1 School Idol Teacher’s Notes © Clean Slate Press Ltd 2010

OverviewJosh, his brother Nathan, and their friend Zack, decide to enter the School Idol competition. Their first challenge is how to decide on the words and music for their item. Other challenges follow, and Mum comes up with surprisingly helpful suggestions.

Words to watch foragonizing applauded blast bling grimacing lyrics nudged permanent plunked ratty remarked scalp screech sniggered treble warned

Learning outcomesDuring this unit the students will:• discoverthewriter’spurpose• explorethecomprehensionstrategyof imaging• evaluatetheeffectivenessoftexttoshowhumour

Introducing the book• Askthestudentsto lookatthefrontcoverandask,What clues has the

illustrator given about the story?• Ask,What do you learn about the characters from their pictures?• Ask,What predictions can you make about the story?

Before reading• Askthestudentstodiscusswhattheyknowabouttalentquests,orTVand

School Idol competitions.• Havethestudentsreadthebackcoverblurb.Ask,How does this page help

you as a reader? What predictions might you make because of these notes?• Havethestudentsreadthecontentspage.Discuss interestingchapterheadings,

and what they might mean. • Ask,What things do you think Mum might do to be helpful?

Reading age: 8–9

SignaturesSet 2

TEACHER’S NOTES

2 School Idol Teacher’s Notes © Clean Slate Press Ltd 2010

Reading the text: Comprehension

Pages 5–7• Askthestudentstoreadthesepages.Ask,How

did the boys make up their minds to enter the School Idol competition?

• Ask,What tells you that Nathan thinks Mum won’t be useful?

Pages 8–11• Whenthestudentshavereadthesepages,say

Describe what the boys did to try to write a rap.• Ask,How does the writer show that Nathan’s

prediction about Mum on page 6 is correct?• Say,Predict what problems there might be when

the boys dye their hair.

Pages 12–15• Askthestudentstoreadthischapter.Say,

Describe what the boys looked and felt like when they had dyed their hair.

• Ask,How do you think Mum will react?

Pages 16–19• Whenthestudentshavereadthesepagesask,

What words and phrases does the author use to show Mum and Dad’s unexpected reaction?

• Ask,How did the boys decide on their School Idol item?

Pages 20–25• Askthestudentstoreadthischaptertofind

out the problems that the boys had in practising their item.

• Say,How did Mum and Dad try to help?• Askthestudentstore-readpage25andsay,

How does the writer show that the boys are now confident about their School Idol item?

Pages 26–30• Whenthestudentshavereadpages26–27ask

them to find the key words that show how Josh is feeling before the performance.

• Askthestudentstoreadtherestofthechapter.Ask,What did Josh see when he was brave enough to look up?

• Say,Describe the boys’ reaction when the winner was announced.

After reading • DiscusstheWords to watch for, their meanings

and suitability for the story.• DiscusssomeofMum’sactionsandstatements

that show she is influential in the story’s development.

• Discussexamplesofpersistence inthestory.Ask,What is the author’s purpose in writing this story?

• Discussthe incidentsonpages11,12–13,and23.Ask,How does the writer make these incidents humorous?

• Workoutatimelineforthestory.• Usechapter2forReaders’ Theatre.

Independent activities• CompletetheBLMattheendofthesenotes.• Makea listofway-outnamesforaSchool Idol

group.• DesigncostumesforaSchool Idol group.• WritearapthatyoucouldperforminaSchool

Idol competition.• Re-design illustrationsforfourofthechapter

headings. • Drawandlabelatimelineforthisstory.

Series featuresThis story is part of a series of humorous books aboutJoshandNathan’sfamily. Ifstudentshaveread the other two books (Invaded and A World Record), ask them to identify:• themaincharacters• thedifferencesbetweenthemaincharacters• thesimilaritiesbetweenthestoriesThey could also decide which book in the series they liked the best, and why.

SignaturesSignaturesSet 2TEACHER’S NOTES

3 © Clean Slate Press Ltd 2010

1WriteonesynonymforsixoftheWords to watch for.

Words to watch for Synonyms

2Re-readpages12,17,28,and30.Drawthe imageinyourmind.

SignaturesSet 2

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