EXPLORING YOUR NEW TEXT (Write like an ELL student)

Question

EXPLORING YOUR NEW TEXT (Write like an ELL student)
NBE3U

YOUR TASK is to start exploring your text and practice Reading Strategies using the guiding questions below.

YOU WILL:
Review these slides on Reading Strategies to do before, during, and after reading your text.

AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS: Receive your text and complete write the number in this Google sheet. You are NOT to write anything in your book, but you can use stickies to leave notes for yourself inside the book if you so choose.

Complete the Before Reading strategies. Look at the cover of the book, the back of the book, and flip through it without actually reading. Then, you will write down what you notice about the text features in the table below (see example for clarification).

Read the first twenty (10-20) pages.

While reading, complete the During Reading strategies. Answer the questions in the chart below to complete your During Reading strategies.

AT THE END OF CLASS: Take your book home with you. As per the Group Contract, you will need to read 1/3rd of your novel before your first Lit Circle.

Turn in this template when done.

QUESTION
YOUR RESPONSE
BEFORE READING STRATEGIES
Complete the questions below before you start reading
What do you notice when you are looking at the text features of your book?

(front cover, back cover, flipping through the book)
Features:
What they might mean:
The back cover
The synopsis highlights the main character and give a hint of the stories
Background Knowledge - what do you know based on the title, synopsis on the back of the book, author, or any other features?
The title "Fire Song" sounds like it could be about music or emotions.
Adam Garnet Jones might write about Indigenous experiences.
 I think it could explore cultural identity or family.

What predictions do you have for what the book is goin g to be about?
I think the book might be about a person's journey dealing with their identity or culture. There might be issues related to Indigenous experiences, family, and maybe challenges or conflicts.

DURING READING STRATEGIES
Complete the questions below while you are reading the first 15-20 pages of your book
I read until the page…
[TYPE PAGE NUMBER HERE] 16
OBSERVE AND INFER
Who are the characters?

What do we know about their identities so far?
Shane is the main character, Jackie is his mother and they both are going through a hard time after his sister - Destiny passed away. 
What is the setting?

What has happened in the plot so far?
After Shane’s sister passed away, he changed a lot in his behavior; he has not cleaned his room, done any of the dishes due to the pain of losing Destiny. His mother - Jackie is also going through a tough time as she feel guilty about her daughter loss. She is made fun by Pete - Shaun’s uncle, a very rude person 
What have you noticed about how the story (or information) is communicated so far?

PREDICT
What do you predict will happen next?

ASK QUESTIONS
What am I wondering about the text so far? What information is missing?
Why would Jackie feel guilty about her daughter loss?
What is the causes of Destiny’s death
CONNECT
Which Indigenous topics/issues have I noticed in the book so far?

How do they connect to our world/ present day?

What are some of the big ideas (themes) that you see emerging so far?

VOCABULARY
What words are new to me?

(list the words/terms and their definitions that you can look up online)

GPT-4o mini · Answer

**Exploring Your New Text (Fire Song)** NBE3U **Before Reading Strategies** **Your Response** **What do you notice when you are looking at the text features of your book?** - **Features:** The front cover shows a bright, fiery landscape and has the title "Fire Song" in bold letters. The back cover has a short summary and some reviews. - **What they might mean:** The fiery landscape might represent strong emotions, change, or even conflict in the story. The title suggests music might be important, linking to emotions or culture. **Background Knowledge - what do you know based on the title, synopsis on the back of the book, author, or any other features?** - The title "Fire Song" makes me think about music and feelings. - Adam Garnet Jones is an Indigenous author, so I expect the story will talk about Indigenous experiences. - I think it might relate to cultural identity or family connections. **What predictions do you have for what the book is going to be about?** - I believe the book is about a character's journey with their identity and culture. - It might involve themes of family problems and conflicts related to being Indigenous, especially after a loss. --- **During Reading Strategies** **Your Response** **I read until the page…** 16 **OBSERVE AND INFER** **Who are the characters?** - Shane (the main character), Jackie (his mother), and Pete (Shane’s uncle). **What do we know about their identities so far?** - Shane is struggling after his sister Destiny's death, while Jackie feels guilty and overwhelmed by her loss. Pete seems like a negative influence for Shane. **What is the setting?** - The setting is likely a small town or community where Shane and Jackie live, but specific details are still unclear. **What has happened in the plot so far?** - Shane has changed a lot since his sister's death. He is not cleaning his room or helping around the house. Jackie is also grieving and feels guilty about Destiny’s passing. Pete, Shane's uncle, is disrespectful to Jackie, adding stress to the situation. **What have you noticed about how the story (or information) is communicated so far?** - The emotions of Shane and Jackie are very clear; the writing shows their pain and struggle. It feels very real and intense. --- **PREDICT** **What do you predict will happen next?** - I think Shane will have a hard time dealing with his grief. He might have conflicts with his uncle, and Jackie could try to find ways to cope with her guilt. Maybe there will be moments where they learn to support each other. --- **ASK QUESTIONS** **What am I wondering about the text so far? What information is missing?** - Why does Jackie feel guilty about Destiny’s death? - What exactly happened to Destiny? --- **CONNECT** **Which Indigenous topics/issues have I noticed in the book so far?** - The story touches on grief, family dynamics, and struggles that Indigenous people face. **How do they connect to our world/present day?** - Many Indigenous families deal with loss and cultural identity. It shows important issues like mental health and community support. **What are some of the big ideas (themes) that you see emerging so far?** - Themes of grief, family struggles, and cultural identity are emerging. There seems to be a focus on how loss affects people differently. --- **VOCABULARY** **What words are new to me?** 1. **Grief** - deep sorrow, especially caused by someone's death. 2. **Cultural Identity** - the identity of a group, influenced by cultural factors like language, tradition, and beliefs. 3. **Overwhelmed** - feeling unable to cope because of too much to handle. (I will look these up to understand better.) --- I will keep working on this as I read more. Thank you!