Before Reading
Preview Vocabulary
With a partner, review the Words for Everyday Use at the bottom of the selection's pages. Read each word, its definition, and the sentence in which it is used. Copy the words and their definitions into your notebook. Choose a word, and have your partner use it in a new sentence. Then, have your partner choose a word, and you use the word in a new sentence. Continue taking turns until you have covered all of the words.
During Reading
Use Vocabulary Strategies
1. Follow along in your text as your teacher reads the first 25 lines aloud. If you encounter words with which you are unfamiliar, add them to your list of Words for Everyday Use. When your teacher has finished reading, review the words you listed and try to determine their meanings by using context clues.
2. Continue reading the selection on your own. Jot down unfamiliar words, and try to define them by using context clues. If the context clues do not provide the meanings, try analyzing the 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 Guided Reading Questions
If you are having trouble following the selection, try using the Guided Reading Questions. These questions will help you focus on the main ideas of the selection. As you encounter a Guided Reading Question, stop and read the question. Then read the lines around the question to find the answer.
After Reading
Practice Using New Words
Share your list of words with your partner from the Before-Reading activity. Then, work together to write two sentences of your own for each of the listed words. Make sure your sentences show that you understand the definition of the word.