Reading Workshop Notes

1/21/09 Correct Commenting
Thanks to Sister Salad,

1. Use correct punctuation
2. Capitalize proper nouns
3. Don't write run-on sentences (put in periods)
4. Spell correctly
5. Use apostrophes only when you need them
6. Write so people can understand
7. Turn off Caps lock
8. Don't use letters to abbreviate words
9. Use correct grammar
10. Choose correct homophone
11. Don't use foul or insulting language
12. Be respectful
13. Make sense, write something worthwhile
_________________________________________________________________
12/8/08 Pronouns

Beware of the evil pronouns. Destroy the evil comprehension confusers. Do not say, “it, she, he, they, we, us, etc. in each paragraph without first telling whom you are talking.

Wrong—It belonged to them.
Right—The treasure belonged to the evil pirate crew.

_________________________________________________________________

11/18/08 Predicting is Like Being a Detective
1. Look for clues.
2. Make a guess.
3. Prove it right or wrong.
4. Repeat
_________________________________________________________________
11/17/08 Making Predictions

Effective readers use pictures, titles, headings, and text—as well as personal experiences—to make predictions before they begin to read. They think ahead while reading and anticipate what will happen in the text. After making predictions, they read the text, decide if they were right or not, and revise, making new predictions.
_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

10/23/08 When Reading Nonfiction What is Important & What is Not

What is Important
1. W's
2. Main Points
3. Ideas that relate to the gist

What is Not
1. Supporting Details
2. Examples
3. Interesting Stories or Opinions
4. Most Adverbs and Adjectives

But remember anything that helps you understand what you are reading is ALWAYS IMPORTANT!
_________________________________________________________________

10/21/08 Reading Rate

The pace of your reading should match your purpose. When reading for information, you must slow down and search for the W's and important details.

_________________________________________________________________

10/10/08 Parts of Speech and Reading

Adverbs
Reading—Cut it out to simplify
Writing—Add to tell how

Adjectives
Reading—Cut it out to make easier to read
Writing—Add to tell what kind

Pronouns
Reading—Change to proper to be more exact
Writing—Change to give the reader variety

_________________________________________________________________

10/9/08 Reading Nonfiction

1. Skim
2. Read & Highlight
3. List W’s
4. List facts
5. Write a topic sentence/Gist Statement

_________________________________________________________________
10/8/08 Highlighting

1. Look closely at the first and last sentence in each paragraph
2. HL the W's
3. HL only necessary words or phrases
4. Don't HL more than ½ of each paragraph
5. Don't get thrown off by interesting details or opinions

_________________________________________________________________
10/7/08 Is or Are, Was or Were
Use is/was for one
Use are/were for two or more

Jill is going home.
Jill and Dave are going home.

He was going home.
They were going home.
__________________________________________________________________
10/6/08 Adding a Suffix to a one syllable word with a short vowel

Double the consonant

run—running
wrap—wrapper
pit—pitted

__________________________________________________________________
9/30/08 A & An

Use A before a consonant

Use an before a vowel

A car went by.

An apple fell off the tree.

__________________________________________________________________

9/24/08 Reading Aloud to Revise

To revise your content, read an essay aloud. Have the listener alert you at any time when your writing does not make sense, or they have a question. Highlight that part, and after you are finished, go back and rewrite. Then read aloud again. Repeat the process until your essay is easy to understand.

__________________________________________________________________

9/23/08 Spelling when adding ed & ing

Double the consonant with a short vowel: slip—slipped

Don't double with a long vowel: pile—piled

Drop the e and add ing write—writing

__________________________________________________________________

09/18/08 Spelling with Y

For plural with a word ending in “Y” change the "y" to "i" and add es.

Cry—cries Carry—carries

_____________________________________________________________________

09/17/08 For More Details, Ask Yourself

1. What kind?

2. Whose?

3. When?

4. Where?

5. Why?

6. How?

_____________________________________________________________________

9/16/08 Thoughts and Feelings in Writing

Teetor-totter

Stuff

∆

Thoughts and Feelings

To write well, thoughts and feelings must carry more weight in your writing.

__________________________________________________________________

9/4/08 Capitalize

1. first word in a sentence

2. proper nouns—names of people, places, and things

3. first letter of words in a title

4. I

_____________________________________________________________________

9/3/08 Letter Writing

1st Paragraph—set the tone

2nd Paragraph—info, facts,

3rd Paragraph—closing, request, message, etc.

_____________________________________________________________________

8/29/08 Writing to a Prompt

When responding to a prompt, you should address the question or topic, and then give facts, reasons, and/or details to support your position or answer.

_____________________________________________________________________

8/28/08 Notes Format

Notes should be dated in the left margin. At the end of the notes, draw a line across the page. The next day, notes go under the line. _____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________