1. Yingtao’s New Friend Genre: Realistic Fiction
Compiled by Terry Sams, PES
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Author’s Purpose: Entertain, Express
Skill: Compare and Contrast
By: Lensey Namioka

2. Summary
    Starting a new school in the middle of the year is bad enough.  But imagine starting a new school in a new country, where it seems everything is different, and you don't know enough English to make friends.  Add to that the fact that your violin-playing is a family joke, and you have Yingtao's life.  With three strikes against him, how can Yingtao adjust to life in America. (ying dou)

3. Genre: Realistic Fiction TE 91i
In Realistic Fiction the characters speak and act like real people.
The story describes real-life problems and events.
The outcome, or problem resolution, seems to be reasonable.
Click on Genre to learn more about different genres and Realistic Fiction.

4. Comprehension Skill: Compare and Contrast
A Comparison tells how two or more things are alike.
A Contrast tells how they are different
Clue words such as like or as show comparisons
Clue words such as but or unlike show contrasts.

5. Compare and Contrast Practice TE91a
Yingtao’s Family
Matthew’s Family
How they eat
Utensils they use
What they eat

6. Vocabulary Skill: Multiple-Meaning Words
Many words have more than one meaning. To decide which meaning of a word is being used, look for clues in the surrounding sentences or paragraph.
Use context clues, experience, and word order to decide on the correct meaning of a multiple-meaning word.
Click on the title to practice this skill.

7. Comprehension Skill Review – Sequence TE 91b
Sequence is the order of the events that occur in a story.
You can determine the order of events by clue words such as first and next.
Other clue words to indicate sequence might be in the beginning, then, later, following, after, and finally.

8. Weekly Fluency Check - Read with Expression TE 91d
Students should read with attention to expression, for example, changing voices to differentiate speakers and using pauses for emphasis.
Go to pages 75-76, beginning with “After the rehearsal. . .”
Matthew and Yingtao might each be timed and excited to be making a new friend. The text on these pages gives some clues to the way the characters speak.

9. Read to Find Out: Page
What problem does Yingtao have in the orchestra?
Why doesn’t Yingtao accept the conductor’s offer to let him use the triangle?
Yingtao plays the violin poorly. How does he solve this problem?
What kind of person is Matthew?

10. Read to Find Out: Page
What does Matthew notice about Yingtao’s family that is different from his own?
Sequence – What has happened so far in the story?
Why is Eldest Brother happy with Matthew’s playing of the violin?
What does Matthew help Yingtao realize about himself?

11. Compare/Contrast
Make a Venn diagram to compare and contrast some of the Yang family’s customs with some that Matthew’s family may have had.

12. Writing Assignment Choose one of the following and write a paragraph:
Write a note that Matthew might send to Eldest Brother to thank him for the violin lesson.
Write an article for the school newspaper featuring the new family in the neighborhood, Yingtao’s family.

13. Skills Practice: Compare and Contrast More Compare and contrast
Reading Compare and contrast practice
Reading Test
Spelling Test

14. Other Good Stuff Game with words Comprehension quiz
Vocabulary on-line quiz
Play music
Scotts Foresman

15. Say It!
orchestra
measures
instruments
rehearsal
triangle

16. More Words to Know apologetically audition conductor sheepishly
tempted

17. measures
– bars of music

18. instruments
– devices for producing musical sounds

19. rehearsal
– practice to
prepare for
public performance

20. orchestra
– a group of musicians playing at a concert, opera, or play

21. triangle
– a musical instrument

22. audition
– a hearing to test ability of a performer

23. apologetically
– making an excuse; expressing
regret

24. conductor
– a person
who leads
an orchestra

25. tempted
– appealed strongly to; attracted

26. sheepishly
– in a bashful or embarrassed way

27. The band got their instruments ready to play.

28. The band got their instruments ready to play.

29. The instructor stopped me after playing only four measures.

30. The instructor stopped me after playing only four measures.

31. She missed the final rehearsal before opening night.

32. She missed the final rehearsal before opening night.

33. Melinda chose to play the triangle.

34. Melinda chose to play the triangle.

35. My dream is to play in a big city orchestra.

36. My dream is to play in a big city orchestra.

37. “I’ve never used chopsticks before,” he said sheepishly.

38. “I’ve never used chopsticks before,” he said sheepishly.

39. “I’m not used to eating someone I saw swimming just a little while ago,” he said apologetically.

40. “I’m not used to eating someone I saw swimming just a little while ago,” he said apologetically.

41. Did the conductor listen to you play at the audition?

42. Did the conductor listen to you play at the audition?

43. I felt tempted to use the fork and not the chopsticks.

44. I felt tempted to use the fork and not the chopsticks.

45. Spelling Words Short Vowels a, i, o, u
tough
couple
cousin
young
trouble
chop
closet
forgot
block
pond

46. Spelling Words Short Vowels a, i, o, u
window
quilt
build
finger
river
backpack
blanket
January
cash
band

47. This Week’s Word Wall Words
Click and type your own words for this week:

48. Let’s review our words.
Watch carefully because they will flash on the screen for just a moment. We will clap as we spell the word.

49. band

50. backpack

51. finger

52. build

53. guilt

54. January

55. blanket

56. window

57. pond

58. block

59. forgot

60. closet

61. chop

62. trouble

63. young

64. cousin

65. couple

66. tough

67. GREAT JOB!