Read the Prereading information on page 164, view the artwork on page 165, and skim the Words for Everyday Use and footnotes at the bottom of the selection pages. Work with a partner to preview the Guided Reading Questions for the selection. Discuss all of the information you’ve previewed, and make some guesses as to the content of the selection. Talk about what the title of the selection might mean, and note the Reader’s Journal question on page 164. After you have considered and discussed this Prereading information, make two to three predictions about the content or plot of the story.
1. Follow along in your text as your teacher reads the first part of the selection aloud. Keep your predictions in mind, and try to identify any information that either supports or refutes them. Take time to make a new prediction about the barber or his customer before you continue.
2. Read the remainder of the selection on your own. Continue looking for information that will confirm or refute your predictions. Also, look for details upon which you can build new predictions. Keep a written record of your ideas.
If you are having difficulty applying the reading strategy, use the Guided Reading Questions to help you identify the main ideas in the selection. Read the first Guided Reading Question on the page; then begin reading the text to find the answer. Jot down the answer, and consider whether that detail connects to any of your predictions. Revise your predictions as necessary, and try to write one new prediction based on this new information. Then, read the next Guided Reading Question to begin the process again. Be sure to jot down your ideas.
When you have finished reading, review your record of predictions, and evaluate the process. Did your predictions become more “on-target” as more story details were revealed? Did you find yourself reading more actively in order to confirm or refute your predictions? Then, write a brief essay in which you describe your experience making predictions about this selection. Include in your essay a few examples of predictions that you were able to confirm based on story details and a few that you had to revise as new information was revealed. You might also describe the process by which you made new predictions while you read. When you complete your essay, share it with a partner. Discuss any similarities or differences the two of you experienced in your application of the strategy.