Dear Mr. Henshaw

"I began to feel like some sort of hero. Maybe I’m not so medium after all."

Dear Mr. Henshaw

Written by Beverly Cleary
Published by HarperCollins Publishers, 1983

Letters, Role Model, Relationship, Questions, Acceptance

Awards:

Newbery Medal (Won, 1984)
Mark Twain Award (Nominated, 1986)
Flicker Tale Children's Book Award (Nominated, 1987)
Christopher Book Awards (Won, 1984)
FOCAL Award (Won, 1987)
Garden State Children's Book Awards (Won, 1986)
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award (Won, 1985)
Sequoyah Book Award (Won, 1986)
Nene Award (Won, 1989)

Summary:

Sixth grader, Leigh Botts begins writing to his favorite author Boyd Henshaw as a part of a school assignment.  As readers, we witness a mentor-mentee relationship bloom, starting with Leigh asking Mr. Henshaw a few questions and Henshaw replying with answers and questions for Leigh.  This later becomes a personal diary where Leigh copes with his personal struggles, including being lonely, dealing with his parents’ divorce, along with a distant father.

Reading Level: 910L
Suggested Delivery: Small homogeneous reading level groups

 

Key Vocabulary: diary, experience, snoop, rejected, submitted, understanding

 

Teaching Suggestions:

a) Host a classroom discussion about what characteristics make up a good role model.  As 6^th graders, it is important for them to realize that they are the role models for 1^st-5^th grade, the lower elementary years. 

b) Have students use the internet to research someone they admire and complete the “Distant Role Model” worksheet.

c) Discuss the format for writing letters, compare this to writing emails and text messages. 

Comprehension Strategies:

Pre-Reading:

The teacher will perform a “think aloud.”  This means the teacher will read a section of the novel, and as they read, frequently ask pausing to express a connection, comment, or question they have.  By modeling how good readers read, students can understand the kind of active thinking that should be occurring when they, themselves read. 

During reading

This novel deals with some serious issues, such as divorce, feeling lonely, and having a complicated relationship with a father.  As students read the novel, encourage them to express any reactions, comments, or questions they have by recording them on sticky notes.

Post Reading

In partners, students will compare and contrast their thoughts and comments by referring to their sticky notes.  Then, as a class, the partners will share the reactions they had in common and what they found differed. 

Writing Activity

Instead of writing a letter to a researched role model, create a more meaningful experience by asking students to write a narrative to a former teacher about their favorite day in their class.  Try to get the teachers to respond if possible!

Electronic Resources:

1) Use this “Distant Role Model” worksheet to prompt student with questions about their role model and ways to start their letter.

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/tv/printables/goodyear/MoesCafe_RoleModel.pdf


2) This link is for teachers, it is an excellent source for understand the protocol for performing a think-aloud. 
http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/think_alouds/

Cleary, B., & Zelinsky, P. O. (1983). Dear Mr. Henshaw. New York: Morrow.