READING STRATEGIES

Throughout the course of the year we will be working on a variety of reading strategies. These strategies are there to aid us to more fully understand what we read. As adults we naturally bring our prior knowledge to bear on any new material we read. We  understand that our life experiences and previous knowledge can help inform our understanding of what we are trying to read or understand. Our goal is to get our students to be able to do that as naturally as we do. We also do this by making connections to what we are reading. If I'm reading a Hardy Boys novel I can reflect on similar books I've read. I can remember a t.v. program or movie that has similar scenarios and characters. The point is I use my prior knowledge to help me understand what I'm reading on a deeper level.
The grade 5's are reading The Garage Sale Mystery. In the story Max and Nina are investigating the disappearance of their father's guitar. As a good reader I thinks about other  similar stories they have read (prior knowledge). For example, I read a book that the detective was investigating the disappearance of a young girl from a native community. I know that these types of books have detectives that look for clues that lead to suspects. I also know that I really need to pay attention to the details the author writes because clues could be anywhere. Finally I know that sometimes writers throw in 'red herrings' to throw readers off the trail of the real culprit. That's a vast amount of knowledge about The Garage Sale Mystery before I even read a single page.
Connections are another way that we use our Prior Knowledge to improve our understanding the material we are reading. In The Garage Sale Mystery Max and Nina are holding a garage sale in order to save money for a bike and a skateboard. I remember a time when I want an Atari with Pong (dating myself!!). Well, I started delivering Pennysavers in order to save money to buy one, just like Max and Nina. I know how much I wanted that Atari and I remember how hard I had to work to get it. I missed time with friends and hanging out in order to save for the Atari. I can 'connect' to Max and Nina, I know how they felt. I know they were nervous and filled with anticipation waiting to save enough money. I know how dedicated they must be in order to give up their weekend to run the garage sale. That's the power of 'connections' -- they get you into the characters head. You can gain a deeper understanding of the characters feelings, hopes and desires. It's way to get a personal window into the characters point of view. We will be working on this throughout the course of the year.
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