Good readers make lots of connections while they read. The make text to self connections - "hey, this reminds me of the time I got lost in the store!" and they make text to text connections - "this part of the story reminds me of when Maniac couldn't stop running after his parents died."
Good readers also generate ideas and questions as they read...."does the author want me to believe that Matilda is smarter than her parents?" or "I think the sea journey is a metaphor for growing up."
Comment to this post with thoughts, connections, and questions that you have written in your journal. Maybe your friends had the same questions, or maybe they have some ideas they would like to share with you. Commenting on comments from friends is allowed so long as they are productive and respectful.
I connect to the character Roy through his situation of bullying on the school bus. I have been bullying before at school and understand his fear of the mean kids.
ReplyDeleteThis book reminds me of the book Maniac McGee in that McGee was running from his family and Roy is always avoiding the bullies at school.
Alex,
DeleteWhat do you mean when you say that Maniac was running from his family?
Were there mean kids that Maniac feared? Who were they? Why was he afraid of them?
My connection to this story is when Ralph's Dad died and it reminded me when my Dad died.
ReplyDeleteCanyon,
ReplyDeleteI'm really sorry about your dad. I know that must be really hard for you.
Were their any happier connections you made with the story?
I made a connection related to the trip they were on. One time we went on a trip and stopped at a really awful and creepy hotel. Have you ever stayed at a hotel you thought was interesting or scary?
I made another connection which was staying in a very interesting hotel. It was decorated with old western things and it had a giant statue of a dinosaur in front. It also had a big restaurant with a lot of games to play and a maze. It was a fun place to stay.
DeleteMy connection with the story is i like to travel in the summer and stay at hotels.
ReplyDeleteBrady,
DeleteCan you give some specific examples of a time you stayed in a hotel?
Was it like Keith's experience? Was the hotel old? Were there a lot of people or just a few.
Were there things to do at the hotel?
One connection that I made with the story is when Keith got sick when he was on vacation. I got sick when I was at the beach this summer.
ReplyDeleteTrenton,
DeleteOne time I got really sick on a weekend vacation, too! It was not fun at all! It seemed like a long drive home.
This story reminds me of a hamster I was trying to train.
ReplyDeleteHow did it work out? Were you able to train the hamster to do any tricks?
DeleteThe BFG in the BFG reminds me of how he is the only good giant like how I am my parents only daughter
ReplyDeleteI connected with Keith because I got really sick before and like Ralph gave Keith medicine my mom gave me medicine and I felt better.
ReplyDeleteAlso, one thing I questioned, "Did the author want me to believe a boy can talk to a mouse?"