How to think (and talk) about what you read

Today, we read the first chapter of a book called Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet.  Together, we recorded all the different ways we can think about, and interact with, text as we read.  We noted the following strategies:

• asking questions
• making predictions
• making images in head (smells, sounds, pictures, textures, tastes)
• making connections (to self, to world, to other texts)
• making inferences (about character, setting...)
• making note of unknown or puzzling words
• analyzing literary elements (setting, character, plot, theme, conflict)
• making note of rich, complex, thoughtful quotations

Groups then met to select their first chunk of reading, to be completed for Friday's class.  Students are also expected to create a "Page of Thoughts" to share with their Literature Circle on Friday.