Level W How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found Summary Margaret has always wanted to know more about how her father died but has never been able to approach her mother about it. When Margaret opens up a package that was sent at the time of her father’s death, she finds that it holds some clues she can’t resist. Read as Margaret and her friend Boyle try to solve a mystery that involves Margaret’s father, her uncle, a haunted mansion, and a series of mysterious comic books. by Sara Nickerson Genre: mystery Guided Reading Level: W Interacting with the Text Content Connections English Language Learners Talk to students about any mysteries they might have been involved in figuring out. Discuss the kinds of clues they used to figure out the mysteries, and the people that helped them. Then talk about mystery books students might have read, whether they liked them or not, and why they felt the way they did. Ask: What is it about mysteries that draws us in and makes us want to figure out the mystery for ourselves? Pre-teaching Challenging Vocabulary Text Structure and Features Illustrator’s Style Have students page through the book. Ask them what they notice about the illustrations. Help students understand that the role of the illustrations changes as the plot develops. In the beginning, the illustrations mirror the actions in the text. However, later on, the illustrations begin to predict what will happen to the characters in the story. Prior to reading the book, help students understand challenging vocabulary words, such as macrobiotic (p. 37), Chihuahua (p. 49), and suspicious (p. 205). Provide definitions for these words and model using them in sentences. Then ask students to make up sentences of their own that include the words. If appropriate, you may discuss word parts or derivations, and/or invite students to help you brainstorm related words: suspect (as both noun and verb) and suspicion, for example. During Reading Developing Comprehension Strategies Developing Word-Solving Strategies Drawing Conclusions Remind students that Suffixes Remind students that a suffix is a word drawing conclusions means using what you read along with what you already know to make a decision about something. Tell students that they will draw conclusions throughout the book, but that these conclusions may change as they read and understand more about the events in the story. What conclusion can you draw from the fact that Sophie’s suitcase is found at the mansion but she’s nowhere to be seen? What clues does the author give you to help you draw conclusions about Ratt’s true intentions? or word part added to the end of a word that changes its meaning. Write predictable on the board, underline the base word predict, and circle the suffix -able. Ask students to define the word predict. Tell them that the suffix -able means “is, or can be.” Ask a volunteer to use the base word and the suffix to define the word predictable. • Have students find the words imagination (p. 145) and wonderful (p. 254), and repeat the process with the suffixes -tion and -ful. After Reading Developing Oral Language Developing Fluency Have students page through the book, looking for unfamiliar words they encountered as they were reading. Ask them to make a list of these words and then research their correct meanings and usages. Have students take turns reading aloud their words, the definitions, and a sentence of their own that uses each word. Partner Reading Model reading the comic book entry on page 153 or 217. Then have students read silently before pairing up to read aloud with another student. Encourage readers to read expressively to help their listeners distinguish one character from another. You might suggest that students time each other as they read aloud. Writing: Moving Beyond the Text Have students think about an adventure or mystery they were involved in and create a comic strip about an important part of that experience. Tell students that their comic strip should be no longer than two pages. Encourage students to use the comics in the book as a model. HOW TO DISAPPEAR COMPLETELY AND NEVER BE FOUND by Sara Nickerson, illustrated by Sally Wern Comport. Illustrations copyright © 2002 by Sally Wern Comport. Published by Scholastic Inc. by arrangement with HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.