Day 19: Silent Reading, Colons Quiz, and The Curio Shop
1. Silent Reading – 15 Minutes
As always, begin class with focused silent reading. Students should log one idea, theme, or image from their independent reading that stood out to them today.
2. Colons Quiz
Introduce today’s colons quiz. This is a short check-in to reinforce the punctuation rules learned yesterday.
Get the Quiz and Answer sheets here.
3. Read The Curio Shop by William Kotzwinkle
After the quiz, students will read The Curio Shop. Once the story is finished, they will complete the following comprehension activities individually.
Click here for The Curio Shop PDF
Comprehension Questions:
Identify the turning point of the story—where the perspective becomes clear. Write a few point-form notes to show how this moment changes your understanding of the story. You may wish to show your thinking in a “before-and-after” chart.
Consider the following phrases in the context of the story. Write in full sentences to explain their meaning and implications:
“large sooty stains”
“once the corrosion began it couldn’t be reversed”
“The spirit must have departed only recently.”
“the glittering, milky boulevard”
Create three thoughtful questions about the story that you would like answered. Then, exchange your questions with a partner. After trying to answer each other’s questions, join another pair and work in groups of four to compare your responses and expand your understanding of the story.
4. Test Date Announcement
At the end of class, let students know that the short story unit test will be on Day 25. Encourage them to review their notes, quizzes, and completed activities to prepare.
Conclusion
Day 19 brings together skill, analysis, and collaboration in a meaningful way. The colons quiz reinforces attention to precision in writing, while The Curio Shop challenges students to think critically about language, symbolism, and tone. By reflecting on key phrases and discussing interpretations with peers, students move beyond surface-level comprehension to deeper literary thinking. Ending with a reminder of the upcoming test helps keep everyone focused and organized as the short story unit approaches its conclusion.
