1. Reading Comprehension A list of strategies

2. Talk to Yourself When you read, it is important to talk to yourself silently in your head. After a few paragraphs, ask yourself, “Did I understand what I read?” If the answer is yes, keep reading. If the answer is no, go back and read again.

3. Find the Problem Did I…. a.) run into a difficult word? b.) stop concentrating? c.) read it too fast? d.) not know enough about the topic of what I am reading? e.) not know what to expect?

4. Fix the problem Skip the word and read to the end of the paragraph, trying to figure out what it means from context. Ask someone the meaning of the word, look for a definition in text or dictionary. Reread the paragraph. Read aloud or sign it to yourself. Identify the topic and ask yourself what you know about this topic. Find out more about the topic-ask someone or look it up. Use text features like pictures, heading, captions, charts, etc.

5. Context Clues When you’re reading and you come across a word you don’t know: Use the other words in a sentence to give you hints. Try to put a word you do know in place of the word you don’t know and see if the sentence makes sense. Ex. Why is your proboscis in the middle of your face? By using context clues, you can figure out that proboscis means nose.

6. Types of Context Clues Examples: Definition- Some spiders spin silk with tiny organs called spinnerets. Synonym- Mrs. Kleiber admonished her students and they knew with this warning they were in trouble for their actions. (The synonym is warning) Antonym- It was your duplicity that caused me to break up with you! Had you been honest, I wouldn't have felt the need. (The antonym is honest) Example- I was shocked at her duplicity when she stole my diamond earrings, sold them on eBay and lied to me about it the whole time. (Example: stole, sold, and lied)

7. Inferences To make inferences: ▫Ask yourself, “What do I already know that will help me understand what I’m reading? ▫Think about what you’ve learned through past experiences. ▫Think about what clues you’ve already learned from the reading. ▫Try to find additional clues by looking back over the reading.

8. Interpreting Perspectives When you interpret someone else’s perspective: Consider other points of view in order to make a conclusion. Put yourself in “their shoes” to help you understand. Think about how that person would think or feel about the situation. 1 st Person 3 rd Person

9. Making Predictions In order to make an accurate and appropriate prediction: Use what you’ve learned from the reading to help you figure out what may happen next. Listen out for “clues” provided by the author. Read chapter titles and look at any pictures to help you.

10. Visualizing When you visualize as you read: ▫Create images in your mind based on what you read. ▫Use the descriptive words to help you “make a movie in your mind”. ▫Think about each of the five senses to help you form an image. ▫Afterwards, share what you “see” in your mind with others.

11. Paraphrasing Stephmeyer: Girl falls in love with boy. Boy changes girl. They fight off scary people. All ends well. @eltonjohn The king of the jungle is killed. Little cub runs away. Makes two friends. Uncle tries to kill him. Cub grows up to become king. #circleoflife Chriscolumbus: Family leaves. Boy stays. He fights off bad guys with clever tricks. Family comes back. Feels bad. Happens again 2 more times. Pixar: Fish loses his father. Meets forgetful friend. Together they look for his father. #PSherman42wallabyway,sydney

12. Paraphrasing (Continued) To paraphrase: Use your own words to express the meaning. Make information clearer and easier to understand. Explain the meaning without plagiarizing the original author. Use synonyms (words that have a similar or same meaning) to replace the original words and change the word order or sentence structures to make it “your own”. If the original content contains figurative language, you have to explain the intended meaning. You can’t use synonyms to replace those words. Finally, restate what you paraphrased to make sure you have maintained the original meaning.

13. Sequencing Events When you retell events from a story: Tell what happened in the correct order using complete sentences. Include the main idea. Use sequencing words to make your story “flow” (first, then, next, etc.). Use specific character names so the listener can understand and follow the plot. Include all necessary details and events that are CRUCIAL to the story. Overall, your retell should be cohesive and concise. A person who is unfamiliar to the story should be able to understand the story based on your retell.

14. Transition Words- do not use the same transition word all of the time first, second, third are for babies! at firstfirst of allto begin within the first place at the same timefor nowfor the time beingthe next step in timein turnlater onmeanwhile nextthensoonthe meantime laterwhileearliersimultaneously afterwardin conclusionwith this in mindFinally afterfollowingwheneversometimes immediatelyneveralwaysat length

15. The Hungry Caterpillar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ePOq_S04 p8http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ePOq_S04 p8

16. Foreshadowing/Hypothesize To predict what will happen in the story based on clues “It was a dark and stormy night…” The witches in Macbeth

17. Ominous "On December the third the wind changed overnight and it was winter." The story's protagonist remarks, "there are more birds about than usual...And daring. Some of them taking no notice of the tractor. One or two gulls came so close to my head this afternoon I thought they'd knock my cap off"

18. "Does this safari guarantee I come back alive?" The reply: "We guarantee nothing!"

19. Direct Quote of ForeshadowingWhat does it mean? Hakeem gave Darcy a hug, but she felt right away that there was something wrong. His arms were like dead weights around her, and the embrace did not last long before Hakeem pulled away. Something is going to happen in their relationship. They will fight and maybe break up.

20. Figurative Language Simile Metaphor Hyperbole Idiom Irony Alliteration

21. IRONY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqg6RO8c_W0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqg6RO8c_W0 Dramatic Irony-This occurs when the reader or audience understands more about the events of a story than a character. Ex.) I was watching an old Ellen episode. A celebrity on it was hoping that Alabama would win because they were undefeated. I knew that they had already lost.

22. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZFYuX84n1U Situational Irony-This occurs when what actually happens is the opposite of what is expected or appropriate Ex. The guy who invented the segway died by a segway.

23. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiR-bnCHIYo Verbal Irony-A character says one thing but really means the opposite. Sarcasm “Teachers get paid so much.”

24. Hyperbole Hyperbole-extreme exaggeration http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfBMlvdzEo 0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfBMlvdzEo 0 Example-I’m so thirsty I could drink an ocean. Example-I’m so thirsty I could drink 3 gallons of water Nonexample-I was so thirsty that I could drink chocolate milk. Example-I am so happy I could cry for hours. Nonexample-I’m so happy that I got a new car.

25. Alliteration The use of words that begin with the same sound near one another. Alliteration is used a lot in poems or newspaper headlines. It evokes emotion in the reader According to Amy, alliteration are awesome! Lauren loves lollipops. Natalie knows neuropathy. Ron runs to Rhode Island.

27. Making Connections Text-to-text Connect what you are reading with what you’ve already read. ▫Ask yourself:  Does this remind me of another book I’ve read?  Does this remind me of something the author wrote earlier in the book?  Is the author using a particular style or theme?

28. Making Connections Text-to-self ▫ Connect what you read to your own life. ▫Ask yourself:  Does this remind me of something?  Has this ever happened to me?  Do I know someone like him/her?  Am I like this character? Have I ever felt this way?

29. Making Connections Text-to-World ▫Connect what you read to what you know about the world. ▫Ask yourself:  What do I already know that will help me understand what I’m reading?  How are events in the book similar to current events that are going on in the world now?