During Reading
Use Vocabulary Strategies
1. Follow along in your text as your teacher reads the four paragraphs aloud. If you encounter words with which you are unfamiliar, write them down. When your teacher has finished reading, review the words you listed. Try to determine if they are part of the regional dialect. Many unfamiliar words that contain apostrophes are dialectical; the apostrophe shows where a letter has been removed. Try reading the word aloud. The word will probably sound familiar. If you encounter unfamiliar words that are not dialect, add them to your list of Words for Everyday Use.
2. Continue reading the selection on your own. Use the tips above to recognize and understand dialect. Jot down other unfamiliar words, and try to define them by using context clues. If the context clues do not provide the meaning, try analyzing word parts—prefixes, roots, and suffixes—to determine meanings. If that strategy fails, consult a dictionary. Record the definitions in your notebook.
Fix-Up Idea: Use Text Organization
Read Literary Tools and About the Selection. You'll see that this selection is a frame tale. As you read, determine which part of the story is the frame and which part is the story told within the frame. This story also contains elements of a tall tale. What features of a tall tale can you look for as you read?