Metacognitive Reading Strategy #7: SYNTHESIZING A piece of cake! (Sorta…)

Synthesizing is more than a simple summary of ideas Synthesizing is when a reader joins new information with what you already know to form a new idea, perspective, or opinion or to generate insight.   So! Synthesizing is a creative thinking process, meaning you combine all the things you know and have learned while reading into a focused idea that has personal meaning for you, the reader.

What strategies do I use when I synthesize? What I think so far Background knowledge Inferring And Predicting Synthesizing Asking Questions Determining the Importance of ideas Creating Sensory Images Fix-up Strategies Making Connections

Synthesizing As easy as baking a cake….

The whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts!

Which means… You gather all the ingredients that make up a whole cake. The eggs are just eggs, the flour is just flour, and the sugar is only sugar. But when you mix it all together and add your own special touches, these details add up to a wonderful creation. The more experience you have baking, the more delightful your creation will be. The more questions you ask on how to bake, the better the results will be. The more you can think about and envision your final product, the more perfect your cake will turn out. Practice makes perfect!

A Synthesizing Cake When you begin reading, you will need the following ingredients.: 5 cups of background knowledge Past experiences, things you already know 1 giant cup of ‘What I am thinking now’ Putting thoughts into your own words will work the best 6 cups of metacognitive reading strategies Asking Questions Fix Up Strategies Determining the Main Idea Creating Sensory Images Making Connections Inferring and Predicting Remember 3 steps: 1. Add 2. Mix 3. Create Add all the ingredients together slowly and carefully. Stop to sprinkle with ‘thinking’ now and then. Stir in your background knowledge. Combine as many of the metacognitive reading strategies as possible - these will add greater understanding to the synthesizing layer cake. Fold in as many questions, ideas and thoughts to ensure your cake has the best result. Mix all together. Blend this mixture into your own words. Create your cake by synthesizing in your own words, Voila! A beautiful synthesized layer cake.

As a skilled reader, I synthesize as I read … I stop to collect my thoughts and ask “what does it all mean to me”? I identify the main idea and respond to it I put the information into my own words and respond to it I combine what I have just learned with what I already know and then respond to it I add my own thinking to what is important I notice my changing thoughts I add my thinking and background knowledge when reading I form opinions as I read

Synthesizing Practice: Chapter 6 Pg What I Know/Use (ADD) What I am Thinking (MIX) Now I Think (CREATE)

Synthesizing in action: Example 1 Pg Notes (ADD) Main ideas, Strategies I have used to help me understand What I am Thinking (MIX) What I know, Changing Thoughts Now I understand! (CREATE) (Respond in my own words, What does this all mean to me?) 66 Fix Up Strategy for ‘Rutted’: I am going to guess the meaning of the word as I know a ‘rut’ can be a place that you get stuck in, so it might mean a groove or small ditch on the road. Now I am thinking of what a terrible situation that this family had found itself in. They are avoiding the town so that they are not caught.   I thought that Kino might destroy the pearl, but now I believe he is strong and determined. He has become one with the pearl and he can’t turn back. Therefore, his family must now escape but this will not be easy. Finding a better life has become more difficult for Kino, Juana and Coyotito.

Synthesizing in action: Example 2 Pg Notes (ADD) Main ideas, Strategies I have used to help me understand What I am Thinking (MIX) What I know, Changing Thoughts Now I understand! (CREATE) (Respond in my own words, What does this all mean to me?) 66 - 67 Question: ‘ancient thing… there came a rush of exhilaration; some animal thing was moving in him so that he was cautious and wary and dangerous; some ancient thing out of the past of his people was alive in him.’ I wonder what this will mean for Kino? This is a feeling in Kino that has been present in his ancestors before him. Somehow I feel that the need to continue on this dangerous path is part of who he is, or that he has no choice. A natural feeling or instinct has taken over Kino.   I am beginning to think about the message of the author. He is trying to make us feel that Kino is being hunted. Kino is moving and thinking like an animal. I feel a tension building in the story and am beginning to fear for Kino and his family. The author is using sensory images achieve the feeling of an animal on the run.

Synthesizing in action: Example 3 Pg Notes (ADD) Main ideas, Strategies I have used to help me understand What I am Thinking (MIX) What I know, Changing Thoughts Now I understand! (CREATE) (Respond in my own words, What does this all mean to me?) 67 Creating Sensory Images Strategy: The music of the pearl was triumphant in Kino’s head, and the quiet melody of the family underlay it, and they wove themselves into the soft padding of sandaled feet in the dust.” I can hear the music that Kino hears. The music changes; sometimes family, sometimes the pearl—right now the pearl is louder   I am thinking that Kino hears the music of the family and of the pearl – that these are two of the most important things to him. These can be a source of conflict for Kino, especially since the pearl is triumphant in this moment I used to think that Kino might finally decide to throw the pearl away, but now I am thinking that he will keep the pearl as he has said he has the soul of the pearl. We are reminded of Kino's poverty and his need for this pearl. However, the pearl continues to cause conflict and I feel that there might be worse things to come.

Your turn! Keep reading chapter 6, making notes of your synthesizing process When you finish the chapter, answer the questions on the final slide of this PPT. Pg Notes (ADD) Main ideas, Strategies I have used to help me understand What I am Thinking (MIX) What I know, Changing Thoughts Now I understand! (CREATE) (Respond in my own words, What does this all mean to me?) Connection Here’s what I am thinking so far… At first I thought…but now I am thinking… Fix Up strategy Now I am thinking… I used to think…but now I am thinking… Asking Questions Oh! This changes everything! This is way different than I thought it was going to be…

Synthesizing to the end: Describe the moment that you understood the major event that occurred at the end of chapter six. Did you know this was going to happen? What were the clues that helped you understand the events at the end of chapter six? How did your thinking and reading change as you read the novel? What is your overall opinion of The Pearl? Remember, do NOT give away the ending to others who haven’t finished the book yet!