An important part of the reading experience is to identify your personal reactions to a text. Think of one of your favorite stories, and write a paragraph about the reasons for your reactions. Then, think of a story that you did not like and write a paragraph explaining why. Review the Reaction Chart, and complete the Before Reading section.
1. Follow along in the text as your teacher reads aloud the first page. Then, add to the chart any passages that elicit a strong reaction in you. Discuss with the class your notations and initial reactions to the story.
2. Continue reading the story on your own. Stop periodically to fill in your Reaction Chart. If necessary, continue the chart on a separate piece of paper.
If you have difficulty identifying your reaction, take a break in your reading. Reflect on the characters, the events, the language, and the conflict. Then, reread the passage and jot down words, phrases, or sentences that stand out for you. Consider how you feel about your noted passage, and then fill in the Shortened Notation column. If necessary, you can add more kinds of notations to the list as you read.
Write a brief summary of your reactions to the story. Then, write a sentence summarizing your overall reaction to the work as a whole. Meet with a small group and share your reactions. Briefly answer the After Reading questions on your Reaction Chart.