speech and language teaching concepts for Sheila Rae the Brave in speech therapy​ ​
Frequent Speech Sounds:

/sh/ initial (Sheila Rae)
/l/ initial and medial (Louise, Sheila Rae)
/r/ medial (Sheila Rae)
/r/ blends (afraid, brave, creatures, broke, pretend, stray, crack)
/v/ final
/z/ final (Louise)

Themes:

non-seasonal
feelings/emotions
bravery

Book Details:
Diverse Characters: N/A
Age Recommendation: Early Childhood, Elementary

Sheila Rae the Brave

By Kevin Henkes

“I am very brave,” Sheila Rae said, patting herself on the back. She wasn’t afraid of anything—not thunder, not lightning, not the big black dog at the end of the block. And when she wanted to walk home a new way and Louise wouldn’t, she called her sister a scaredy-cat and set out alone. But all the bravado in the world failed to help when Sheila Rae found herself lost. Luckily, her sister was not far behind.

This insightful feelings and /r/-themed book can be used in speech therapy to target /r/ blends. It also is great for addressing character analysis and the social/emotional issue of being overly confident while also being scared at times too. Discover more of the speech and language teaching concepts for using Sheila Rae the Brave in speech therapy below:

Key Teaching Concepts

Narrative Structure:

complete episode

Narrative Concepts:

theme/message​
character analysis​
social/emotional​
verbs (regular past tense)
verbs (mental state)
verbs (linguistic)

Character Analysis:

Sheila Rae thinks she is brave and brags a little (especially to her younger sister) about it until she gets lost. Just when her courage is shrinking, her family comes and her sister saves the day! Sheila Raw realizes that it’s ok to not be brave all the time and that others can be just as brave too.

Social/Emotional:

What do you think makes someone brave?
Is it ok to not be brave all the time?
Name a time you were brave.
Why do you think Sheila Rae is repeating to herself that she is brave and fearless?
Discuss the concept of a mantra and positive self-talk.
What are ways we can be positive role models at home and at school?

Grammar:

adjectives​
verbs (action)
verbs (regular past tense)
verbs (mental state)
verbs (linguistic)
synonyms/antonyms for brave and scared

Inferencing:

What do you know about Sheila’s personality at the beginning?
Why do each of those things make her brave?
What do you think about Sheila tying Wendell up?
Is that really brave?
What do others think of Sheila?
How does Sheila act towards those who are not as brave?
How does Sheila Rae feel when she hears the frightening noises?
What is Sheila Rae thinking when she is repeating to herself that she is brave?
Why did she start to cry?
How does she feel when her family appears?
What do you think she is thinking when Louise knows the way back home?
How do you think Sheila Rae feels about Louise and her new brave tricks?
How do you think Louise feels when she is acknowledged by Sheila Rae?

Predicting:

What do you think could make Sheila not be so brave?
What do you think Sheila will do when she realizes nothing looks familiar?
What do you think will happen to her?
How do you think they will get home?