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A Fence, Two Yards and a Mediator

4th grade nonfiction passage about solving neighbor disagreements: 192 words, six questions, an answer key and vocabulary.

4th grade nonfiction solving neighbor disagreements 192 words

A Fence, Two Yards and a Mediator

Suppose two neighbors disagree about where a fence should stand. Each one is sure the line between the yards is in a different place. Soon they are both upset, and they have stopped saying hello. What can they do?

First, they can talk calmly. Many problems end when each person listens and explains what worries them. If talking does not work, they can check the facts. A town office often keeps records about property, and a surveyor can measure the land and mark the true line. Very often, the measuring settles the question.

If the neighbors still cannot agree, they can ask for a mediator. A mediator is a trained person who does not take sides. The mediator makes sure each neighbor gets a turn to speak, listens carefully, and asks helpful questions. Then the mediator helps the neighbors come up with a plan that both of them accept.

The mediator does not decide who is right. The neighbors make the choice themselves. Many places offer mediation to help people settle problems, and it usually feels calmer than a fight. A good solution lets neighbors keep living side by side in peace.

Questions

  1. What are the two neighbors disagreeing about? in the text

  2. What is the first thing the neighbors can try? in the text

  3. What can a surveyor do? in the text

  4. What is a mediator? in the text

  5. Who decides the solution when a mediator helps? in the text

  6. Why is it important that a mediator does not take sides? think about it

Words to know

disagree
to have a different idea about something
surveyor
a person who measures land to find its exact edges
mediator
someone who helps people settle a disagreement
records
papers or files that keep facts for later
calmly
in a quiet, relaxed way
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One passage, three levels

The same topic and facts written three ways, so a mixed class can read and talk about one text. Each group’s sheet shows only a shape; the key says which is which.

● Easier · 187 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 3.9

Say two neighbors disagree about where a fence should go. Each one is sure the line between the yards is in a different place. Soon both are upset. They stop saying hello. What can they do?

First, they can talk calmly. Many problems end when each person listens. Each one can explain what worries them. If talking does not work, they can check the facts. A town office often keeps records about property. A surveyor can measure the land. The surveyor marks the true line. Very often, the measuring settles it.

Maybe the neighbors still cannot agree. Then they can ask for a mediator. A mediator is a trained person who does not take sides. The mediator gives each neighbor a turn to speak. The mediator listens and asks helpful questions. Then the mediator helps the neighbors make a plan. Both of them can accept it.

The mediator does not say who is right. The neighbors make the choice themselves. Many places offer mediation to help people solve problems. It usually feels calmer than a fight. A good plan lets neighbors live side by side in peace.

▲ This passage · 192 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 5.6

Suppose two neighbors disagree about where a fence should stand. Each one is sure the line between the yards is in a different place. Soon they are both upset, and they have stopped saying hello. What can they do?

First, they can talk calmly. Many problems end when each person listens and explains what worries them. If talking does not work, they can check the facts. A town office often keeps records about property, and a surveyor can measure the land and mark the true line. Very often, the measuring settles the question.

If the neighbors still cannot agree, they can ask for a mediator. A mediator is a trained person who does not take sides. The mediator makes sure each neighbor gets a turn to speak, listens carefully, and asks helpful questions. Then the mediator helps the neighbors come up with a plan that both of them accept.

The mediator does not decide who is right. The neighbors make the choice themselves. Many places offer mediation to help people settle problems, and it usually feels calmer than a fight. A good solution lets neighbors keep living side by side in peace.

■ Harder · 204 words · Flesch-Kincaid grade 8.5

Suppose two neighbors disagree about the location where a fence ought to stand. Each is convinced that the boundary between the yards lies in a different spot. Before long, both are upset, and they have even stopped greeting one another. What options do they have?

To begin with, they can talk calmly. Many problems disappear when each person listens carefully and explains what worries them. If conversation fails, they can examine the facts. A town office frequently keeps records about property, and a surveyor can measure the land and mark the true boundary. Quite often, the measurements settle the question completely.

If the neighbors still cannot reach an agreement, they can request a mediator. A mediator is a trained person who refuses to take sides. The mediator ensures that each neighbor has a turn to speak, listens attentively, and asks helpful questions. Afterward, the mediator guides the neighbors toward a plan that both of them are willing to accept.

The mediator never decides who is right; the neighbors make the choice themselves. Many communities offer mediation to help people resolve their problems, and it generally feels calmer than a bitter quarrel. A good solution allows neighbors to continue living side by side in peace.

Download as one PDF

How to use it

  1. Press Read it big (or B) to put the text on the projector, or Full screen (F) to fill the whole screen.
  2. Ask the questions one at a time and use Show answer when the class has decided. A shows or hides every answer.
  3. Print student copy for the class, or Print with answers for yourself.

Ideas for class

  • Before reading, put disagree, surveyor, mediator, records and calmly on the board with their meanings from the Words to know section and have students predict what the text will be about.
  • Read it aloud once while students follow along, then have them reread it alone or with a partner. At a calm 100 words a minute it takes about 2 minutes to read aloud.
  • Use the Read it big button (or B) to put the text on the projector, and Show answer on one question at a time so the class commits to an answer first.
  • Question 6 asks the reader to infer. Ask students to point to the words in the passage that led them to their answer.
  • Ask students to write one question the passage did not answer, then look for the answer in a book or on a classroom screen.
  • Print the student copy for independent work and keep the answer-key copy for yourself.

Related

Questions

What reading level is "A Fence, Two Yards and a Mediator"?

It was written for 4th grade. It has 192 words and works out to a Flesch-Kincaid grade level of about 5.6. That is a formula's estimate from sentence length and syllables, and it is not a Lexile or a guided reading level, so check it against your students.

What do the questions ask?

There are six. 5 ask for something the text says directly and 1 ask the reader to work something out from clues. Each has an answer in the key, and the answers are written as a teacher would accept them, not as the only possible wording.

How long does it take to read?

About 2 minutes read aloud at 100 words a minute. For a one-minute fluency check, paste it into the fluency timer and use the word count.

Can I print it?

Yes. Print student copy gives the passage, the questions with lines to write on, and the word meanings. Print with answers gives the same page with the answers filled in. Both are made in your browser.

Is this passage from a published book?

No. It was written for Peabody Teach, so there is no book to buy and no login to read it.

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