Bluford High: Lost and FoundGrade Band HS Reading Level 3.4

Adapted Book Usage

These adapted resources are provided by the ACCESS Project at the University of Delaware’s Center for Disability Studies for teachers to help students with significant intellectual disabilities participate in the general curriculum. Please limit the use and distribution of these materials accordingly. Please read and purchase each original text (cited by author) prior to using the adapted text.

ACCESS ProjectCenter for Disabilities Studies

University of Delaware461 Wyoming Road, Newark, DE 19716

Phone: 302-831-1052 Email: deaccessproject@udel.edu

www.deaccessproject.org

Chapter 1

Darcy Mills was a 10th grade student. She lived with her mom, sister, and

grandmother. Her grandmother was sick. Her mother worked a lot as a nurse.

Darcy tried to take care of her sister, Jamee. Jamee was in 8th grade. She was

hanging around the wrong people. Darcy was trying to take care of herself and

her family.

Darcy was starting a science project. The teacher assigned Tarah as her partner.

Darcy did not want to work with Tarah. Darcy thought she was smarter than

Tarah. Tarah told Darcy that no one liked her. Darcy didn’t have many friends.

Darcy was trying to take care of herself and her family.

Chapter 2

Darcy’s dad had not come home in five years. She was 11 when he left. Jamee

wanted to know why he left. Jamee was close with him. She became angry and

sad. Darcy was very worried about her sister.

The next day, Darcy tried to be nice to Tarah. Tarah asked why Darcy was being so

nice. Darcy and her friend Brisana usually made fun of people. Today, it bothered

her when Brisana made fun of Tarah. Darcy was very worried about her sister.

Later that day, Darcy overheard Jamee’s boyfriend talking about a girl who stole a

CD for him. Darcy knew he was making fun of Jamee. Darcy told Jamee. Jamee

started crying. Darcy was very worried about her sister.

Chapter 3

Darcy felt bad for upsetting Jamee. Jamee was already hurt by her father leaving

and grandma getting sick. Jamee’s boyfriend hurt her feelings too. Darcy was

having a hard time with her friends and family.

Darcy cared a lot for her sick grandmother. Her grandmother remembered when

they would go on hikes as a family. Darcy and her sister enjoyed hiking. Darcy was

upset because her family could not hike together anymore. Darcy was having a

hard time with her friends and family.

Darcy, Tarah, and Tarah’s boyfriend, Cooper, went to see tidal pools for their

project. Tarah and Cooper played a joke on Darcy. She did not think it was funny.

Darcy would not ride home with them. Darcy waited for the bus to come. She saw

a man in a car looking at her. She got very scared. Darcy was having a hard time

with her friends and family.

Chapter 4

Finally, the bus came and the man drove away. The next day, Darcy, Jamee, and

their mom went to their Aunt Charlotte’s for dinner. Aunt Charlotte and Jamee

said mean things. They did not get along. Aunt Charlotte made them leave. Their

mom was embarrassed. Jamee was a lot like her dad. Darcy could not stop

thinking about the man in the car.

The next day, Darcy talked to Brisana. Brisana made fun of Cooper and Tarah

again. Darcy asked Brisana not to call Tarah and Cooper names. Just as they were

leaving school, Darcy saw the man in the car again. He drove away. She went to

her first class. She found a mean note taped to her desk. Darcy could not stop

thinking about the man in the car.

Chapter 5

Tarah apologized for the joke they played on Darcy. When Darcy got home from

school, her mom was still there. She wanted to see Darcy before she went to

work. Darcy found out who the man in the car was.

After her mom left, the phone rang. It sounded like someone was screaming.

Darcy hung up. She thought it was a prank. She thought it was the same person

who wrote the note. Darcy found out who the man in the car was.

When Jamee got home, she had a black eye. Darcy wanted to know who punched

Jamee. Jamee would not tell her. She was scared to tell Darcy. Darcy knew that

Jamee’s boyfriend hit her. Darcy found out who the man in the car was.

Later, Darcy saw the same car parked outside. She worried that the man would

get into the apartment. She called the police for help. They came and told her

that the man claimed to be her dad. He looked old and heavy, but it was her dad.

Darcy found out who the man in the car was.

Chapter 6

Darcy did not want to see her dad. She told him to go away. He gave her his

phone number in case she changed her mind. He promised to leave them alone.

Jamee and Darcy wondered why their dad came back.

When their mom got home, Darcy and Jamee told her that their dad had come

back. Jamee said that she hated their dad. That night, Darcy could hear her mom

crying. Jamee and Darcy wondered why their dad came back.

