Metacognitive Reading Strategy #7: SYNTHESIZING

1. Metacognitive Reading Strategy #7: SYNTHESIZING A piece of cake! (Sorta…)

2. Synthesizing is more than a simple summary of ideas • Synthesizing is when a reader joins new information with what you already know to form a new idea, perspective, or opinion or to generate insight.   • So! Synthesizing is a creative thinking process, meaning you combine all the things you know and have learned while reading into a focused idea that has personal meaning for you, the reader.

3. What strategies do I use when I synthesize? Synthesizing What I think so far Background knowledge Inferring And Predicting Asking Questions Determining the Importance of ideas Creating Sensory Images Fix-up Strategies Making Connections

4. Synthesizing As easy as baking a cake….

5. The whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts!

6. Which means… • You gather all the ingredients that make up a whole cake. The eggs are just eggs, the flour is just flour, and the sugar is only sugar. But when you mix it all together and add your own special touches, these details add up to a wonderful creation. • The more experience you have baking, the more delightful your creation will be. The more questions you ask on how to bake, the better the results will be. • The more you can think about and envision your final product, the more perfect your cake will turn out. • Practice makes perfect!

7. A Synthesizing Cake When you begin reading, you will need the following ingredients.: Remember 3 steps: 1. Add 2. Mix 3. Create • 5 cups of background knowledge • Past experiences, things you already know • 1 giant cup of ‘What I am thinking now’ • Putting thoughts into your own words will work the best • 6 cups of metacognitive reading strategies • Asking Questions • Fix Up Strategies • Determining the Main Idea • Creating Sensory Images • Making Connections • Inferring and Predicting • Add all the ingredients together slowly and carefully. • Stop to sprinkle with ‘thinking’ now and then. • Stir in your background knowledge. • Combine as many of the metacognitive reading strategies as possible - these will add greater understanding to the synthesizing layer cake. • Fold in as many questions, ideas and thoughts to ensure your cake has the best result. • Mix all together. • Blendthis mixture into your own words. • Createyour cake by synthesizing in your own words, • Voila! A beautiful synthesized layer cake.

8. As a skilled reader, I synthesize as I read … • I stop to collect my thoughts and ask “what does it all mean to me”? • I identify the main idea and respond to it • I put the information into my own words and respond to it • I combine what I have just learned with what I already know and then respond to it • I add my own thinking to what is important • I notice my changing thoughts • I add my thinking and background knowledge when reading • I form opinions as I read

9. Synthesizing Practice: Chapter 6

10. Synthesizing in action: Example 1

11. Synthesizing in action: Example 2

12. Synthesizing in action: Example 3

13. Your turn! • Keep reading chapter 6, making notes of your synthesizing process • When you finish the chapter, answer the questions on the final slide of this PPT.

14. Synthesizing to the end: • Describe the moment that you understood the major event that occurred at the end of chapter six. Did you know this was going to happen? What were the clues that helped you understand the events at the end of chapter six? • How did your thinking and reading change as you read the novel? • What is your overall opinion of The Pearl? • Remember, do NOT give away the ending to others who haven’t finished the book yet!