Reading Skills
The main idea is the big idea or a tiny detail?
What is the big idea?
In “The pond was teeming with fish (full of them),” what does teeming mean?
Full / crowded
A short line of words under a picture that explains it.
Caption. "Label" is ok too.
If an author of a recipe book wishes to: Persuade, Inform, or Entertain?
Inform
Turn do not into a contraction.
don’t
If a paragraph lists goggles, flippers, and a snorkel, what is the topic?
What is swimming/snorkeling gear?
A synonym clue gives a word that means the same. In “The soup was scalding, or very hot,” what is scalding?
Very hot
Pages that list topics and what page they’re on, in ABC order.
Index
“I, me, my” tells which point of view?
First person
Choose the possessive: its tail or it’s tail?
its
Bake, mix, eat. What comes first?
What is mix?
An antonym clue gives an opposite. “Unlike his timid brother, Max is bold.” What does timid mean?
Shy
A page near the front that shows big sections and page numbers.
Table of contents
“He, she, they” tells which point of view?
Third person
Fix the apostrophe: the cats toys (toys belong to one cat).
the cat’s toys
Cause & effect: It rained all day; the match was canceled. Which is the cause?
What is "It rained all day."
An example clue: “Musical instruments like drums, flutes, and violins filled the stage.” What is an instrument?
Something you play to make music
A drawing that shows parts labeled with arrows or boxes.
Diagram
A poster that says “Vote for our plan!”—what is the author’s purpose? (Persuade, Inform, or Entertain)
Persuade
Expand the contraction: we’re reading after lunch.
we are
Infer: Lights are off, curtains closed, alarm set for 6 a.m. What is the family probably doing?
What is sleeping / going to bed?
In unhappily, what does un- mean?
It means "not."
The part that tells what bold or science words mean.
Glossary
Make it possessive (belongs to more than one student): the students notebooks.
"the students’ notebooks"
Pick the right word: (Whose/Who’s) backpack is on the bench?
Whose