1. LET’S REVIEW. We have learned three signposts. What are they?
Contrasts and Contradictions
Aha Moments
Tough Questions
What are the anchor questions that go with each?
C&C: Why would the character act or feel this way?
Aha: How might this change things?
TQ: What does this question make me wonder about?

2. A NEW SIGNPOST
Today, we are learning a new signpost called Words of the Wiser.
Turn and Talk: What might Words of the Wiser be, and what might it look like in our reading?
Share as a class

3. TODAY’S LEARNING GOALS
Today, we are learning to…
Notice a textual element that leads to deeper understanding of the text
Evaluate information presented in different media, specifically video clips
Apply new knowledge of Words of the Wiser to independent reading

4. WORDS OF THE WISER We experience Words of the Wiser all the time.
Your parents or grandparents might have “sayings” that they tell you frequently:
“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”
“Always tell the truth.”
“You get what you get, and you’re happy that you get it.”
Words of the Wiser are lessons that people who are older and wiser than us teach us.

5. AUTHORS GIVE US WORDS OF THE WISER
Authors can act like parents or grandparents or older brothers or sisters by giving us Words of the Wiser.
They often include scenes in their writing in which wise words are shared.
It’s important to be on the lookout for these scenes.
I want to pay attention because the wiser character is usually giving the main character good advice.
The advice is probably a life lesson, so if I pay attention, I’ll see an important idea the author wants me to think about.

6. WORDS OF THE WISER
Words of the Wiser are found in scenes in which a wiser character offers the main character advice that is helpful at this moment in the story but could also be helpful throughout life.
When we notice Words of the Wiser, we must ask ourselves the anchor question:
What is the life lesson and how might this affect the character?
Answering this question will help us understand:
The character
The conflict
The plot
The message or theme

7. QUICK REVIEW Words of the Wiser are:
Wise words or advice given by someone older and wiser
Words of the Wiser appear in our reading as:
A scene where an older and wiser character gives the main character advice
Words of the Wiser help us understand:
The character, conflict, plot, and theme or message
The anchor question we ask ourselves when we notice Words of the Wiser is:
What is the life lesson and how might this affect the character?

8. YOUR TURN
Identify Words of the Wiser you’ve been given in your life. Jot them down on a Post-It note.
Answer the anchor question: What was the life lesson and how did it affect you? Jot down a few thoughts on the Post-It
Class share

9. THE LION KING Jot down the Words of the Wiser when you hear them.
Turn and Talk: Discuss responses to the anchor question.
Share as a class.

10. HARRY POTTER Jot down the Words of the Wiser when you hear them.
Write your answer to the anchor question.
Share as a class

11. WORDS OF THE WISER IN TEXT: RIDING FREEDOM
Please take a copy of the excerpt from Riding Freedom from the center bin.
Riding Freedom is about a young girl named Charlotte who lives during the mid-1800s. Her parents are dead and she lives in an orphanage. She loves horses, but the overseer of the orphanage where she lives forbids her to work with them simply because she’s a girl. Life there is hard, and at some point she realizes she cannot stay there, so she decides to run away from the orphanage.
Let’s look at a short scene in which Charlotte tells a trusted older and wiser adult at the orphanage that she must escape. His name is Vern, and his job at the orphanage is to take care of the horses.
Please follow along as I read aloud.

12. DID YOU FIND IT? Jot down the Words of the Wiser right on the text.
Write your answer to the anchor question on the text.
Share as a class.

13. QUICK REVIEW With your partner, answer these three questions:
What are Words of the Wiser?
What does it look like in our reading?
What does it help us understand in the book?
What is the anchor question we ask?
You have 30 seconds.

14. INDEPENDENT READING TIME
During today’s independent reading time, you may…
Read independently, taking notes on the signposts with Post-Its
Work on your Words of the Wiser HW
Work on your Reader Response Letter