On her way to school, Jamee’s boyfriend got angry at Darcy. He blamed Darcy for

his breakup with Jamee. He grabbed Darcy by the wrist. Just as he was about to

hit her, Cooper and his friends tackled him. Jamee’s boyfriend got up and drove

away. Jamee and Darcy wondered why their dad came back.

Darcy was thankful and surprised that Cooper helped her. Jamee’s boyfriend was

suspended from school for three days. He also admitted to making the phone call

and writing the note. Jamee and Darcy wondered why their dad came back.

Chapter 7

Darcy thanked Cooper again the next day for helping her. Darcy ate lunch with

Cooper and Tarah. Hakeem, the boy that Darcy liked, sat right next to her.

Suddenly, things were looking better for Darcy.

After school, Darcy told Tarah about her dad coming back. Tarah told Darcy not to

give up on him because he might want to apologize. Darcy started to cry. Tarah

was very comforting. Suddenly, things were looking better for Darcy.

Darcy’s mom decided not to contact their father. Darcy and Jamee said that they

understood. Darcy could see Jamee losing hope. Jamee thought her dad would

make her feel special again. Suddenly, things were looking better for Darcy.

On Saturday, Cooper took Tarah and Darcy to the tidal pool again. Hakeem also

went. He told Darcy he liked her. He asked her to see a band with him on Friday

after school. Suddenly, things were looking better for Darcy.

Chapter 8

Darcy was really excited for her date. Hakeem really liked the music at the

concert. Darcy liked being with him. When he took her home, she kissed him on

the cheek. Jamee was missing .

When Darcy got back, Jamee was gone. Many things were missing from her room.

Darcy called everyone she knew. No one knew where Jamee was. Jamee was

missing .

Darcy’s mom called the police. They said Jamee was probably a runaway. Tarah,

Cooper, and Hakeem helped Darcy look for Jamee. They looked at the bus station

and other places but couldn’t find her. Jamee was missing .

Chapter 9

After looking for Jamee, they went back to Darcy’s apartment. Her dad’s car was

parked outside. He hoped it wasn’t his fault Jamee was gone. Darcy just wanted

her sister back.

Darcy and her dad went to a diner to talk. She told him how much pain they felt

when he left. There was no good reason why he had left them. Even though he

apologized, Darcy did not want him to be part of her life. Darcy just wanted her

sister back.

Chapter 10

Darcy felt helpless when she thought about her sister. Darcy went to talk to her

grandmother. Jamee had told their grandmother that she felt happy and safe in

the mountains. Darcy wondered if Jamee could be in the mountains. That was

where their family was always happy together. Darcy felt hope for the future.

Darcy and her dad went to look for Jamee. They found the place where they used

to go hiking. He found Jamee unconscious next to her favorite tree. Darcy felt

hope for the future.

They took Jamee to the hospital. The doctor said Jamee was lucky. Their mom

was so thankful that Jamee was okay. Darcy told Jamee that their father was the

one who found her. Darcy was glad they found Jamee and that she had three new

friends. Darcy felt hope for the future.

Lost and Found Vocabulary Definitions* This list is a vocabulary reference tool.

Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on student needs.Essential VocabularyImportant Vocabulary

Student: someone who goes to a school

Nurse: someone who takes care of people who are sick

Science Project: an activity for students to learn more about certain areas of science

Partner: two people who work together

Friend: someone you like, get along with, and trust

Worried: feeling anxious or upset

Angry: feeling mad and upset

Steal: to take something from someone else without their permission

Crying: to have tears come out of your eyes

Sick: unhealthy

Remember: to think about again

Hikes: a long walk for exercise

Tidal Pool: small areas by oceans that collect water and have many different kinds of animals living in them

Scared: surprised, nervous, or alarmed

Embarrass: feeling uneasy or uncomfortable and self-conscious

Note: something written on a piece of paper

Apologize: to say I’m sorry

Prank: a trick

Punch: to hit with a fist

Police: the part of the government that keeps order, enforces laws, and makes arrests

All definitions adapted from www.wordcentral.com

Heavy: having a lot of weight

Promise: saying that you will or will not do something

Hate: strong dislike

Tackle: to grab someone and throw them down

Surprise: not expected

Suspended: to be punished and not allowed to come to school

Thank: to show gratitude

Like: to enjoy

Comfort: to give strength and hope

Hope: wanting something and expecting it will happen

Band: a group of people who play music together

Date: an activity or appointment for two people who like each other

Concert: a musical performance

Missing: lost or absent

Runaway: a person who has run away or left without telling anyone

Bus station: the regular stopping place of a bus

Fault: responsibility for doing something wrong

Pain: physical suffering

Helpless: not able to help yourself

Mountain: an area of land that is bigger than a hill

Unconscious: not mentally aware

Doctor: a person who helps people get better when they are sick

Lucky: having good things happen

All definitions adapted from www.wordcentral.com

Bluford High: Lost and Found * This list is a vocabulary reference tool.

Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on student needs.

Vocabulary ObjectStudent BackpackNurse Blood pressure cuffScience Project BeakerPartner Pair of dollsFriend HandshakeWorried Bite nails, tap pencilAngry Stress Ball/Boxing glovesSteal Take an object awayCrying KleenexSick Thermometer Remember Tactile checklistHikes Boots, Dirt, CanteenTidal Pool Small Bowl of Water with sandScared Hide under a blanket (reaction to fear)Embarrass Hands over faceNote Envelope, Card, PenApologize Sign for “I’m sorry”Prank Whoopee cushion Punch Punching bagPolice Toy Police Car/Whistle/Police CostumeHeavy WeightPromise Cross heart, Raise right hand, Pinky swearHate Mean Mask, Angry FaceTackle Football pads, helmet Surprise Jack in the Box/Party Horn/ConfettiThank Sign Language, Shake HandLike Favorite ObjectComfort HugBand Musical InstrumentsDate Flowers, Hold HandsConcert MicrophoneMissing Puzzle with piece missingRunaway SuitcaseBus station Bus ticketPain Band aid, pinchMountain Mound of dirt Unconscious PillowDoctor StethoscopeLucky Clover/Horse Shoe

Lost and Found Public Domain Vocabulary Pictures*This list is a vocabulary reference tool. Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on student needs.

Student

Nurse

Science Project

Partner

Friend

Worried

Angry

Steal

Crying

Sick

Remember

Hike

Lost and Found Public Domain Vocabulary Pictures*This list is a vocabulary reference tool. Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on student needs.

Tidal Pool

Scared

Embarrass

Note

Apologize

Prank

Punch

Police

Heavy

Promise

Hate

Tackle

Lost and Found Public Domain Vocabulary Pictures*This list is a vocabulary reference tool. Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on student needs.

Surprise

Suspended

Thank

Like

Comfort

Hope

Band Date

Concert

Missing

Runaway

Bus Station

Lost and Found Public Domain Vocabulary Pictures*This list is a vocabulary reference tool. Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on student needs.

Fault

Pain

Helpless

Mountain

Unconscious

Doctor

Lucky

Lost and Found Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

1. What does Darcy’s mom do? (nurse)2. Who is Darcy’s partner for the science project? (Tarah)3. Why didn’t Darcy want Tarah as her partner? (Darcy thought she was smarter than Tarah)

Chapter 2

1. How did Jamee feel when her dad left? (angry and sad)2. What did Darcy hear Jamee’s boyfriend talking about? (a girl who stole a CD for him)3. Why did Jamee start crying? (because her boyfriend was making fun of her)

Chapter 3

1. Why was Darcy upset? (because her family couldn’t hike together anymore)2. How does Darcy get home from the tidal pool? (she takes the bus)3. Who does Darcy see in the car? (a man looking at her)

Chapter 4

1. What did Darcy find taped to her desk? (a mean note)2. Why was Darcy nervous? (because she saw the man in the car again)

Chapter 5

1. How did Jamee get her black eye? (her boyfriend hit her)2. Who is the man following Darcy? (her father)3. Who did Darcy call for help? (the police)

Chapter 6

1. Why was Darcy’s mom crying? (because Darcy’s dad came back)2. How did Cooper help Darcy? (he tackled Jamee’s boyfriend when he was going to hit Darcy)3. Who left the mean note and prank called Darcy? (Jamee’s boyfriend)

Chapter 7

1. What did Tarah tell Darcy about her dad? (not to give up on him because he might want to apologize)

2. Where does Hakeem invite Darcy to go with him? (to see a band)3. How did Jamee think her dad would make her feel? (special)

Lost and Found Comprehension Questions

Chapter 8

1. How did Darcy feel about her date with Hakeem? (excited; she liked him; she liked being with him)

2. Where was Jamee when Darcy got back from the concert? (gone, missing, not in her room)3. Who helped Darcy look for Jamee? (Tarah, Cooper, and Hakeem)

Chapter 9

1. Whose car was in front of Darcy’s apartment when they got back? (her dad)2. What did Darcy tell her dad at the diner? (how much pain they felt when he left)3. How did Darcy’s dad feel? (sorry)

Chapter 10

1. Where does Darcy’s dad find Jamee? (under her favorite tree where they used to hike as a family)

2. What does the doctor say about Jamee? (that she is lucky; that she is ok)3. Why is Darcy glad? (because they found Jamee and she has three new friends)