1. What do you think is true about life or about people? Examples Family is the most important thing in life. People treat us as we treat them. It is important to be loyal to friends. It is always best to tell the truth. Listening Comprehension Topic: Identifying Themes

2. It’s what a writer wants to show is true and important about life and about people. Listening Comprehension Topic: Identifying Themes A theme can usually be stated in one sentence. One book or story can have more than one theme.

3. Theme: It is better to experience a normal life, which includes dying, than to experience a life that lasts forever and never changes. Listening Comprehension Topic: Identifying Themes

4. Theme: Good friends can help us to discover good things about ourselves that we didn’t know. Listening Comprehension Topic: Identifying Themes Bridge to Terabithia

5. “ Bridge to Terabithia” Subject: Friendship Theme: Good friends can help us to discover good things about ourselves that we didn’t know. A Few Tips to Help You Identify Themes Listening Comprehension Topic: Identifying Themes A theme is different from a subject of a book. Do not confuse subjects with themes. “Tuck Everlasting” Subject: Death Theme: It is better to experience a normal life, which includes dying, than a life that lasts forever and never changes.

6. A Few Tips to Help You Identify Themes Listening Comprehension Topic: Identifying Themes Writers do not write, “The theme of this novel is …” Often, readers have to put together clues to identify themes. The theme of this novel is…

7. Strategies for Identifying Themes Listening Comprehension Topic: Identifying Themes “Listen” to the characters. Sometimes they make statements that are actually the themes of the stories in which they appear. Pay attention to the “big picture.” Whatever a book or story seems mostly to be about probably has something to do with its theme. Look for a problem and solution. They may provide clues about a writer’s theme. Look for ideas that are repeated. When something is said or done again and again in a story or novel, it probably has something to do with the theme.

8. Listening Comprehension Topic: Identifying Themes

9. As you listen to Thank You, Mr. Falker, make a mind movie and think about what Patricia Polacco’s themes are. (Hint: There is more than one theme.) Listening Comprehension Topic: Identifying Themes

10. Themes in Thank You, Mr. Falker Topic: Learning to Read Theme: ______________________________ ______________________________________ Topic: Bullying Theme: _____________________________ ______________________________________ Topic: Good Teachers Theme: ______________________________ ______________________________________ Topic: Knowledge Theme: ______________________________ ______________________________________ Listening Comprehension Topic: Identifying Themes

11. Listening Comprehension Topic: Identifying Themes Try to identify the theme(s) of the book you are reading! (You might already have an idea or two.)