What Jo Did

Written and Illustrated by: Charles R. Smith, Jr.

Summary

Imagine that you could jump as high as a basket ball rim. That’s exactly what Joanna Marie, or Jo, could do. Jo makes new friends when she shows off her talent during a basketball game in which she is the only girl.

Study SkillsGenre: FictionComprehension Skill:

Cause and EffectComprehension Strategy: Prior

KnowledgeComprehension Review Skill: Draw

ConclusionsVocabulary: Prefixes and Suffixes

Genre: Fiction

Fiction often has characters and events that seem real. Try to picture this story taking place where you live, with people you know.

Comprehension Skill Tested –Cause and Effect Te112

An effect is something that happens.A cause explains why it happens.Writing may include clue words such as

because, in order to, so, and as a result to link causes and effects.

If these words are missing, readers need to think about cause-and-effect relationships on their own.

Comprehension Skill Review –Draw Conclusions TE 153

When you draw conclusions, you use details and what you already know to form opinions or make decisions about characters and events.

Vocabulary Strategy Suffixes -able and Prefixes -un

Suffixes and prefixes have their own meanings.

The prefix -un means “the opposite of ________” or “not_____”, as in unhappy.

Vocabulary Strategy Suffixes -able and Prefixes -unThe suffix –able means “able

to be ____ed,” as in enjoyable.The suffix –less means

“without _____,” as in painless.You can use suffixes as

prefixes to help you figure out the meanings of words.

Review Questions

1. What does Joanna do to T.J.’s jump shot? Why does he react the way he does?

2. Why do the boys ask Joanna to play ball?

3.Why do you think she hid the fact that she was a girl?

Review Questions

1. What is the theme or “big idea” of this story?

2. Which boy changes his attitude the most about Joanna? What are some ways it changed?

3. Why does T.J. tell her to leave her hat at home at the end of the story?

Vocabulary - Say Itfouled hoopjerseyrim

marveledunbelievable

speechlessswatted

More Words to Knowbackboarddribbling

dunkacceptlearn

nervous

unbelievableincredible; hard to

think of as true or real

swattedhit sharply or violently

speechlessnot able to talk

riman edge, border, or margin on or around anything

marveledwas filled with wonder;

was astonished

jerseya shirt that is pulled over the head, made of a soft, knitted cloth

hoopa ring or round flat band

fouledin sports, made an unfair play against

backboardin basketball, the flat, elevated surface of wood, glass, or plastic on which the basket on a basketball court is fastened

dribbling

moving a ball by bouncing it

dunkto shoot a basketball by leaping, so that the hands are above the rim, and throwing the ball down through the netting

nervouseasily excited or upset, restless; uneasy

acceptto receive with liking and approval

learnto become able by study or practice

I was so nervous and scared I dropped the ball.

I was so nervous and scared I dropped the ball.

We need to accept each other as we are and be kind.

We need to accept each other as we are and be kind.

How would you like to learn how to play?

How would you like to learn how to play?

He was unbelievable under the basket!

He was unbelievable under the basket!

The ball bounced off the rim.

The ball bounced off the rim.

Max swatted the ball away and kept it out of the basket.

Max swatted the ball away and kept it out of the basket.

I have always marveled at the way he can play ball.

I have always marveled at the way he can play ball.

Her performance tonight left me speechless.

Her performance tonight left me speechless.

He was fouled by the other player and did not make his basket.

He was fouled by the other player and did not make his basket.

He was bouncing the ball down the court toward the other team’s hoop.

He was bouncing the ball down the court toward the other team’s hoop.

Lots of boys want to wear Peyton Manning’s jersey number.

Lots of boys want to wear Peyton Manning’s jersey number.