Thank You Maam Lesson

Lesson: Thank You, Maam - Langston Hughes
Suggested Time: 3- 4 days (45 minutes per day)
Teacher Instructions
Preparing for Teaching
1.
Read the Big Ideas and Key Understandings and the Synopsis.
Do not read this to the students. This is a description for teachers about the big ideas
and key understanding that students should take away after completing this task.
Big Ideas and Key Understandings
Forgiveness, kindness and empathy can have a positive impact on another person.
Synopsis
In this short story, by Langston Hughes, a teenage boy named Roger wants a pair of
blue suede shoes. He tries to snatch Mrs. Joness purse as she is walking home. The
attempt fails, and Mrs. Jones collars the boy, who is no match for his captor. She drags
Roger home with her, feeds him, talks to him, and gives him ten dollars for his shoes.
She ends their encounter with advice to behave himself.
2.
Read the entire selection: keeping in mind the Big Ideas and Key Understandings.
3.
Re-read the text while noting the stopping points for the Text
Dependent Questions and teaching Tier II/academic vocabulary.
During Teaching
1.
Students can read the entire selection independently, or the teacher can read the text
aloud while students follow along, or students can take turns reading aloud for each
other.
2.
Students and teacher re-read the text while stopping to respond to and discuss the
questions, continually returning to the text. A variety of methods can be used to
structure the reading and discussion (i.e., whole class discussion, think-pair-share,
independent written response, group work, etc.)
Text Dependent Questions

Text-Dependent Questions calling for
Evidence-based Answers!
On p.122, what was the womans initial reaction when the boy tried to snatch her purse?
The woman reacted aggressively. She kicked him square in his blue jean sittershe
picked the boy up by his shirt front, and shook him until his teeth rattled. She then demanded
that the boy pick up her pocketbook and hand it back to her.
On page 122, Mrs. Jones says, Um-hum! And your face is dirty. I got a great mind to
wash your face for you. Aint you got nobody home to tell you to wash your face?
What clues are there about why Mrs. Jones decided to bring Roger home with her?
Mrs. Jones could have decided to take Roger home as a result of his apology, and/or
she could have felt sorry him due to his physical appearance and/or the fact that he reported
that there was no one at home to tell him to wash his face. In addition, she sees that he is frail
and willow-wild and may want to care for him.
On page 122, the woman finally turns Roger loose, Roger looked at the door-looked at
the woman-looked at the door-and went to the sink. Why did the author choose to
italicize this part of the text?
The author may have chosen to italicize this part of the text to demonstrate Rogers
decision to stay. This is in contrast to Rogers initial attempts to run away, and now that he has
the chance to run away, he chooses to stay.
On p 122, Mrs. Jones says, Maybe you havent had your supper either late as it be.
Have you? What can we infer about Mrs. Joness character based on what she does
next?
After Mrs. Jones asks Roger whether hes had supper, she states that she believes that
he is or has been hungry. She then prepares dinner for both of them. We can infer that Mrs.
Jones is a caring person because shes willing to feed someone who has wronged her.
On page 124, Mrs. Jones begins to tell Roger about when she was young. Mrs. Jones
shares, I have done things, too, which I would not tell you, son. What effect does did
this admission have on Roger? How did it influence his actions?
Roger probably now feels that Mrs. Jones understands him and now wants to be trusted
by her. He even volunteers to go the store for her.
On page 124, Mrs. Jones states, Shoes come by devilish like that will burn your feet.
State in your own words what Mrs. Jones meant.Things you get wrongfully will bring you harm.
On page 124, Mrs. Jones gives Roger money. What motivates Mrs. Jones? What does
she expect from him in the future?
Mrs. Jones might give Roger money because she feels sorry for him and doesnt want
him to steal again. She tells him, I wish you would behave yourself, son.
Tier II/Academic Vocabulary

The following words are presented on the story. They all have a significance and are descriptive
in terms of providing knowledge about the culture, neighborhood and people there.
Some will need some explanation and searching/discussion to understand their meanings.
Page 122- roomer
Page 122 blue-jeaned sitter
Page 122 - frail
Page 124 - presentable
Page 124 - mistrusted
Page 176 latching
Page 122 willow-wild
Page 122 half-nelson
Page 122 kitchenette-furnished
Page 122 suede
Page 124 stoop
Page 124 - barren
Culminating Writing Task
Prompt
Forgiveness, kindness, and empathy can have a positive impact on a persons
life. How does Mrs. Joness kindness to Roger change him? Explain how he changes
and provide evidence from the text. Compose an argument that is one page in length.
Support your claims with valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence from the
text, including direct quotes and page numbers.
Teacher Instructions
1.
2.
3.
4.
Students identify their writing task from the prompt provided.

