Article:
"Junaita Hill, Tough Love"
This is an article about Juanita Havill and how she writes her stories. She has been writing children's books for 30 years. In the Jamaica books, Jamaica has to solve realistic problems and learn life lessons along the way.
Video:
"Juanita Havill"
29:32
Juanita discusses her path to becoming a writer.
"Junaita Hill, Tough Love"
This is an article about Juanita Havill and how she writes her stories. She has been writing children's books for 30 years. In the Jamaica books, Jamaica has to solve realistic problems and learn life lessons along the way.
Video:
"Juanita Havill"
29:32
Juanita discusses her path to becoming a writer.
Character Across Texts
These stories can be used for this Common Core Standard:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.9
With prompting and support, compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in familiar stories.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.9
Compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in stories.
![Picture](/uploads/4/6/3/2/46325565/355980462.jpg?250)
Jamaica Tag-Along by Juanita Havill
Jamaica feels left out when her older brother will not let her play with him. She thinks this is unfair until a younger boy wants to play with her in the sandbox and she tells him to go away. She realizes she hurt his feelings and thinks about when her brother hurts her feelings so she invites him to play. Her brother ends up joining in with them, and it seems Jamaica has taught him a lesson as well.
Age Group:
Grades K-2
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
African American
Use:
"Jamaica Tag-Along"
This lesson includes a story map, discussion questions, and extension activities. It includes a mini lesson on inferencing in a thematic unit about growing up.
Jamaica feels left out when her older brother will not let her play with him. She thinks this is unfair until a younger boy wants to play with her in the sandbox and she tells him to go away. She realizes she hurt his feelings and thinks about when her brother hurts her feelings so she invites him to play. Her brother ends up joining in with them, and it seems Jamaica has taught him a lesson as well.
Age Group:
Grades K-2
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
African American
Use:
- See standards above
- Story structure
- Problem/Solution
- Character development
- Perspective taking
"Jamaica Tag-Along"
This lesson includes a story map, discussion questions, and extension activities. It includes a mini lesson on inferencing in a thematic unit about growing up.
![Picture](/uploads/4/6/3/2/46325565/989547703.jpg?250)
Jamaica's Find by Juanita Hill
Jamaica finds a hat and a stuffed animal at the park. She returns the hat, but not the stuffed animal. Her family questions her for not returning and Jamaica has to contemplate whether or not she will take it back. She decides to take it back and also discovers the young girl who lost it. Both girls are happy about the return.
Age Group:
Grades K-2
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
African American
Use:
"Perspective Taking"
This lesson plan centers around character education and literature. It teaches students to see things from other people's points of view. Students brainstorm what they can do if they find something. This includes journaling options and center activities revolving around the story.
"Main and Secondary Characters"
This lesson plan from ReadWorks centers around main and secondary characters. It uses Sheila the Brave as the "I do" portion of the lesson and Jamaica's Find as the "We do" part.
Jamaica finds a hat and a stuffed animal at the park. She returns the hat, but not the stuffed animal. Her family questions her for not returning and Jamaica has to contemplate whether or not she will take it back. She decides to take it back and also discovers the young girl who lost it. Both girls are happy about the return.
Age Group:
Grades K-2
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
African American
Use:
- See standards above
- Story structure
- Problem/Solution
- Character development
- Perspective taking
"Perspective Taking"
This lesson plan centers around character education and literature. It teaches students to see things from other people's points of view. Students brainstorm what they can do if they find something. This includes journaling options and center activities revolving around the story.
"Main and Secondary Characters"
This lesson plan from ReadWorks centers around main and secondary characters. It uses Sheila the Brave as the "I do" portion of the lesson and Jamaica's Find as the "We do" part.
![Picture](/uploads/4/6/3/2/46325565/593500463.jpg?250)
Jamaica's Blue Marker by Juanita Havill
Jamaica shares her markers with Russell and he scribbles on her drawing. When she learns Russell is moving and the rest of the class makes cards for him, Jamaica doesn't want to. Jamaica talks to her family about how she feels bad for Russell for having to move. Jamaica talks to Russell on his last day at school and gives him her blue marker.
Age Group:
Grades K-2
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
African American
Use:
Jamaica's Blue Marker.doc
In this lesson, students make predictions and learn lessons about friendship. This includes an extension activity for making a friendship wreath.
Jamaica shares her markers with Russell and he scribbles on her drawing. When she learns Russell is moving and the rest of the class makes cards for him, Jamaica doesn't want to. Jamaica talks to her family about how she feels bad for Russell for having to move. Jamaica talks to Russell on his last day at school and gives him her blue marker.
Age Group:
Grades K-2
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
African American
Use:
- See standards above
- Story structure
- Problem/Solution
- Character development
- Making predictions
Jamaica's Blue Marker.doc
In this lesson, students make predictions and learn lessons about friendship. This includes an extension activity for making a friendship wreath.
![Picture](/uploads/4/6/3/2/46325565/489778772.jpg?250)
Jamaica and Brianna by Juanita Havill
Jamaica has to wear her brother's hand-me-down boots. She rips the boots and her mother takes her to the store to get a new pair. Brianna teases her about her old "boy" boots and how her new cowboy boots aren't in style. Jamaica makes fun of Brianna's boots and feels bad about it. Jamaica realizes Brianna's boots were hand-me-downs from her sister and feels even worse. The two girls learn a lesson together.
Age Group:
Grades K-2
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
African American
Use:
"Central Message-Jamaica and Brianna"
In this CPALMS lesson, students practice perspective taking. This includes a comprehension test and letter writing activity.
Jamaica has to wear her brother's hand-me-down boots. She rips the boots and her mother takes her to the store to get a new pair. Brianna teases her about her old "boy" boots and how her new cowboy boots aren't in style. Jamaica makes fun of Brianna's boots and feels bad about it. Jamaica realizes Brianna's boots were hand-me-downs from her sister and feels even worse. The two girls learn a lesson together.
Age Group:
Grades K-2
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
African American
Use:
- See standards above
- Story structure
- Problem/Solution
- Character development
- Perspective taking
"Central Message-Jamaica and Brianna"
In this CPALMS lesson, students practice perspective taking. This includes a comprehension test and letter writing activity.
![Picture](/uploads/4/6/3/2/46325565/527098960.jpg?250)
Jamaica and the Substitute Teacher by Juanita Havill
Jamaica's character is tested once again. She really likes her substitute teacher and wants to make her happy. She cheats on a spelling test and receives a perfect score. She ends up telling the teacher the truth and the teacher tells Jamaica she doesn't have to be perfect to be special.
Age Group:
Grades K-2
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
African American
Use:
"Let's Be Honest"
Students learn about honesty with this story. This lesson plan has accompanying activities for teaching about honesty.
Jamaica's character is tested once again. She really likes her substitute teacher and wants to make her happy. She cheats on a spelling test and receives a perfect score. She ends up telling the teacher the truth and the teacher tells Jamaica she doesn't have to be perfect to be special.
Age Group:
Grades K-2
Genre:
Realistic Fiction
Ethnic or Cultural Group:
African American
Use:
- See standards above
- Story structure
- Problem/Solution
- Character development
- Honesty
"Let's Be Honest"
Students learn about honesty with this story. This lesson plan has accompanying activities for teaching about honesty.