What are signposts ? Turn and talk to your neighbor—explain what you think a signpost is.

Authors use signposts, too! Just like there are signposts on the road to let us know what is coming up, or what to watch out for, there are signposts in our reading, too! These signposts tell us about the characters, about the conflicts or problems in the story, and sometimes about the big life lessons in the story. But, you have to know what signposts to look for or you might just read right on past them!

W hen you take a journey through a book, don’t forget to STOP! at any Notice & Note Signposts. Again & Again Aha Moment Words of the Wiser Memory Moment Tough Questions Contrasts & Contradictions

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt This week, we’ll be reading this book together and learning about signposts that authors use in their writing.

Memory Moment What do you think a “Memory Moment” could mean? Turn to your partner and explain what you think. Let’s share a few ideas… Let’s take some notes…

Memory Moment Ask yourself: What memory came to the character’s mind? Why do you think this memory is important to the character or the story? Hunger Games

Let’s reread Chapter 7 of Tuck Everlasting and see if we can find any “Memory Moments.”

Words of the Wiser What do you think “Words of the Wiser” could mean? Turn to your partner and explain what you think. Let’s share a few ideas… Let’s take some notes…

When you’re reading and a character (who’s probably older and lots wiser) takes the main character aside and gives serious advice, You should stop and ask yourself… “What’s the life lesson, and how might it affect the character?” Whatever the lesson is, you’ve probably found a theme for the story.

Words of the Wiser Ask yourself: What advice or insight did the wiser character share? How do you think this will affect the main character or the one who received the advice? Lion King

Let’s reread Chapters 12 of Tuck Everlasting and see if we can find any “Words of the Wiser.”

Aha Moment What do you think an “Aha Moment” could mean? Turn to your partner and explain what you think. Let’s share a few ideas… Let’s take some notes…

When you’re reading and suddenly a character realizes, understands, or finally figures something out, You should stop and ask yourself… “How might this change things?” If the character figured out a problem, you probably just learned about the conflict. If the character understood a life lesson, you probably just learned the theme.

Aha Moment Ask yourself: What realization came to the character’s mind? How is this realization likely to be important to the story? For the Birds

Let’s read Chapter 17 of Tuck Everlasting and see if we can find any “Aha Moments.”

Contrasts and Contradictions What do you think a “Contrasts and Contradictions” could mean? Turn to your partner and explain what you think. Let’s share a few ideas… Let’s take some notes…

Contrasts and Contradictions Ask yourself: What was unexpected about the action/feeling? Why do you think the character acted/felt that way? Divergent

Let’s reread Chapters 19 of Tuck Everlasting and see if we can find any “Contrasts and Contradictions.”

Tough Questions What do you think an “Tough Questions” could mean? Turn to your partner and explain what you think. Let’s share a few ideas… Let’s take some notes…

Tough Questions Ask yourself: What did you wonder about when you thought about the question? How is this question important to the story and how do you think the character will answer it? Divergent

Let’s reread Chapters 23 of Tuck Everlasting and see if we can find any “Contrasts and Contradictions.”

Again and Again What do you think “Again and Again” could mean? Turn to your partner and explain what you think. Let’s share a few ideas… Let’s take some notes…

When you’re reading and you notice a word, phrase, object, or situation mentioned over and over, You should stop and ask yourself… “Why does this keep showing up again and again?” The answers will tell you about the theme and conflict, or they might foreshadow what will happen later.

Again and Again Ask yourself: Why do you think the author keeps repeating this word, phrase, image, idea, or situation? What does this Again and Again signpost lead you to think is going to happen later on? Destiny

Let’s reread parts of Tuck Everlasting and see if we can find any “Again and Again.”

Now have the tools to help you comprehend better. Look for these signposts as you read your own texts… Again & Again Aha Moment Words of the Wiser Memory Moment Tough Questions Contrasts & Contradictions