Developing responses to 'Front Desk' through rich discussions
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can develop my own response to 'Front Desk’.
Key learning points
- Different readers may interpret a text in different ways.
- Readers can interpret their own big idea or message from a narrative.
- Discussing books by building on others and our own views can help us to deepen our understanding of a book.
- Reading between the lines can allow readers to make connections and parallels to their own lives.
Keywords
Character traits - Character traits are the special qualities that make a character in a story unique and interesting.
Impression - An impression refers to initial feelings about a person, place or thing, gained from reading a text.
Connection - How a text relates to a reader, another text or the wider world can be called a connection.
Recommendation - A recommendation is a suggestion for a text that is well-suited to a reader’s age and their interests.
Common misconception
A favourite character is always someone who embodies positive character traits.
Favourite characters can be characters involved in key moments in the text; characters who change the most in the story; or, characters who remind readers of someone they know.
Teacher tip
Pupils must have read the text in advance of this lesson. When sharing recommendations, make connections to texts that you have read with the class and texts read independently by pupils and allow pupils to make their own peer-to-peer recommendations.
Equipment
You need a copy of the 2021 Knights Of edition of ‘Front Desk’, written by Kelly Yang, illustrated by Maike Plenzke, for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.True or false? Kelly Yang based all of 'Front Desk' on her own childhood.
Q2.Who is the main protagonist of 'Front Desk'?
Q3.What are Mia Tang's secrets that she tries to hide?
Q4.Which of the following characters are 'weeklies' who stay at Mia's family motel?
Q5.Match the following character traits to the character that shows them.
determined
rude
trustworthy
Q6.True or false? At the end of the text, Mia's family are able to purchase the motel.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions.
special qualities that make a character in a story unique
initial feelings about a person, place or thing
a text relates to a reader, another text or the wider world
Q2.Which of the following character traits are shown in the character of Mia?
Q3.Which of the following character traits are shown in the character of Lupe?
Q4.True or false? Mr. Yao and his son show the same character traits throughout the story.
Q5.A recommendation is ...
Q6.Which of the following are themes within the text 'Front Desk'?
To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Developing responses to 'Front Desk' through rich discussions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Developing responses to 'Front Desk' through rich discussions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 English lessons from the 'Front Desk': book club unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.