Diego's New School (Fiction Passage)

Start with a minute of talk: What would help a new student feel welcome in your class? Then have students read the story on page 1, about 220 words in 7 short paragraphs. Ask them to notice what the characters say, do and feel. Students then answer five questions on page 2, three multiple choice and two written. Ask them to cite a detail from the text in each written response. Check the work with the answer key.

Diego’s New School gives 4th grade students a fiction passage of about 220 words about a boy who walks into a new school on the first day, followed by five questions. The questions practice summarizing, making inferences and cause and effect, and the sheet is aligned to Common Core RL.4.2. An answer key is included.

Diego’s New School is a fiction passage of about 220 words about a boy who walks into a new school on the first day. It is written for 4th grade readers (ages 9-10) and has 7 short paragraphs, so students can read it in one sitting.

Its five questions, three multiple choice and two written, practice cause and effect, summarizing, making inferences and figurative language. Questions include "Why did Diego take a soccer ball out of his backpack at recess". The sheet is aligned to Common Core RL.4.2, and the answer key is included so you can check responses quickly.

Try this conversation starter: What would help a new student feel welcome in your class? Ask students to read the first paragraph and guess what the problem will be, then finish the story to check their guess.

Expect about 20 minutes from first read to last answer. It suits homework, a sub plan or small group reading time, and the answer key makes it quick to check summarizing and making inferences.