Knots in My Yo-yo String, by Jerry Spinelli: A Bookclub Packet

This 22 page packet of materials was created to use with students in grades 4-7 who are reading Knots in My Yo-yo String, The Autobiography of a Kid by Jerry Spinelli. Included is a 16 page student booklet designed for independent work to reinforce essential reading, writing, and thinking skills. An answer key is included.
The student booklet divides Knots in My Yo-yo String into five reading assignments of about 30 pages each. Each assignment has about 3 pages of activities to go with it. Strong emphasis in the booklet is given to vocabulary and summarizing. Other skills addressed in the booklet include visualizing, determining author's purpose, comprehension, using context, map skills, and use of a timeline.
In my classroom, students were responsible for completing one reading assignment with the accompanying questions/activities each week. They would be given three or four, 40 minute periods per week to complete one assignment. Typically I would be working with another book group while they were independently working on their assignment. They would then meet once a week with me (or an aide or a parent), along with the other students reading the same book (we called this a "book club" meeting) to discuss the book and the assignments. Created by Jean Martin

Knots in My Yo-yo String in a nutshell:
Written by Newbery Award-winning author, Jerry Spinelli, this book gives us a glimpse into life in Norristown, Pennsylvania during the 1940s. We learn what makes Jerry "tick" and we even see how he has drawn upon his own experiences to create the books that he has written. Spinelli clearly did not expect to be a writer when he grew up; a major league shortstop was what he dreamed of being. But his love of words becomes clear as we read about his life. This is an excellent book for students who love Spinelli's stories as well as for demonstrating how authors write best from their own experiences.

Appropriate for students in grades 4-7. Reading level approximately 5th grade.

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