1．Let Some Ss give some problems and Other Ss give advice.
2．Role-play the conversation of 2d.
Step 2 Lead in
Before reading the letters, ask the Ss to look at the picture on Page27 and answer：What kind of problems do you think “Sad and Thirteen” might have? Let the Ss guess and give their answers.
T show some new words: get on with; argue; nervous; communication; proper; communicate; explain; offer; etc.
Step 3 Reading
Work on 3a
1．Tell Ss to read the first letter in 3a quickly and try to find the answers to these questions:
What’s Sad and Thirteen’s problem?
How does he feel at home?
2．Have Ss work in pairs to predict what advice the school counselor might give. Invite some Ss to share their predictions with the class.
3．Let the Ss read the second letter, find out Robert Hunt’s advice.
4．Ss read the article again and fill in the chart.
5．Check answers as a class.
6．Help the Ss to understand some difficult sentences.
Work on 3b
1．Let Ss discuss Robert Hunt’s advice , encourage them to express their opinions and give reasons to support these opinions.
T: What do you think about Mr. Hunt’s advice? Do you agree with him?
S1：Yes, I do. I agree with his advice because…
S2：I’m afraid I don’t. I disagree with his advice because…
2．Have Ss work in groups to discuss the advice
3．Let some students of each group to give a report.
S1: I agree with his advice. Because more communication can make family members understand each other better and know about the feeling they have.
S2: I don’t agree with his advice. I think their parents should fight any more. They should care more about their children and spend more time with them.
Work on 3c
1．Let Ss read the words and phrases in 3c and identify the words/ phrases with the same of similar meanings as the words in the letter in 3a.
2．Ask Ss to underline the sentences which contain these words/phrases in the letter. Then let Ss write their own sentences in class or at home.
4．Check the answers
Step 4 Homework
1． Read the article several times after school.
2．Make sentences with these words:
argue; whatever; instead; nervous; explain; offer to do sth.; communicate with…