Before Reading
Think About What You Know
Think about short sayings and bits of advice you have heard such as "It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all" or "A penny saved is a penny earned." With your classmates, brainstorm a list of such sayings. Then choose one of the sayings and write in your journal about how this advice applies to your life.
During Reading
Use What You Know as You Read
1. Listen as your teacher reads the first two epigrams aloud. Paraphrase, or rewrite in your own words, each epigram. Give an example of a situation to which each of these sayings could be applied.
2. Continue reading the selection on your own. If these sayings are familiar, think about when you have heard them. If they are not, think about how you could use them.
Fix-Up Idea: Use Guided Reading Questions
Try using the Guided Reading Questions. They will help you look more closely at each epigram to focus on a main idea or to think about how to apply the epigram. First, read the epigram. Then, read the question. Look closely at each epigram again, and think about the question. Write the question and answer in your notebook.
After Reading
Discuss What You Learned
With two or three of your classmates, discuss how these epigrams can be applied to different situations in your lives or in the lives of others. Choose one of the epigrams and write an example of how you have or will apply it to your own life.