Dear Mr. Henshaw Novel Study – FREE Day 1 Sample

Bring Beverly Cleary’s Dear Mr. Henshaw into your classroom with this FREE Day 1 novel study sample! Designed to support engaging ELA instruction, this sample gives teachers and homeschool parents a preview of ready-to-use reading comprehension, vocabulary, close-reading, and critical-thinking activities. Use it to introduce students to this award-winning novel while building essential reading and literary analysis skills.

In Dear Mr. Henshaw, Leigh Botts is a young boy who begins writing letters to his favorite author, Boyd Henshaw. Through his letters and diary entries, Leigh shares his experiences with his parents' divorce, his struggles at school, and his efforts to understand his feelings. As he develops his writing skills, Leigh also learns more about himself and how to cope with life's challenges. This relatable story offers opportunities to explore family relationships, loneliness, friendship, personal growth, and the power of writing as a way to express emotions.

You can purchase the complete novel study HERE.

What's Included in This FREE Novel Study Sample?

This free Day 1 sample lets you preview the format and types of activities included in the novel study.

• Day 1 Teacher Lesson Plans – Help guide your instruction and introduce the novel.
• Day 1 Student Activities – Give students opportunities to engage with the text and demonstrate understanding.
• Reading Comprehension Practice – Support students as they develop their understanding of the story.
• Vocabulary Practice – Build vocabulary skills while reading the novel.
• Ready-to-Use, No-Prep Materials – Save planning time with classroom-ready activities.
• Sample Google File – Preview digital classroom materials, if included in the download.

This FREE sample allows you to explore the resource's format and activities before deciding whether the complete novel study is right for your students.

Explore the Complete Dear Mr. Henshaw Novel Study

The complete Dear Mr. Henshaw novel study provides opportunities for students to strengthen reading comprehension, vocabulary, and literary analysis while exploring Beverly Cleary's thoughtful story.

Activities in the complete unit may support:

• Reading comprehension and text-based responses
• Vocabulary development
• Character analysis and making inferences
• Close reading and critical thinking
• Written responses and literary analysis
• Exploring themes of family, friendship, and growing up
• Examining how Leigh changes throughout the story
• Analyzing letter writing and diary entries as storytelling techniques
• Exploring how writing can help people express feelings and work through challenges

See the complete product's table of contents for a detailed list of included resources and activities.

Who Is This Free Sample For?

This FREE Day 1 sample is ideal for:

• Grades 5-8 classroom novel studies
• Homeschool literature studies and language arts
• Small-group instruction and literature circles
• Independent reading and reading comprehension practice
• Vocabulary development and critical-thinking activities
• Teachers and homeschool parents looking for engaging, low-prep ELA resources

Download Your FREE Day 1 Sample

Give your students an opportunity to explore Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary with this free novel study sample. Preview the Day 1 activities and see how this resource may fit into your reading instruction.

Please note: This download includes the free Day 1 sample only, not the complete novel study.

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