1. The More You Know, the More You See
Tackling Complexity: Nonfiction
Lesson 1

2. Teaching Point:
Today I want to teach you that readers don’t see with their eyes alone, but with their minds. Reading any text well requires you to approach that text, knowing things that are apt to be important. That knowledge comes from knowing about the genre (in this case, nonfiction. )

4. ‘Lessons from the Deep’
Of all the strange and wonderful creatures that live in the ocean, one unique creature stands out above the rest. It is the amazing octopus. There are over 300 different types of octopus, and they can be found in every ocean in the world.

5. Main idea?

6. Main idea?
The main idea of this chunk may be about the octopus.

7. Main idea?
I’m thinking… a main idea here is that the octopus is an unusual creature, because the author says the octopus is a ‘unique creature’ at the start of the paragraph.
The author goes on to further use specific words to support the idea that the octopus is truly unique:

8. Main idea?
I’m thinking… a main idea here is that the octopus is an unusual creature, because the author says the octopus is a ‘unique creature’ at the start of the paragraph.
The author goes on to further use specific words to support the idea that the octopus is truly unique:
Of all the strange and wonderful creatures that live in the ocean, one unique creature stands out above the rest. It is the amazing octopus. There are over 300 different types of octopus, and they can be found in every ocean in the world.

9. Main idea?
I’m thinking… a main idea here is that the octopus is an unusual creature, because the author says the octopus is a ‘unique creature’ at the start of the paragraph.
The author goes on to further use specific words to support the idea that the octopus is truly unique:
Of all the strange and wonderful creatures that live in the ocean, one unique creature stands out above the rest. It is the amazing octopus. There are over 300 different types of octopus, and they can be found in every ocean in the world.

11. Let’s keep thinking about what we need.
One of the most striking characteristics of the octopus is the wide array of techniques it uses to avoid or thwart its attackers. When an octopus wants to move quickly to escape a predator, it can expel water from its siphon and push itself backwards. This is called jet propulsion. Using this technique, octopuses can travel many miles. An octopus can also protect itself by squirting ink at a predator, obscuring its view and causing it to lose it sense of smell temporarily. This makes the fleeing octopus difficult to track for the predator. Using a network of pigment cells and specialized muscles in its skin the octopus can also instantaneously match the colors, patterns and even textures of its surroundings.

12. Let’s keep thinking about what we need.
One of the most striking characteristics of the octopus is the wide array of techniques it uses to avoid or thwart its attackers. When an octopus wants to move quickly to escape a predator, it can expel water from its siphon and push itself backwards. This is called jet propulsion. Using this technique, octopuses can travel many miles. An octopus can also protect itself by squirting ink at a predator, obscuring its view and causing it to lose it sense of smell temporarily. This makes the fleeing octopus difficult to track for the predator. Using a network of pigment cells and specialized muscles in its skin the octopus can also instantaneously match the colors, patterns and even textures of its surroundings.

13. Readers constantly work to outgrow themselves
Readers constantly work to outgrow themselves. That means they not only do the thinking work that’s easy for them, the also push themselves to do work that’s not as automatic.

14. share
Get ready to summarize!

15. Get ready to summarize! Count out our main ideas on your fingers.
share
Get ready to summarize!
Count out our main ideas on your fingers.
Think: First the text taught….and then it taught…
(Look back in the book to help you!)

16. One last thought
Remember how we read with great volume in our fiction unit?
Look back and see how much you read today.

17. One last thought
Remember how we read with great volume in our fiction unit?
Look back and see how much you read today.
Sometimes, when we read nonfiction, our pace slows, and it feels like we’re inching our way through a book. That is NOT okay.
You have to keep pushing yourself to keep reading down the page, not pausing after every tiny fact, so you can hold onto the important ideas you’re reading about. Try this as you read tonight and every time you read nonfiction from now on.