Students complete an evidence chart as a pre-writing activity. Teachers should remind
students to use any relevant notes they compiled while reading and answering the textdependent questions.
Students compose a rough draft. With regard to grade level and student ability, teachers
should decide how much scaffolding they will provide during this process (i.e. modeling,
showing example pieces, sharing work as students go).
Students complete final draft.
Evidence that can be useful in student writing responses (offer help when they are stuck.
Page Number = Quote or paraphrase

Elaboration / explanation of how this evidence supports ideas or argument
120 = a boy ran up behind her and tried to snatch her purse.
We are introduced to a boy as he attempts to steal a purse.
122 = What did you want to do it for? The boy said, I didnt aim to. She said, You lie!
Roger tries to deny that he was trying to steal the womans purse.
120 =And your face is dirty.Aint you got nobody home to tell you to wash your face?
Roger doesnt have anyone at home to care for him. He is dirty.
122 = Sweat popped out on the boys face and he began to struggle.
Mrs. Jones forces Roger to stay with her against his will.
122 = Then, Roger, you go to that sink and wash your face, said the woman, whereupon she
turned him loose-at last. Roger looked at the door-looked at the woman-looked at the door-and
went to the sink.
At the moment that Mrs. Jones lets Roger go, he looks at the door and we know that he
considers leaving, but makes a decision to stay.
124 = Ive done things too, which I wouldnt tell you, neither tell God, if he didnt already know.
With this information, Roger begins to understand that shes different than what he
assumed.
124 = The boy took care to sit on the far side of the room where he thought she could easily
see him out of the corner of her eye, if she wanted to. He did not trust the woman not to trust
him. And he did not want to be mistrusted now.
Roger now wants to show that he can be trustworthy. He stays within view of Mrs. Jones.
124 = Do you need somebody to go to the store, asked the boy, maybe get some milk or something.
Roger is now attempting to be helpful.
124 = Now, here, take this ten dollars and buy yourself some blue suede shoes. And next time,
do not make the mistake of latching onto my pocketbook nor nobody elses
Mrs. Jones gives Roger ten dollars and advice for the future.
124 =The boy wanted to say something else other than Thank you, mam to Mrs. Luella Bates
Washington Jones, but he couldnt do so
Roger is speechless at this unexpected act of kindness.
Sample Answer = Here is a sample answer or suggested response to the writing prompt
In Langston Hughess short story, Thank you, Mam we see a boy who is transformed
by a womans act of kindness after he tries to steal her purse. In the beginning of the story
Roger is a thief and a liar. He attempts to steal Mrs. Jones purse and tries to run away. When
she asks him, What did you want to do it for? He lies and says, I didnt aim to. (122). We
learn from the conversation that Roger has a dirty face and nobody at home. Roger is
described as, fourteen or fifteen, frail and willow-wild, in tennis shoes and blue jeans. (122).
Roger struggles and tries to get away, but he is not strong enough. Mrs. Jones puts him
in a half-nelson and drags Roger up the street. After they arrive at her home, she asks his
name and directs him to wash his face. She turns Roger loose and though he considers
running, Roger chooses to stay. He washes his face like she asks, but Roger is still unsure
about what to do next, or what will happen next. You gonna take me to jail? (124).
Mrs. Jones does not take Roger to jail. Instead, she begins to talk to him about herself.
She shares that she ha[s] done things too in her past. At this point Roger seems to
understand that Mrs. Jones is different than what he assumed; maybe he feels that she
understands him. Roger no longer tries to get away, on the contrary, he now wants to be trusted
by Mrs. Jones. He stays within view so she will know he is not going to take her purse
anymore, he even offers to go to the store for her. Do you need somebody to go to the store,
asked the boy, maybe to get some milk or something? (124).
Mrs. Jones is generous with her food and shares a meal with Roger. She does not try to
embarrass him, but talks about herself during the meal. At the end, She gives him the ten
dollars for the shoes and advises him to behave [him]self. (124)
Roger is speechless and is barely able to say Thank you at the end of the story. Roger
never sees Mrs. Jones again, but we are left with the feeling that he probably tries to live up to
her expectations. Roger has changed from someone who is thinking only about himself, willing
to steal money for shoes, into someone who yearns to be trusted and helpful, and is thankful for
money given to him.
Additional/Extra Credit Tasks Above and Beyond
On page 122, Mrs. Jones says, You ought to be my son. I would teach you right from wrong.
Find all the examples in the text that demonstrate how Mrs. Jones treats Roger like a son.
Answer: On page 122, Least I can do right now is wash your face. On page 124, Mrs. Jones
tells Roger, You might run that comb through your hair so you will look presentable. On page
124, Mrs. Jones tells Roger, Eat some more, son. On page 124, Mrs. Jones says, Now, here,
take these $10 and buy yourself some blue suede shoes. On page 124, Mrs. Jones says, But
I wish you would behave yourself, son, from here on in.

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Lesson: Thank You, Maam - Langston Hughes

Suggested Time: 3- 4 days (45 minutes per day)

Text Dependent Questions

Tier II/Academic Vocabulary

Students identify their writing task from the prompt provided.

Page Number = Quote or paraphrase

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