Mr. Post’s Class SUMMARY The new school year is underway, and one class has a new teacher, Mr. Post. His experience as a summer volunteer inspires him and his students to develop a yearlong community volunteer project through which students offer their time and skills to members of the community. LESSON VOCABULARY community labor nonprofit reporter success enthusiasm mural organization sign-up volunteer INTRODUCE THE BOOK INTRODUCE THE TITLE AND AUTHOR Discuss with students the title and the author of Mr. Post’s Class. Ask them to look at the cover illustration and talk about how it might relate to the title. Ask: Who is the man in the illustration, and what is he doing? Why is his name on the chalkboard? BUILD BACKGROUND Discuss community service and volunteering. Ask: Why do people volunteer? Have you or members of your family volunteered? Have you ever been helped by volunteers? Ask students to discuss what aspects of starting a new school year are exciting and which are difficult. Ask: How can others help students who are not native English speakers? PREVIEW/USE TEXT FEATURES Have students preview the book by looking at the illustrations. Encourage students to use the illustrations to predict the story line. Point out the way in which the text on page 20 is set off with a heading and includes a photo rather than a drawing. Ask: Why might the author have done this? 12 3.1.1 REALISM AND FANTASY PRIOR KNOWLEDGE READ THE BOOK SET PURPOSE Have children set a purpose for reading Mr. Post’s Class. They might be interested in the type of teacher Mr. Post will be or what kinds of students will be in his class. After looking at the illustrations, you might guide students to set a purpose related to learning more about volunteering or how to organize a volunteer project. STRATEGY SUPPORT: PRIOR KNOWLDEGE Encourage students to discuss any prior experience in organizing an activity. Remind students that their prior knowledge will help them understand the story. T