1 1 2 pet helpers (nonfiction)

Pet Helpers
by Nancy Lollo

INTRODUCE THE BOOK
Activate Prior Knowledge/Build
Background Read the title, and discuss how
the person on the cover is helping the cat. Ask:
Have you ever had a pet? Invite children to share
their experiences with pet helpers. Tell children
this book tells about two pet helpers, a dog
trainer and a vet.
Preview/Use Text Features Preview the
reader by talking about the photographs together
and naming the labeled items.
Preteach Vocabulary Review the highfrequency words that appear in this book: and
and take. Introduce these key words from the
book: helpers (p. 1), trainer (p. 3), sick
(p. 7), and healthy (p. 7). Discuss these words
and add them to a Word Wall.

READ THE BOOK
Choose among these options for reading to
support children at all English proficiency levels.
Read Aloud Read the book aloud as children
follow along. Pause to verify comprehension and
to explain unfamiliar concepts.
Monitored Reading Have children silently
read a few pages at a time. Use the following
questions to support comprehension:
• Pages 2–3 What does a dog trainer do?
(A dog trainer trains dogs.)

• Pages 4–5 What can dog trainers teach a
dog? (They can teach a dog to jump up or
sit.)
• Pages 6–8 What do vets do? (They help
sick pets. They help pets to be healthy.)

Nonfiction

RESPOND
Answers to the Reader’s Inside Back Cover:
Talk About It
1. Dog trainers teach dogs to sit and jump. Vets
help sick animals and help animals stay healthy.
(Main Idea)
2. Possible response: I would make sick pets feel
better.
Write About It
3. Brainstorm with children different tricks a
dog could do, such as roll over, sit, beg, catch,
or stay. Children should draw a picture of a pet
doing a trick. Possible verbal response: I would
teach a dog to jump.
Support writers at various English proficiency
levels.
Beginning Display a sentence frame, such as
I can teach a dog to
. Have children repeat
the sentence and add an ending.
Intermediate Provide a list of words that
children can use in telling about their picture.

Advanced After children have completed
their drawings, have them demonstrate to the
class how to train a pet.
Extend Language Possible response: Dogs
and cats can sleep, run, play, eat, drink, walk,
do tricks, and swim.
Answers to page 4:
You would take a sick puppy to a vet. Children
should draw a vet or an animal hospital.
Family Link Read aloud the Family Link activity
on page 4 before sending copies of the Study
Guide home with children. Later, have children
tell about other pets a vet can help, such as
horses, cows, birds, goats, and pigs.

© Scott Foresman 1

Reread Have children reread the book with a
partner, in small groups, or independently. Have
them complete the Study Guide on page 4.

ELL Reader 1.1.2

ELL Readers Teaching Guide

Unit 1, Week 2 Pet Helpers

3

Study Guide
Name

Pet Helpers

• Read Pet Helpers again.
• Where would you take a sick puppy? Draw a picture.
• Write the pet helper’s name.

Ask family members how a vet can help other kinds
of animals not shown in the book.

4

Pet Helpers Unit 1, Week 2

ELL Readers Teaching Guide

© Scott Foresman 1

Family Link