Reading Fluency, Comprehension, and Writing

Do you know what we are preparing for? Blogging and our State Test.

If we want to blog, we need to know what to write about.

If we want to pass our state test, we need to become excellent readers.

Therefore, we are working on two goals: reading to learn and reading strategies.

First, we read and practice our reading strategies. Did you know that these are the strategies good readers use?

Next we re-read and practice our strategies.

Finally, we read to take notes on the main idea and detail. One way is to complete this form (from Jim Burke's work at the English Companion ).

Do you see the Subject, Main idea, and Details areas?

The subject is the topic.
The main idea is a gist statement: twenty to twenty-five words that summarize the entire text.
The details are the facts and ideas that support the main idea.

You would not believe how easy it is to write a composition -- think great blog post --- using this form. We can draft our composition from the form, adding in our own ideas and opinions using our elaboration strategies.

We edit and check for accuracy. We monitor our paragraphing. We cite our source. Here's an example.

What do you think? Do you have a strategy to become better readers AND better writers? Are you ready to start blogging AND pass your State Test?

We are on our way and will link later to some of our blogs, and we will share our vocabulary strategies also. Check back for more...

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Reflect curiosity and wonder...
Go boldly and scatter seeds of kindness...