For the past two weeks we have been working with text features. Text Features are the elements of non-fiction
text that help the readers find information and better understand the
non-fiction text. Some examples we have
studied are:
- bold print
- highlighted print
- italicized print
- headings
- titles
- photographs
- illustrations
- diagrams and labels
- captions
Encourage your child to read non-fiction text at home such
as textbooks, periodicals and newspapers.
Ask them to find examples of text features and for them to note how they
are helpful to them as a reader.
Our next two weeks will be devoted to the introduction of character in literary works. Analyzing a character in a story is an
important skill within the Florida Standards.
When we analyze a character we think of how the speak, how they act,
what they think, and how they treat others.
Character analysis goes much deeper than just the physical description
of a character.
Another skill we will be focusing on is answering “text-dependent questions”. Under the new standards, it isn’t enough to
answer a question correctly. The student
must be able to cite evidence from the text to support their answer as well. Over the next few weeks I will begin training
students to answer text-dependent questions so they are better prepared for the
spring assessments.
