Bellwork for Monday, September 9th

-Take any handouts from the counter.

-Write in your agenda.

-Take out your prefix flashcards and list.

-Create flashcards for the next five prefixes.

Prefix and Definition Example

preter- past, beyond preternatural

pro- forward proceed, promote

re- again, back recall, recede

retro- backward, behind, back retroactive

se- apart secede

Note and Notice

Close reading strategies

Signposts

Why do we need signs?

What is a signpost in reading?

Authors use signposts in their stories that help us know what to watch for. These signposts tell us about the characters, about the conflicts or problems in the story, and sometimes about the big life lessons in the story.

However, you have to know what signposts to look for or you might just read right on past them.

In a story, most signposts tell us to slow down and think about what’s happening. If we don’t know to look for the signposts that authors give, and don’t know what they mean, we might just breeze past them and find ourselves off the road and in the ditch.

We will be talking about SIX SIGNPOSTS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

Aha moment

What do you think an Aha Moment is?

Can you explain it?

Have you ever experienced an AHA moment in

your life?

In reading, an Aha Moment is when a character realizes something, and that realization will probably change his or her actions in some way.

AHA Moment

When you’re reading and suddenly a character realizes, understands, or finally figures something out,

YOU SHOULD STOP AND ASK YOURSELF:

“How might this change things?

If the character figured out a problem, you probably just learned about the conflict. If the character understood a life lesson, you probably just learned the theme.

AHA Moment

Let’s create our own signposts so we can remember.

We are going to practice finding an Aha Moment using at excerpt from Crash by Jerry Spinelli.

Bellwork for Tuesday, September 10th

Take any handouts from the counter.

Write in your agenda.

In your GUM workbook, complete page 25, numbers 6-20.

CONTRASTS AND CONTRADICTIONS

Contrast – different from something else

Contradiction - a combination of statements, ideas, or features of a situation that are opposed to one another.

When authors show us something that doesn’t fit with what we expect, when they present us with a contrast or a contradiction, then we want to pause and ask ourselves one question: Why would the character act this way?

Contrasts and contradictions

As I read, I am on the lookout for a place where the author shows me a character acting in a way that is a contrast or contradiction with how he or she has been acting or how I would expect the character would act.

WHEN YOU NOTICE THAT CONTRAST OR CONTRACTION, STOP AND ASK:

Why would the character act that way?

When you answer that question, you will learn more about the character and sometimes more about the problems he or she faces. Sometimes you might even gain some insight into a theme—the important life lesson the author is trying to share.

Contrasts and contradictions

Let’s create our own signpost so we can remember.

We are going to practice finding some contrasts and contradictions using “Thank You, Ma’m” by Langston Hughes.

Bellwork for Wednesday, September 11th

Take any handouts from the counter.

Write in your agenda.

In your GUM workbook, complete page 26, numbers 6-20.

Memory moment

What do you think a memory moment could be?

What do you think it could when you’re reading a text?

Memory moment

Today’s signpost is going to help you understand why characters do what they do.

When you’re reading and the author interrupts the action to tell you a memory, you should STOP and ask yourself”

Why might this memory be important?

The answers will tell you about the theme, conflict, or might foreshadow what will happen later in the story.

Memory Moment

Let’s create our own signpost so we can remember.

Let’s take a look at how this works in a text. We will practice with Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer.

Bellwork for Tuesday, September 12th

Take any handouts from the counter.

Write in your agenda.

In your GUM workbook, complete page 27, numbers 6-15.