The Night Dad Went to Jail

Author: Melissa Higgins

Illustrator: Wednesday Kirwan

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Higgins, Melissa. Night Dad Went to Jail: What to Expect When Someone You Love Goes to Jail. 
          Place of Publication Not Identified: Picture Window, 2013. Print.

Annotation
The Night Dad Went to Jail is about a boy who had to go through school with his father in jail. No matter who your loved one is, this story can help you through the tough times.

ELA Content Standards
Key Ideas and Details- Grade 2
3.) Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges

How it Connects: Students can discuss how the boy felt when he found out his dad had to go to jail, when everyone at school found out, and how he felt living without his dad. Students could also discuss how they think the dad and mom felt in this situation.

Craft and Structure- Grade 2
6.) Acknowledge differences in the points of view of characters, including by speaking in a different voice for each character when reading dialogue aloud.

How it Connects: Students can discuss how each characters life in the story is going to change after the dad is sent to jail. The boy will have to adjust to coming home without seeing his father everyday, the mother will have to raise the son on her own, the father has to adjust to living in jail without his family.

Tier 3 Vocabulary
arrest, law, station

Classroom Usage
Independent Reading: Students can read the story to themselves and write about how it made them feel, or if they know anyone who has gone through a similar situation. 

Small Groups: Students can discuss the plot of the story and talk about the different emotions each character in the story feels. They could also discuss different ways they could be there for people who go through similar situations.

Centers: Split up into four centers
1.) Discuss different emotions people go through
2.) Discuss the importance of following the law, and ask students if they could list some
3.) Write a letter to someone they know who could be going through a hard time
4.) Discuss the plot of the book

Differentiation
Some ELL students will be able to relate to the story, others will be able to get a new perspective on situations similar to the one in the book. The story will show a variety of learners that everyone goes through hard times and they can get through them.