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Helpful Information
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Reading EditionThis page will help you stay informed about the various reading skills we will be learning this year.Reading Term:GenreThis tells what type of story we are reading. We will be reading several types of genres throughout the year. Check the chart to see what each is.GenreDefinitionCharacteristicsStoryhas characters, a setting, and a plot-a plot with a beginning, a middle, and an end-story events that happen in order-pictures that help tell the storyRealistic Fictiona story that is not real, but has events and characters that could be like the real world-characters that do things real people do-characters that have feelings real people have-a setting that could be a real place-events that could really happenFantasya story that takes place in a make-believe world and has events that can not happen in real life-characters and events that would not happen in real life-a setting that may be different from the real world-animals that do things that real animals can not doNonfiction:gives facts and information about a topic-words and photographs give important information about the topicPlaya story that can be acted out-scenes with different settings-a plot divided into scenes-words that tell the characters' actions and feelingsSkill:Main IdeaThe main idea is what is most important in a story. Each sentence should help support the main idea. Sometimes the main idea is the first sentence of the story. Sometimes it may be the last. At other times, the author may give you information to help you figure out the main idea. Always be sure to read carefully and ask yourself:What is the whole story about? Does each sentence tell about the "whole"?Think of the main idea as a table. The main idea is the "top" of the table. The other sentences are the supporting details, or "legs" of the table. The details will help support the table. They must tell about the main idea. If they do not, they will not support it.Reading Skill:SettingThe setting tells where and when a story takes place. Look for picture and word clues in the story to help you determine the setting.Reading Skill:Cause and Effect*The cause tells WHY something happened*The effect tells WHAT happenedAsk yourself some questions to help determine cause and effect relationships. Practice this skill:The mouse ran into the hole, because the cat was chasing it.Why did the mouse run into the hole? The cat was chasing it. This is the cause.What happened because the cat was chasing the mouse? The mouse ran into the hole. This is the effect.Reading Skill:Making InferencesTo make an inference, use story clues and what you already know to help figure out what the author doesn't tell you.EX: Marissa was at the pet store trying to decide what type of animal to buy. She knew she wanted something small that could be kept in a cage. As she was walking around she kept coming back to the aisle with the wheels and tunnels. She finally made up her mind. She went to tell her mom what kind of pet she wanted. What type of pet did Marissa choose?
Did you say hamster? What clues from the story helped you? What do you already know about hamsters?- Reading Skill:
Fact and FictionFacts are details that are true and tell about things.Fiction is made up. Things can happen in fiction that can not happen in real life.See if you can determine what is fact and fiction below:Female emperor penguins lay eggs in May or June which is the beginning of winter in Antartica.FactPenguins are the coolest animals on the planet.FictionMale Emperor penguins take care of the eggs for two months.FactPenguins only live in Antartica.FictionReading Skill:AntonymsAntonyms are words that have opposite meanings.Examples:coolwarmhotcoldwetdrynicemeantallshortReading Skill: Homo...what?Homophones, Homonyms, and Homographs can be VERY confusing to most people. The three are used incorrectly so much that most people don't even know there is a difference between them. So...here's the lowdown.Reading Skill:Multiple-Meaning Words/ Homonyms**Multiple-Meaning Words are also known as Homonyms**A multiple-meaning word is a word that has more than one meaning.You need to read/ listen to the sentence and how the word is used to determine the meaning.EX: PLAYI want to play with my friends at the park.-Play means to go and have funWill you go and watch the play with me?-Play means a show with separate acts.*Many words can be used as nouns and verbs which make them multiple-meaning words*Common Multiple-Meaning Wordsglasses1-things you wear on your face that are used to see2-things you drink liquids out ofbat1-small nocturnal animal2-wooden or metal stick used to hit balls3-take a turn at hitting a ballpitcher1-glass or plastic container used to hold liquids2-person who throws the ball to batters in baseballstick1-small wooden branch from a tree2-make something adhere to something else--like glueslide1-playground equipment that you go down2-baseball move where you try to tag the base with your feet firstbatter1-liquid mixture used to make cakes, brownies, cookies, etc2-person who is taking a turn at hitting the ball in baseballpitch1-musical term for a sound that is made2-to throw the ball for someone to hitHow many other multiple-meaning words (homonyms)can you think of?Reading Skill:HomophonesHomophones are words that sound alike but have different spellings and meanings. You have to listen to how the word is used to determine the correct spelling.EX: SEA/ SEEI will ride in a boat over the sea.-sea means a body of waterI see a tall ship in the distance.-see means to look or spot something with your eyesCommon Homophonestwotoo-the number-alsodeerdear-the animal-a name/ greeting for someone you care aboutmailmale-a letter or to send something- a boy or mansunson-the star in the sky that provides light and heat-a male childbarebear-nothing on it-a big animalnightknight-a time when it is dark outside-a midevil soldierReading Skill:HomographsHomographs are words that are spelled the same, but have different pronunciations and different meanings.Examples: record/ recordDo you want to listen to the record?-record means something that music is on (yes, these are just about obsolete now)If you sing, I will record it on tape.-to tape someone's voice
Last Modified on August 24, 2013