Context & Vocabulary
Joyful
What is the main character in a story called?
protagonist
Name a text feature that lists words in alphabetical order with meanings.
glossary
What are the three common reasons an author writes a text?
to inform, to entertain, to persuade
What does it mean to make an inference when you read?
use clues from the text plus your own knowledge to figure out something not directly said
Use context clues to choose the meaning of this sentence: "The glass shattered when it hit the tile." Which word best matches "shattered"?
broke into many pieces
Define setting. Give an example of a setting from any picture book.
Setting = where and when a story happens; example: a farm in summer
What part of a nonfiction book helps you find the page where a chapter starts?
table of contents or index; best answer: table of contents
If an author uses lots of strong verbs and sensory words in a story, what effect are they trying to create?
to create vivid images and make the story more engaging; shows craft
Read sentence: "Sam's shoes were wet and muddy; his hair smelled like smoke." What can you infer happened?
He probably walked outside in the rain or near a fire; maybe he was at a campfire or in the rain)
What is a synonym and give one for the word "brisk."
synonym = a word with same meaning; example: quick
What is the difference between the narrator and the author?
Author writes the book; narrator is the one telling the story—could be a character or a voice.
What is the purpose of captions under photographs?
to explain or add information about the image
Identify whether the sentence is an opinion or a fact: "Chocolate ice cream is the best flavor."
opinion
Provide one piece of textual evidence you might use to support the inference that a character is brave.
example evidence: "She walked into the dark cave to help her friend," showing brave action
Explain the difference between a prefix and a suffix and give one example of each.
Prefix is added to the start (un- in unhappy). Suffix is added to the end (-ful in careful).
Identify the theme of a short fable where a turtle wins a race by being steady and patient.
Theme = slow and steady wins the race; lesson about perseverance/patience.
A science article includes a chart, bold headings, and a sidebar with extra facts. Which text features would help you locate specific facts quickly?
bold headings, chart, and sidebar; explain how each speeds up finding facts
Read the short persuasive sentence: "You should bring reusable bags to help protect wildlife."
What is the author's purpose?
purpose = to persuade
A passage describes a character who "smiled but kept his hands trembling." What inference can you make about how he feels, and what evidence supports it?
He might be nervous or scared despite smiling; evidence: "hands trembling" shows inner fear
The sentence reads: "The resilient plant survived the long drought." Using context clues, what does "resilient" mean here? Use text evidence in your answer.
resilient = able to recover or survive; evidence: it "survived the long drought," showing it could withstand difficult conditions.
Read this short excerpt (teacher reads): "Even though the sky threatened thunder, Mara kept walking toward the lighthouse." Ask students: What mood does this create and which words create it?
Mood = tense/foreboding; words: "threatened thunder," "kept walking toward the lighthouse" create tension.
Explain how you would use an index and glossary together to research a topic in a book.
Use index to find pages about a topic, then use glossary to clarify key terms found on those pages.
Explain how an author’s choice of first-person narrator changes the reader’s understanding of events compared to third-person. Provide one example of what the reader learns in first-person that might not be known in third-person.
First-person gives direct thoughts/feelings of narrator (more personal); example: narrator can share private feelings like "I was embarrassed," which third-person might not report.
When I woke up on moving day, my old street looked smaller through the car window. I pressed my forehead against the cool glass and watched Mrs. Lopez next door water her roses. I wanted to run back and knock on her door one more time, but Dad said we had to go. At the new house, my boxes stacked like towers in the living room. I missed the way my friends and I used to ride our bikes until the sky turned pink, and I kept thinking about the fort we built behind the maple tree.
By the time the sun slid behind the new neighbor’s fence, I had already counted three porches I wanted to explore and two alleys that might make good hideouts. I asked Mom if the corner shop had cookies as good as the ones on Elm Street, and she smiled like she knew I would ask. Even though my chest tightened when I thought about saying goodbye, I found myself planning which room would be mine and which window I would use to watch the stars.
Infer the child’s overall attitude about the move and cite two pieces of evidence.
Attitude = mixed but hopeful/curious; evidence: "missing old friends" = sadness; "counting three porches I wanted to explore" = excitement/curiosity.)