SING TO THE STARS
This week, we are reading “Sing to the Stars” in our Houghton Mifflin reading anthology. Here are some resources to increase your comprehension and enjoyment of this reading selection.
GENRE
Realistic Fiction
- Characters do things that real people and animals might do.
- Places in the story are real or seem real.
- The story tells about things that could really happen.
THINK ABOUT THE SELECTION
- Why do you think Ephram likes to practice on the roof?
- What does Mr. Washington mean when he tells Ephram, “Music speaks best when someone listens”?
- Why does Ephram want Mr. Washington to perform with him at the concert?
- Why do you think Mr. Washington finally decides to play the piano with Ephram?
- Ephram says that music speaks for him when he can’t talk about his feelings. How do you feel when you listen to music?
- Explain how music helps Ephram and Maria Isabel solve their problems.
SKILL-BUILDING ACTIVITIES
Click on “Meet the Author and Illustrator” to learn about the woman who wrote and illustrated the story.
Click on Summary to read a summary of the story. You may also use this summary to practice your oral fluency skills.
Click on e-word game to increase your vocabulary skills.
Click on Flashcards to test your understanding of Sing to the Stars vocabulary with online flashcards.
Click on Quiz to take a quiz that prepares you for Friday, April 4th’s Comprehension Skills Test.
Click on Comparing Adjectives Quiz to improve your grammar skills.
Click on Spelling List for the week’s spelling words so that you can practice and perfect your spelling skills. This week’s spelling skill is VCCV words. You can have fun practicing your VCCV spelling skill with this Hangman game.
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
AR INFORMATION
Sing to the Stars (HM Edition)
Barrett, Mary Brigid
AR Quiz No. 902052
Selection from Houghton Mifflin “Traditions” Grade 4 Pupil Edition.
AR Quiz Availability: Other Reading
Book Level 3.9
The Rankin-File Writing Blog 
I learned that Mary Brigid Barrett says that no one taught her how to write, but she adds, “I got my love of literature from my father and learned to read from my grandfather.” Her father told her stories “from Shakespeare to Charlotte’s Web,” and Barrett retold the stories to her younger siblings. She wrote her first story in high school and won a prize for it.
When Mary Brigid Barrett was in high school, she wrote her first book and won the first prize:):]
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Did you know that the author, Mary Brigid Barrett, said no one taught her to read?:)
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1.)Ephram likes to practice on the roof because he was shy to sing.
6.)They both face their fears and sing.
Ephram goes to the roof because it is quiet and lovely, and he is too nervous to perform in front of people.
1 I think Ephram likes to practice on the roof because it is more quiet.
I am going to answer number 1.
He play in the roof because i is quite and it is not noisy.
I think Ephram likes to practice on the roof because he has his own privacy, and also because he is very timid and shy.
Ephram wants Mr. Washington to perform onstage with him because he wants him to regain his joyness.
1.I think Ephram plays on the roof because he doesn’t like playing in front of people.
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1) I think Ephram likes practicing on the roof because it is nice and peaceful there.
4) I think Mr. Washington finally decides to play piano with Ephram because everyone from the audience was leaving.
1.I think Ephram practices on the roof because it’s quiet on top.
2.I think Ephram want’s Mr.Washington to be at the concert because he does not want to be lonely.
Why does Ephram want Mr. Washington to perform with him at the concert? Ephram wants him to perform at the concert so he has joy in his life.
3. I think Ephram wants Mr. Washington to perform with him because Ephram wants to give Mr. Washington his joy back. 😉
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1. Ephram goes to the roof because it quiet and lovely, and he is too nervous to perform in front of people.
2. Mr.Washington wants Ephram to perform with Mr. Washington because his terrible car accident, then he lost his joy because he lost is daughter in the car accident.
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Questions:
1.) Why do you think Ephram likes to practice on the roof?
3.) Why does Ephram want Mr. Washington to perform with him at the concert?
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Responses:
1.) I think Ephram likes to practice on the roof because he thinks nobody listens to him up there.
3.) I predict Ephram wants Mr. Washington to perform with him because he wants Mr. Washington to regain his joy. 🙂
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1.I think Ephram likes practice on the roof because it’s peaceful and calm.
3.I think Ephram wants Mr. Washington to perform with him because Mr. Washington used to be good at the piano.
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(1) Ephram plays on the roof becuase he has stage fright.
I will like to answer question one. Ephram thinks up on the roof is quiet.
I think Ephram likes playing on the roof because it is quieter than the streets like cars and trucks. That’s why Ephram likes playing on the roof.
This is what I think why Ephram plays at night. He plays at night because the people wouldn’t hear Ephram.
I think Ephram wants Mr. Washington to play with him because Ephram is shy and he wants company. So that’s why Ephram wants Mr. Washington to play with him.
Why does Ephram like to practice on the roof ?
I think Epharm likes to play on the roof because he is very shy.