Notice and Note Signposts

Why do we need signs?

What does this have to do with ELA? We’re going to be talking about signs that you’ll come across while reading a text. These are signs that you may not have ever been aware of, but they’re a powerful tool to help you become a better reader.

Notice and Note Signposts There are SIX signposts that we’ll be using this year, and they come from a book titled Notice and Note: Strategies for Close Reading by Kylene Beers and Robert Probst. Each signpost has an “anchor question” that readers can ask themselves to understand more deeply what the author wants you to know.

Contrast and Contradiction Clue: A character behaves or thinks in a way that we don’t expect. Literary Elements: This signpost helps us understand character development, internal conflict, and theme. Anchor Question: Why would the character act or feel this way? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB1Pukr0nFQ

Again and Again Clue: A word, phrase, question, etc. is repeated over and over Literary Elements: Plot, Symbolism, Theme, Character Development, Conflict Anchor Question: Why might the author bring this up again and again? Ish by Peter Reynolds

Memory Moment Clue: The text is interrupted by a flashback, or a character remembers something that happened in the past. Literary Elements: Character Development, Theme, Plot Anchor Question: Why might this memory be important? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz0rt8HIl0s&index=28&list=PL2h pjSClJLA6O5MSYuaNlTHAypx8suiIC

Aha Moment Clue: Phrases such as “Suddenly, I knew . . . “ or “Now I know why . . .”, or “at once, I realized . . . “ Literary Elements: Character development, internal conflict, theme Anchor Question: How might this change things? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFhLU7ULTtA

Tough Questions Clue: A character asks a tough question that reveals concerns or serious doubts. Watch for phrases such as “What could I possibly do?”; “I had never been so confused”; or “How will I ever cope with this?” Literary Elements: internal conflict, theme, character development Anchor Question: What does this tell me about the character? What does it make me wonder about? The Three Questions adapted from Leo Tolstoy

Words of the Wiser Clue: A wiser, often older, character offers a life lesson, often in a quiet moment. Literary Elements: theme, internal conflict Anchor Question: What is important about this message? How might it affect the character? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfsyrNKhNTE