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What is it?
When readers approach a new text, there are several strategies that are
“automatic” for a skilled reader, but generally are not practiced by
struggling readers. The skilled reader knows that different types of
texts are organized in different ways and having an understanding of the
various structures provides a solid foundation for the reading
experience. Many of the suggestions below may seem basic to us, but many
of our students do not use these strategies; they simply open the book and
start reading (or not) on page one. Helping our students to consciously
develop these simple strategies will give them some very important
building blocks.
What does it look like?
The lists
of strategies that follow the sample graphic organizer below are organized
first by fiction texts since they are often our main focus in ELA. All of
the lists that follow will only add any variations or new ideas that are
specific to that type of text or genre; the intent is to create an
extensive reference tool for teachers to “cross-over” or “mix and match”
many of the items. Teachers can then choose the items off the various
lists for their appropriate grade level, focus and chosen text to
customize the framework template to the left.
Checking
Out the Framework:
Lord of
the Flies by William Golding
Items to Check Out
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Record Information and/or
Reaction
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Title:
any predictions, questions, clues, or connections? |
What a weird title! Who would ever want to be their lord?? Since
this is English class, it has probably got some symbolism thing
going . . . |
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Author:
familiar with? Still
living? Interesting facts? |
I
have never heard of this guy before. |
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Art work on Cover:
any clues or guesses?
possible symbolism? predictions? |
The art work is pretty cool; the young guy’s eyes look intense, like
he’s angry or something. I can’t figure out why he has ferns and
green vegetation all over his head. The bunch of flies in the bottom
right corner are obviously connected to the title, but I can’t tell
what they are sitting on; is it flesh? Maybe it takes place in a
jungle? |
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Blurb on the Back:
interesting facts?
descriptive words that catch your attention? Any predictions?
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Written in 1954, Golding’s first novel, words that hooked me:
tragic, provocative, desperate, frightening, nightmare, terror; “the
parable of our times,” might have to do with something in the 1940’s
or 1950’s, maybe WWII?? |
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Table of Contents:
what chapter titles
sound interesting? |
“Painted Faces and Long Hair,” “Beast from Air” “Gift for the
Darkness” and “A View to a Death” |
Teachers’
Reference List for Checking Out the Framework
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The title and/or subtitle – any
predictions, questions, clues, or connections?
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The author – Are
you familiar with him or her? Is the writer still living? Is there a
short biography somewhere in the book? Any interesting facts about the
person?
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The art work or
graphics on the cover/inside of the book – what’s the message, artist’s
intent? Any possible symbolism?
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Read the “blurbs”
on the back of the book, anything of interest? Are any pieces of the
plot revealed? Are there any clues as to who the best audience of the
book might be? Are there any descriptive words that catch your
attention? Can you make any predictions?
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Read the clips of
reviews inside the book on the opening pages, or on the back or the book
jacket: who are the reviewers and what do they have to say?
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Who published the
book and when? How many reprints have there been? Does this
information reveal any clues as to: bias, popularity, intent, historical
context, etc.?
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Check out the Table
of Contents: How is the book set up? Sections? Chapters? How many of
each? Do they have titles that catch your attention? Do their titles
give you clues to the text? How many pages does the book have?
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Are there any
quotes that the writer chose to put in the front of the book, before or
after the Table of Contents that may give you a clue to the writer’s
intent?
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Is the book
dedicated to anyone, and if so, what might be the significance?
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Is there a preface,
introduction or prologue? What do they reveal about the book?
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Read the first
paragraph or page to get a “taste” of the book; then skip ahead 5, 10 or
20 pages and read a few different sections to get a flavor of the
writer’s style. From this brief taste of the book, are you able to
identify the point of view the writer has chosen?
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Based on all of the above, make some
predictions as to your preliminary reaction or evaluation?
How could I use, adapt or differentiate it?
Click here to see
suggestions for checking out
the frameworks of
different genres
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