Assessment Review - Signposts

Learning Goals Notice a textual element that leads to deeper understanding Develop clear and effective responses to the signpost anchor questions

Signpost Review Day Since many of you are having difficulty understanding how to apply the signpost anchor questions to your reading, we are going to spend the entire period going over my expectations for your responses, and then you will practice applying what we learned today to another text.

For Each Signpost You will understand how to find the text sample. You will understand the information the text is giving you as a reader. You will be able to use the information in the text to answer the anchor question.

Description: Sal’s grandparents imply that her mother’s departure had nothing to do with her. “They looked at each other. They didn’t say anything, but there was something in that look that suggested I had just said something important. For the first time, it occurred to me that maybe my mother’s leaving had nothing whatsoever to do with me. It was separate and apart. We couldn’t own our mothers.”

Description: Sal’s grandparents imply that her mother’s departure had nothing to do with her. “They looked at each other. They didn’t say anything, but there was something in that look that suggested I had just said something important. For the first time, it occurred to me that maybe my mother’s leaving had nothing whatsoever to do with me. It was separate and apart. We couldn’t own our mothers.” Aha Moment

Understanding the information given in the text Sal’s grandparents explained to her that Sal’s mother’s leaving was separate and apart and that people can’t own their mothers. Sal realizes that her mother leaving had nothing to do with her.

Answer the Anchor Question This might change things because Sal realizes that her mother’s leaving was not her fault and therefore, she will not blame herself for her mother’s departure.

Description: Sal’s feelings about Mrs Description: Sal’s feelings about Mrs. Winterbottom are not what she expected based on what she has observed. “For some reason that surprised me, those little names she used. She was dressed in a plain brown skirt and white blouse. On her feet were sensible, wide, flat shoes. She did not wear makeup. Even though she had a pleasant, round face and long, curly yellow hair, the main impression I got was that she was used to being plain and ordinary, that she was not supposed to do anything too shocking.”

Contrasts and Contradictions Description: Sal’s feelings about Mrs. Winterbottom are not what she expected based on what she has observed. “For some reason that surprised me, those little names she used. She was dressed in a plain brown skirt and white blouse. On her feet were sensible, wide, flat shoes. She did not wear makeup. Even though she had a pleasant, round face and long, curly yellow hair, the main impression I got was that she was used to being plain and ordinary, that she was not supposed to do anything too shocking.” Contrasts and Contradictions

Understanding the information given in the text Sal recognizes that Mrs. Winterbottom is acting out of character. She uses those “little names.” I can infer those little names might be rude names because from her description we expect her to be prim and proper.

Answer the Anchor Question Mrs. Winterbottom might act this way because she is bored with the impression everyone gets from her, or she is angry at Sal or someone else and speaks in the “heat of the moment.”

Description: Sal wonders why her mother left her. “When my mother left for Lewiston, Idaho, that April, my first thoughts were, ‘How could she do that? How could she leave me?’ As the days went on, many things were harder and sadder, but some things were strangely easier. When my mother had been there, I was like a mirror. If she was happy, I was happy. If she was sad, I was sad.”

Description: Sal wonders why her mother left her. “When my mother left for Lewiston, Idaho, that April, my first thoughts were, ‘How could she do that? How could she leave me?’ As the days went on, many things were harder and sadder, but some things were strangely easier. When my mother had been there, I was like a mirror. If she was happy, I was happy. If she was sad, I was sad.” Tough Questions

Understanding the information given in the text Sal realizes that when her mother was happy, she was happy, and that when her mother was sad, she was sad. Her feelings seemed to be based on her mother’s feelings. The author even stated that Sal was like a mirror to her mother and that Sal might even find some things easier now that her mother is no longer there.

Answer the Anchor Question I wonder if Sal will be better off without her mother. I wonder if she’ll be happier and not have a roller-coaster of emotions now that her mother is gone.

Description: Sal’s dad explains that people can’t be caged like birds. “Instead, I said, ‘How do you know that someone – not exactly a lunatic, but just someone – didn’t make Mom go to Idaho? Maybe it was blackmail.” ”Sal. Your mother went because she wanted to go.” “We should have stopped her.” “A person isn’t a bird. You can’t cage a person.” “She shouldn’t have gone. If she hadn’t gone –”

Description: Sal’s dad explains that people can’t be caged like birds. “Instead, I said, ‘How do you know that someone – not exactly a lunatic, but just someone – didn’t make Mom go to Idaho? Maybe it was blackmail.” ”Sal. Your mother went because she wanted to go.” “We should have stopped her.” “A person isn’t a bird. You can’t cage a person.” “She shouldn’t have gone. If she hadn’t gone –” Words of the Wiser

Understanding the information given in the text Sal is questioning her dad if maybe someone made her mother go to Idaho or maybe she was blackmailed into going to Idaho. Her dad explains to Sal that her mother went to Idaho because she wanted to. No one made her go or could have stopped her from leaving. Sal is still upset that she left and feels her mother shouldn’t have left the family.

Answer the Anchor Question Sal learns the life lesson that people cannot be caged up like birds. People have a right to make their own choices in life even if others cannot understand their choices. You can’t stop someone from doing what they want to do. This might affect Sal because she now realizes that she couldn’t have stopped her mom from leaving. She might come to terms with her mom leaving and move on with her life.

Application Now, that you are clear about my expectations for the answer to the anchor questions, you will work on a new story. Take a copy of The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe from the middle of your table. You will need a pen/pencil.

Directions The story will have the signposts underlined. On a separate handout, use the quote and write down the information that the text tells you , name the signpost, and answer that signpost’s anchor question. This will count as another formative assessment and will be due this Friday!