Before you begin reading, discuss in a small group ways to unlock the meanings of unfamiliar words. Make a cluster chart like the one on page 86 of your textbook, but instead label the center circle “How to Tackle Difficult Vocabulary.” In the outlying circles, list ways that you increase your vocabulary and identify the meanings of unfamiliar words.
1. Quickly skim the two poems for unfamiliar words, and jot those words down. Then, read the poems on your own. Did the context help you unlock the meanings of any of the unfamiliar words? Go back through the poem, and identify the context of each unfamiliar word. If the context in the poem does not provide sufficient clues, use sentences included in the Words for Everyday Use. If that does not work, try another strategy, such as identifying root words, prefixes, and suffixes or using a dictionary. Continue until you are familiar with all of the words in the poems.
2. When you have determined the meanings of the unfamiliar words, reread both of the poems. Now that you know the meanings of the words, can you see how the context relates to the meaning? Explain the connection if there is one. How does understanding unfamiliar words help you understand the overall meaning of the poem?
If you are having difficulty identifying the meanings of words, choose a new strategy for unlocking unfamiliar words. Review your cluster chart from the Before Reading activity for ideas. Try writing down the difficult word or words and identifying the prefixes, suffixes, and roots with which you are familiar. Then, use your knowledge of the word parts to decipher the meaning of a word. You might also write the word in a vocabulary notebook and check a dictionary for the appropriate definition based on the word’s context. Copy that definition into your notebook. To familiarize yourself with extremely difficult words, you might also consult a thesaurus to find familiar synonyms for the words. When you have finished defining several new words, use the words in sentences of your own.
In a small group, discuss the strategies you used for unlocking the meaning of difficult words. In a paragraph, explain which strategies you found most helpful and how you applied them to the poem.