standard English.