Comprehension Cue Cards

1. Comprehension Cue Cards Prompts for better understanding

2. What is the Four-Step Process of Reading? • 1. Analyze the first paragraph.2. Read the passage and get an idea of the main idea.3. Identify the purpose of each paragraph and the structure of the passage.4. Answer the questions and don't forget to refer to the passage.

3. What is the best way to skim the passage to get the author's main point? • 1. Focus on the first sentence of each paragraph.2. Pay attention to the mood words, positive and negative.3. Pay attention to the "counter-evidence" indicators, such as actually, despite, admittedly, except, even though, nonetheless, nevertheless, although, however, in spite of, do, and may.

4. Finding the Main Idea • 1. Look in the first sentence of the paragraph. • 2. Look for words or phrases that are repeated in the whole paragraph or page (these may include synonyms) • 3. Ask yourself “What/Who is this mainly about?” (noun) • 4. Ask yourself “What about it/them?” (action)

5. Finding the Main Idea Main Idea Detail Detail Detail Detail Detail Detail

6. Informational Retell Rubric

7. Informational Retell Rubric

8. Signal Words meanwhile next not long after now on (date) preceding second soon then third today until when • Chronological Sequence • after • afterward • as soon as • before • during • finally • first • following • immediately • Initially • later

9. Signal Words even though however instead of in common on the other hand otherwise similar to similarly still yet • Comparison/Contrast • although • as well as • as opposed to • both • but • compared with • different from • either...or

10. Signal Words down in back of in front of looks like near on top of onto outside over such as to the right/left under • Description • above • across • along • appears to be • as in • behind • below • beside • between

11. Signal Words however if...then in fact it could be argued that moreover most convincing never not only...but also often second therefore third truly typically • Generalization/Principle • additionally • always • because of • clearly • conclusively • first • for instance • for example • furthermore • generally

12. Signal Words how if...then in order to is caused by leads/led to may be due to next so that steps involved therefore thus when...then • Process/Cause • accordingly • as a result of • because • begins with • consequently • effects of • finally • first • for this reason • how to

13. Signal Words nonetheless nevertheless although however in spite of may. • "counter-evidence" indicators • actually • despite, • admittedly • except • even though

14. Character Traits quiet curious witty fighter determined energetic cheerful thoughtful calm mannerly considerate imaginative inventive creative Independent studious intelligent honest mischievous friendly rude mean loving proud wild messy neat joyful respectful adventurous hard-working timid shy cooperative lovable ambitious unselfish generous

15. Character Traits bold daring dainty busy lazy patriotic fun-loving successful responsible stubborn loyal gullible handsome caring carefree selfish self-confident helpful dreamer happy disagreeable conceited leader demanding bossy gentle humble brave courageous serious funny humorous sad resourceful

16. Determining a Character • Does the person stay the same through the story? (Static character) • Does the person change during the story? (Dynamic character) • What does the author directly tell you about the character? (Direct characterization) • What does the author show through the character’s actions and dialogue? (Indirect characterization)

17. Determining Theme • 1. Understand the main character • 2. Identify the conflict • 3. Understand how the conflict was resolved • 4. Make a generalization

18. Finding a Theme in Two Steps • 1. When you finish reading a book, ask yourself to sum up the book in a single word. For example, a single word for the book Little Red Riding Hood could be deception. Deception is the subject of the book. • 2. Next, stretch that single word into a message: innocence can lead to deception. This is a theme for Little Red Riding Hood. *http://homeworktips.about.com/od/writingabookreport/a/theme.htm

19. Symbols Can Be Clues to Your Themes • Sometimes an object such as a bridge or a large body of water will appear over and over in a book. The object could actually be a symbol or motif which represents or sheds light on the theme. • If you notice that an object does seem to be a strong and meaningful symbol in a book, try to determine any possible deeper meaning of that object. • A bridge represents a crossover or change, doesn't it? If you notice a few bridges, and you notice that your main character is going through a big change, you can be sure that the bridge is being used as a symbol. http://homeworktips.about.com/od/writingabookreport/a/theme.htm

20. Annotation Codes l – Important L- Learned Something New *- Interesting or important information or facts AHA!- Big Idea Surfaces S- Surprising! S!!!- Shocking !!!- Exciting * ?- I don’t understand this

21. Summarizing • pull out main ideas • focus on key details • use key words and phrases • break down the larger ideas • write only enough to convey the gist • take succinct but complete notes

22. Get the GIST (Summarize) • Who: • What: • When: • Where: • Why: • How: • 3. Write a 20-word GIST summary. • __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ • __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ • __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ • __________ __________ __________ __________ __________

23. Summary Star 1word for a new title 5 words to tell about the conclusion 2 words about how it made you feel 4 words to state the problem 3 words to tell about thesetting

24. Reading Reasons • Reading is rewarding. • Reading builds a mature vocabulary. • Reading makes you a better writer. • Reading is hard, and “hard is necessary. • Reading makes you smarter. • Reading prepares you for the world of work. • Reading well is financially rewarding. • Reading opens the door to college and beyond. • Reading arms you against oppression.

25. Fix-UpStrategies • Reread. • Read ahead. • Figure out the unknown words. • Look at sentence structure. • Make a mental image. • Define your purpose for reading. • Ask questions. • Make predictions. • Stop and think. • Make connections to what you already know. • Look at pictures, illustrations, charts, and graphs. • Read the author’s note. • Ask for help

26. Don’t Know A Word?What should you do? 1. Look at the pictures. 2. Try to sound out the word. 3. Look at the beginning letters. 4. Look at the ending letters. 5. Look for a smaller word in the word. 6. Skip the word and read the sentence to the end. 7. Try to guess! What word makes sense? Does your guess look like the word you see? 8. Use the words around it. 9. Go back and re-read. Does it sound right? 10.Put another word in its place. 11. Ask a friend or an adult. 12.Look in the dictionary.

27. Non fiction Rubric

28. NAEP Oral Fluency Scale

29. Problem and Solution Diagram Problem Event #1 Event #2 Event #3 Solution

30. Problem Solution Outline • Problem • Attempts at solving • Solution Who is involved? What is the problem? Why is it a problem? Attempt #1: How do they try to fix it? Attempt #2: How do they try to fix it next? Result #1: What happened? Result #2: What happened? End Result

31. Setting Where does the story take place? _________________________________________________________________ When does the majority of the story take place? _________________________________________________________________ Changes in the setting during the story: At first___________________________________________________________________ But then__________________________________________________________________ Finally,___________________________________________________________________ Reason for the setting: _________________________________________________________________

32. Setting • Where • When Outside/Inside Country/City Apartment/House School/Business America/Europe Earth/Space Modern day Stone age 1800’s Medieval Times The Great Depression At night

33. Plot Climax: Where the problem reaches its high point Rising Action: What events happen around the problem Falling Action: How the problem is solved Resolution: How everything finishes up Introduction: The background of the story or characters

34. Plot

35. Compare and Contrast • Comparing how things are the same or different

36. Cause and Effect • Something causes something else to happen Cause Effect Cause Effect Cause Effect

37. O/I Chart • Observation (+ you) = Inference Deeper meaning about the text A drive toward the author’s purpose Words/ideas that are repeated Cause/effect Compare/contrast Beliefs/opinions Bold words/Italics Headings