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Dogs are trained from the time they are puppies.
Dogs are smart. People can train them to do many things. That means people can teach dogs to do a lot.
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Wag Your Tails for Helper Dogs
You are going to read about a boy who wants a helper dog. Here are five facts to know first.
From the September 2023 Issue
Learning Objective: Give students background knowledge about helper dogs before they read this issue's Big Read, "Will a Dog Change My Life?"
Lexiles: 370L
Guided Reading Levels: I
DRA Level: 16
Vocabulary: train
Common Core Standards
TEKS Standards
1. Dogs can help people.
2. Guide dogs help blind people.
Courtesy Guide Dogs of America & Tender Loving Canines
Some people who are blind cannot see anything. Others see shapes and colors. Guide dogs can help them. A guide dog walks with a person who is blind. The dog stops when something is in the way. It helps the person move safely.
3. Therapy dogs help in hospitals.
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Some dogs go to hospitals. They sit with people who are sick. They help them feel calm and happy.
4. Service dogs help people with disabilities.
Courtesy Canine Companions
Some people use wheelchairs. Dogs can be trained to help them.
If a person drops something, a service dog can pick it up.
5. Some people want a service dog—but they don’t have one yet.
iStockPhoto/Getty Images
Not everyone who wants a service dog has one. It can take a while to get one! Turn the page to read about a boy who thinks a service dog could change his life.
Activities
(5)
Skills Activities
Answer Key
(1)
About the Article
Implementation
Small group; whole group; independent reading
Social Studies Focus
Human and animal relationships
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Pairings and Text Connections
In this issue, these texts all go with the helper theme.
- “Wag Your Tails for Helper Dogs,” p. 4
- “Will a Dog Change My Life?,” p. 6
- “Pine School Pals: Rescuing Ribbit!,” p. 13
- “Lost in the Hallway,” p. 24
- “I Hope You Can Help Me,” p. 32
Before-Reading Resources
Text Preview Bookmarks (10 minutes)
- Kids can cut out the nonfiction bookmark and use it to preview the text.
Suggested Reading Focus
Comprehension, nonfiction text features (30 minutes)
- This article gives students background knowledge that will help them better understand this issue’s Big Read, “Will a Dog Change My Life?,” on pages 6-11.
After-Reading Skills Practice (15 minutes for each activity)
- Quiz: Comprehension check
After-Reading Text Comparisons (15 minutes for each activity)
- Two Different Texts: Use this printable to help your students compare and contrast the Big Read with the Background Builder.
- Nosey's Fact File: Students can write key details from the text on this page. Send photos of their pages, or emails of their facts, to [email protected]. She will write back!
Text-to-Speech