September’s Key Concepts

Writers Observe Day Dream Record Create

Don't Build HALF a Bridge Do ALL steps Start by rereading and marking- up directions and rubrics. Finish by REREADING directions and rubrics. Check off completed steps.

When analyzing literature, ALWAYS reread and focus on a few specific plot events and characters. ZOOM in on the "TELLING DETAILS” that best SHOW the author’s main THEMES (truths about life).

When EDITING— Check capitalization of character names and titles. Eliminate " stringy ” sentences. If a sentence runs more than 3 lines and has more than one "and" or "but" in it--see if you can simplify it into separate sentences.

ALLITERATION is the repetition of the first consonant SOUND (not JUST letter) in pair of words. Never alliterate vowels Annie’s Alligators Don’t confuse alliteration with rhyme. Alliterate at the START--Rhyme at the END. Ex: Jumping Giraffes, Rich Writers, Dunkin’ Donuts

Title Punctuation Longer Works: novels, magazines, movies… Underline (handwritten) National Geographic OR Italicize (typed) Crash, The Mouse and the Motorcycle NEVER DO BOTH!!

Shorter works : “” Poetry, songs, short stories… Use Quotation Marks ex: “Let It Go” “Humpty Dumpty” “The Time I Broke My Arm”

Use Specific Evidence Read closely and REREAD for evidence that will stand up in the “Court of Class” SHOW what you KNOW!!!

Think Outside the Goldfish Bowl! Don't be like a goldfish with a 30-second memory and limited horizons… Focus and try NEW ways to connect to material so you are not constantly relearning the same material. Learn for LIFE !

PARAPHRASE: Put key ideas into your own words TRANSLATE (using synonyms or short phrases) into other words to prove you understand Chunk big picture into PIECES of puzzle

PARAPHRASE: Put key ideas into your own words TRANSLATE (using synonyms or short phrases) into other words to prove you understand Chunk big picture into PIECES of puzzle

Paraphrasing Pointers You need to capture MAIN IDEAS: sum up the point of ALL the examples and explanation in the section- Give a “What” and “What about it” – WHAT= Responsibility WHAT ABOUT IT= MANY share responsibility for kids’ education SUPPORT: ADD 1-2 examples (evidence/detail/explanation) that the writer used to support and explain the main idea. The example below explains WHO and HOW responsibility is shared for education. Teachers challenge Government sets what to teach/funding Parents keep kids focused/set limits

MORE Paraphrasing Pointers DON’T USE COMPLETE SENTENCES! Bullet point: boil idea down to the MOST significant nouns and verbs Put complex terms into your OWN words and pictures Don’t include EVERY example/detail

EXAMPLE OF PARAPHRASE OF ONE SECTION OF SPEECH: Bottom of page 4 REAL Kids overcame BIG obstacles Jazmin Perez-no English, town without college goals, BROWNDR! Andoni Shulz—BRAIN cancer, spent 100s hours on hw, college! Shantell Steve, no parents, job at health center in HS, helps kids stay out of gangs college CA, TX, IL-can succeed from anywhere

An acceptable shorter version paraphrase of the bottom half of pg. 4 of the speech: KIDS BEAT BIG Problems girl-no English, now DR.! boy—BRAIN cancer, CA, TX, IL-no matter WHERE kid is from—boy or girl-work + good attitude=success

How often should I stop reading and paraphrase? How often you stop to capture a shift to a new idea depends on the length of the piece: 1 page—look for 2-3 main ideas 7 pages—chunk each page into 1-3 main topics per page 20 pages– look for shifts in main ideas every 3-4 pages Entire book—look for 1-2 main ideas each CHAPTER or two

Summarizing SIFTS LOTS of information to get to the main ideas--the big "takeaways.“  Summarize what you learn EACH CLASS  Chunk studying into DAILY doses  TELL your brain to RETAIN

Learning Styles Assessment Results Review  We all learn a little differently  Connect to your preferred learning style to get new info to stick.  ALSO try NEW approaches to turn weakness to strengths!

Top 10 Ways to TRAIN YOUR BRAIN…..TO RETAIN Use 2 DIFFERENT strategies every night (or even every OTHER night) for a week or two before a test and your scores and understanding SHOULD improve. 1.Make an EMOTIONAL PERSONAL CONNECTION 2. FOCUS - NO distractions Pick a time, place, routine for setting up/packing up 3. REPEAT!! REPEAT!! Use many ways over many days-- at least 8 times, in different order 4. VISUALIZE Pictures, Doodles, Color code, Imagine video in your head 5. SOUND Music, Rhyme, Discussion, Alliteration 6. TAKE ACTION! EXPERIENCE It Write it, Act it out, Draw it, Teach it, Discuss it, …) 7. CHUNK IT! (Short Sections/a Little Each Day/DIFFERENT sections each repetition) 8. FIND PATTERNS Compare Similarities, Contrast Differences, Connect to past knowledge) 9. SUMMARIZE/PARAPHRASE Put the Big Ideas into Your Own Words 10. SLEEP AND EAT right! - Indicates strategies that are MOST effective if you do not have time to try out ALL strategies.

Work Hard/Dig Deep Have Fun/ Learn MORE!!  ELA requires INFERRING from clues.  Think hard to understand WHY? HOW? and WHAT IF?  Don't stall at simple recall  Build on basics --but go farther.