1. There’s a Nightmare in My Closet by Mercer Mayer
Included: A brief excerpt from the book and rigorous question set activities promoting higher level-thinking development

2. Additional Resources
There’s a nightmare in my closet
Click Here for several activity suggestions and monster and closet illustration patterns

3. Excerpt from book Jacob’s Ladder Goals & Objectives Habits of Mind
Tier 1
Excerpt from book
Jacob’s Ladder Goals & Objectives
Habits of Mind

4. Excerpt
After spending countless nights afraid of the nightmare in his closet, a boy gathers his courage (along with a small army of toy soldiers, a cannon, and a popgun) to confront his fear, finally realizing that the nightmare is not so terrifying after all.
Obtain the book from a school library to read the story in its entirety and complete the ladder activities.

5. Students will be able: Ladder B
B1 Details- To list specific details or recall facts related to the text or generate a list about a specific topic or character.
B2 Classifications-To categorize different aspects of the text or identify categories from a list of topics or details.
B3 Generalizations-To make general statements about the reading or an idea in the reading and use data to support statements.
Ladder D
D1 Paraphrasing - Students will be able to restate lines read using their own words.
D2 Summarizing - Students will be able to provide a synopsis of text sections.
D3 Creative Synthesis - Students will create something new using what they have learned from reading and their synopses.

6. Habits of Mind
Working Interdependently
Thinking about Thinking (metacognition)
Innovating, Creating, Imagining
Refer to Jacob’s Ladder Story Table for Ladder B & D Thinking Questions.

7. (Discussion) High Level Strategies with Ladder B & D Questions
Tier 2 Rigor
(Discussion)
High Level Strategies with
Ladder B & D Questions

8. Discussion Strategies: Think-Pair-Share, Write-around, 3-4 Podcast slides (Pixie, Frames).
Choose 2 of 3 questions below to complete.
B1 — Why is the order of events of confronting the nightmares as details important to understanding the story?
B2 — Explain or show a time when you think an approach of confrontation was successful.
D2 — If you tell the story from the nightmare’s point of view how does it change and what unanswered questions questions would the nightmare have?

9. (Discussion) High Level Strategies with Ladder B & D Questions
Tier 3 Rigor
(Discussion)
High Level Strategies with
Ladder B & D Questions

10. Discussion Strategies: Think-Pair-Share, Write-around, 3-4 Podcast slides (Pixie, Frames).
Choose 2 of 3 questions below to complete.
B3— What pattern for handling nightmares do have? Or would you give to a younger child experiencing frequent nightmares? Make a list of suggestions.
D1 — Do you end up accepting nightmares? Explain why or why not the author models that behavior.
D3 — All people have a fear of something. It may be an object, an event, or a place as examples. Create a writing about a fear you have, your attitude towards it, and how you can work to overcome it.

11. Reflections/Relevance
Tier 4
Reflections/Relevance

12. Choose one of the writing ideas to complete.  Be creative. 
1. Change the story to There’s a Fairy God Mother or Genie in My Book Bag. Write and illustrate the new story, modeling your story after this author style.
2. Make a poster of rules for the Nightmare to follow in yr house.
Suggested project strategies:  Write a podcast script; create a puppet show; develop a PSA; a PowerPoint presentation; write and be an actor in a skit; write a persuasive speech and give before the class.