Reading is the key to learning!!!
Reading can be looked at as several very important concepts. Reading Strategies will be a central focus throughout the year, ensuring that students are able to apply strategies which will help bring about meaning and comprehension to what they read.
Novel Study
Touching Spirit Bear
By Ben Mikaelsen
At fifteen, Cole Matthews has been fighting and stealing for years. The punishment for smashing Peter Driscal´s skull into the walk - his most recent crime - is harsh. This time, Cole will have to choose between prison and Native American Circle Justice. He will live either behind bars or in isolation for one year.
Cole chooses Circle Justice. But in the first days of his banishment to a remote Alaskan island, he is mauled by a mysterious white bear and nearly dies. Will the attack of the spirit bear destroy Cole´s life or save his soul?
Cole chooses Circle Justice. But in the first days of his banishment to a remote Alaskan island, he is mauled by a mysterious white bear and nearly dies. Will the attack of the spirit bear destroy Cole´s life or save his soul?
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Literature Circles
Students are developing and practicing reading strategies in conjunction with Literature Circles. The students are grouped into reading or book club groups of six students. Each student will be responsible for reading the section of the book assigned, and prepare themselves for a book talk discussion around one of six central themes. The six themes include the Discussion Director, Word Finder, Illustrator, Summarizer, Connector, and Investigator. Further information will follow below:
When assigned a role for your session, please open the Role, Make a Copy and re title (Example: Connector - Name). Once you have done so, please upload to the LA Google Classroom Post for Literature Circles).
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Synthesizing - An Even More Important Reading Strategy
Synthesizing is when readers change their thinking as they read. They are working to put together all of the strategies taught to form thoughts, opinions and conclusions.
We will begin to look at Synthesizing utilizing a unit from Nelson Literacy 7 surrounding How to Send a Message!!!
Summarizing - An Important Reading Strategy
Our next unit of study will surround the topic of FEARS and PHOBIAS. Within this unit, we will look at Summarizing as a key reading strategy. We will also be looking at Word Choice, along with Media Text Analysis. Below is an excellent example of how to summarize what we read.
Making Inferences!!!
As a class we will be looking at how to sharpen our inference skill set in the coming month. We will make inferences while reading, writing with a strong voice, making inferences while listening, and analysing text pattern.
Making Connections!!!
Central to reading, students will also look at different types of reading, including fiction and non-fiction, elements of literature.
There are three types of questions you should be asking when reading text:- Literal or 'on the line' questions: The answer is clearly stated; it is on the page you are reading.
- Inferential or 'Between the lines' questions: The answer is there in the text, but it is harder to find. You have to put together clues in the text with what you know to get an answer. Think about what the author implies.
- Evaluative or 'Beyond the Lines' questions: These are often the toughest questions to answer because you are making a judgement or expressing a personal opinion using evidence from the text.
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