- How do I know if I'll like a book/how should I figure out what book to read?
We discussed lots of different options in class: read the summary on the jacket flap or on the back of the book; look at reviews or things other people have said about the book. Are any of the reviews from other authors you like? Examine the cover. See if it's won any awards. Read the first couple of pages. Does it seem interesting? Keep reading! Are there are a lot of words you don't know and it's making you feel stupid? Stop reading, and move on to the next one!
- How can I study new words I see in my book?
There are lots of ways to study new vocabulary: either words you find in your books, or words from our weekly spelling tests. One way we've practiced is Four Square. You can draw this on any sheet of paper, and it looks like this:
Just looking up words in the dictionary doesn't always help us actually figure out the meaning of a word, or help us remember it. This is one method which makes the meaning stick in your brains a little more.
Another way to figure out new words is to memorize the most common roots, suffixes, and prefixes in the English language. The 50 Essential Big Words sheet I gave you earlier in the year points out a lot of these suffixes and prefixes. (I can always print out more of this sheet if you need it.)
- Always feel free to question the author.
You should think about an author's motives when you're reading, especially when reading non-fiction. Think: What is the author's purpose? Are they just trying to entertain me, or inform me, or persuade me to a particular belief or viewpoint? When was this book published, and how can I tell that this author has done their research and knows what they're talking about?
- Know your reading vocabulary.
For example, you should be able to figure out who the
protagonist (the main character) is in your story, and who the possible
antagonist (someone who's working against the protagonist) is. You should also be able to recognize
conflict in the story, and understand how many different kinds of conflict there can be.
Also, what point of view is the story told from?
First person (I),
second person (you), or
third person (he, she, they). Is there a
glossary or
index of important terms in the book?
- Learn some more about how to read graphic novels.
Okay, so mainly, what I mean by that is learn how to SLOW DOWN! Even though it's hard to not flip through those pages super fast to see what happens next (especially when you're reading
Amulet!), try to take your time and really take a look at the artwork. Note the paneling, the color, the little details. Even the handwriting, or the style of the text is presented, can make a difference. There are many guides online full of tips and strategies for reading graphic novels. You can
click here for just one basic one from eHow.com to start.
- How to read a poem: Ms. Guccini's tips.
1. Read the title.
2. Read the title again.
3. Read through the whole poem.
4. Go back and look up any words you don't know in the dictionary. If there are a lot of words you don't know, read another poem.
5. Read the poem again. Good idea: read the poem out loud.
6. Read the title again.
7. Let it sink in.
Also, if you're interested in watching that slam poetry we watched in class, click here:
The Day Hip Hop Died.
