Reading/Language Arts
Grade 5
Author’s Viewpoint
P
Paarreenntt A
Assssiisstteed
dL
Leeaarrnniinngg
Dear Parent or Guardian:
Your son or daughter is currently learning to be familiar with the
viewpoint of the author in a story. Here is your chance to help him
or her practice this important skill.
In this PAL Packet you will find a short activity for you and your
son or daughter to do. Please do the activity and The Back Page
this evening. Then sign your name on The Back Page and have your
son or daughter return it tomorrow.
Thanks for your help.
Sincerely,
_________________________
Your son or daughter’s teacher
Grade 5 – Author’s Viewpoint
© 2004 Evans Newton Incorporated
1
Last printed 9/3/04
P
Paarreenntt A
Assssiisstteed
dL
Leeaarrnniinngg
WHAT THE AUTHOR MEANS
Parent Pointer —
When an author writes a book or story, he or she describes the
information in a certain way, their way. This is called the author’s
viewpoint. Everything an author writes about has a certain meaning.
Whether it is the author’s portrayal of the characters, setting, etc.,
each part of the story is written the way the author or a character
created by the author views it. It is important to recognize this so
that we, the readers, can understand what the author is writing about.
Reading In the Home, On the Go, and For the Fun of It —
DIRECTIONS: Read the poem “My Shadow” by Robert Louis
Stevenson on the next page. Then answer the questions about the
poem on the Author’s Viewpoint page that follows. Remember to read
each question and the part of the poem that follows the question
carefully, and answer the question in a complete sentence.
Talk About It —
After you have finished the activity, turn to The Back Page to show
what you know.
Now go have some fun with the activity! (
Grade 5 – Author’s Viewpoint
© 2004 Evans Newton Incorporated
2
Last printed 9/3/04
P
Paarreenntt A
Assssiisstteed
dL
Leeaarrnniinngg
My Shadow
by Robert Louis Stevenson
I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.
He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.
The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow—
Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;
For he sometimes shoots up taller like an India-rubber ball,
And he sometimes gets so little that there’s none of him at all.
He hasn’t got a notion of how children ought to play,
And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.
He stays so close beside me, he’s a coward you can see;
I’d think shame to stick to Nursie as that shadow sticks to
me!
One morning, very early, before the sun was up,
I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;
But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepyhead,
Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.
Grade 5 – Author’s Viewpoint
© 2004 Evans Newton Incorporated
3
Last printed 9/3/04
P
Paarreenntt A
Assssiisstteed
dL
Leeaarrnniinngg
Author’s Viewpoint
1. Refer to the first four lines of the poem. What does the poet mean
when he says the following lines?
I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.
He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
2. Refer the second four lines of the poem. What does the poet mean
when he says the following lines?
For he sometimes shoots up taller like an India-rubber ball,
And he sometimes gets so little that there’s none of him at all.
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
3. Refer to the last four lines of the poem. What does the poet mean
when he says the following lines?
But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepyhead,
Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Grade 5 – Author’s Viewpoint
© 2004 Evans Newton Incorporated
4
Last printed 9/3/04
P
Paarreenntt A
Assssiisstteed
dL
Leeaarrnniinngg
The Back Page
Talk About It
Parent —
Ask your son or daughter the following question:
Why is it important to know the author’s viewpoint in
order to understand a story?
Student —
Answer the above question in complete sentences at the
bottom of this page.
OR
Do the following activity (use the back side of this page
if needed):
3Write a poem about your shadow using your own
viewpoint.
__________________________ __________________________
Student’s Name
Parent or Guardian’s Signature
Grade 5 – Author’s Viewpoint
© 2004 Evans Newton Incorporated
5
Last printed 9/3/04