Simile

A simile is a comparison using like or as.  For example, "it is as hot as a firecracker outside!" or "that boy is smart like a fox."

Comment to this post with examples you've found in your book where your author uses a simile.

Personification

Personification is when an author gives human traits or feelings to an inanimate object or an animal.

In The Mouse and the Motorcycle, Beverly Cleary has used this convention to bring Ralph S. Mouse to life.

Comment to this post with examples from the book where Ralph is acting like a boy, not a mouse.

Connections

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.

Characters

Who are the characters, and why are they important?  Authors use characters to connect you to the story.  Can you relate to the main character?  Does one of the characters remind you of someone you know?

When we talk about characters in a story, we can describe them in several ways.  One way is by describing their physical characteristics... they are tall, thin, freckled; we can also talk about their personality traits....they are brave, shy, angry; and we can also talk about their function in the story.

There is specific vocabulary we use to talk about characters in a story. For example:

A protagonist is the character the story is mainly about - usually the hero or good guy;

An antagonist is a the character that opposes or makes trouble for the protagonist;

Minor characters populate the story and help us understand the main character(s); and

Characterization, which is how the author reveals a character's personality, such as appearance, actions, dialogue (conversations between characters), and motivation (what makes the character act the way he/she does).

Comment to this post with observations you have made about the characters in the story you are reading.

Word Wall

Hey Gang,

Let's start learning some vocabulary!  Comment to this post with any words you've collected in your reading journal.  By sharing the words that you don't know, it will help you and your friends gain new vocabulary.