A good chunk of our work during the last few weeks has centered around things readers can notice and think about when reading fiction. These are like signposts that guide readers toward the thinking required for full and deep comprehension. One signpost is referred to as contrasts & contradictions. This is when a character does or says something that seems to be unexpected for people in general or for that character specifically. When a reader notices this, he/she should stop and think about why the character did that. Another signpost is referred to as tough questions. These are usually written right into the text, either as dialog or the character's inner thoughts. Stopping to think, "What does this make me wonder about?" can help a reader recognize the character's inner conflict.
Students did some reflective thinking, about their vacation reading and about their work in Trimester 2.
We continue to use TFK magazine to learn about the world and to practice reading nonfiction. Most recently we practiced thinking about text structure. There are several common ways authors organize their ideas: description/list, sequence or chronological order, compare/contrast, problem/solution, and cause/effect. Recognizing the way an article is structured helps a reader understand what the author thinks is important and wants one to know.
Students recently did a new bookmark analysis, which helps them notice patterns in their reading habits and make new plans for growth and change.
