Between individual lessons and big units of study lies the joy of planning. Franki Sibberson takes you into her process of designing short sequences of lessons (known as cycles) around key areas of study including how characters develop in literature, nonfiction reading in the age of the Internet, and understanding increasingly sophisticated themes in novels and picture books. Franki shares guiding questions for planning, sample cycles, and the thinking behind the books she selects for minilessons.

This succinct and thoughtful text guides teachers through the process of brainstorming key issues, standards, and content during the initial phases of the planning process. From there, books and lessons are matched to the needs of students. Sample lesson cycles include teacher language, guiding questions, activities, and sample follow-up instruction.

There is much delight in moving between what you know about your students and what you know about teaching, and designing lessons accordingly. That's what the joy of planning is all about.