What are signposts ?

What are signposts? Turn and talk to your neighbor—explain what you think a signpost is.

Authors use signposts, too! • Just like there are signposts on the road to let us know what is coming up, or what to watch out for, there are signposts in our reading, too! • These signposts tell us about the characters, about the conflicts or problems in the story, and sometimes about the big life lessons in the story. • But, you have to know what signposts to look for or you might just read right on past them!

When you take a journey through a book, don’t forget to STOP! at any Notice & Note Signposts. Aha Moment Again & Again Words of the Wiser Memory Moment Tough Questions Contrasts & Contradictions

Aha Moment What do you think an “Aha Moment” could mean? Turn to your partner and explain what you think. Let’s share a few ideas… Let’s take some notes…

Aha Moment You should stop and ask yourself… “How might this change things?” When you’re reading and a character suddenly realizes, understands, or finally figures something out, If the character figured out a problem, you can make an inference about the conflict. If the character understood a life lesson, you probably just learned the theme.

Aha Moment Ask yourself: Tangled • What realization came to the character’s mind? • How is this realization likely to be important to the story?

Again and Again What do you think “Again and Again” could mean? Turn to your partner and explain what you think. Let’s share a few ideas… Let’s take some notes…

Again and Again You should stop and ask yourself… “Why does this keep showing up again and again?” When you’re reading and you notice a word, phrase, object, or situation mentioned over and over, The answers will tell you about the theme and conflict, or they mightforeshadow what will happen later.

Again and Again Ask yourself: Finding Nemo • Why do you think the author keeps repeating this word, phrase, image, idea, or situation? • What does this Again and Again signpost lead you to think is going to happen later on?

Contrasts and Contradictions What do you think a “Contrasts and Contradictions” could mean? Turn to your partner and explain what you think. Let’s share a few ideas… Let’s take some notes…

Contrasts & Contradictions You should stop and ask yourself… “Why is the character doing that?” “Is this going to change the story?” When you’re reading and a character says or does something that is opposite (contradicts) what he/she has been saying or doing all along, or acts in a way you would not expect, The answer to these questions can help you make a prediction or inference about the plot or the conflict of the story.

Contrasts and Contradictions Ask yourself: Divergent • What was unexpected about the action/feeling? • Why do you think the character acted/felt that way?

Memory Moment What do you think a “Memory Moment” could mean? Turn to your partner and explain what you think. Let’s share a few ideas… Let’s take some notes…

Memory Moment You should stop and ask yourself… “Why might this memory be important?” “What can this tell me about the character?” When you’re reading and the author interrupts the action to share a memory or flashback, The answers to this question can tell you a conflict, help you learn about the character’s past (characterization), or it might foreshadow what will happen later in the story.

Memory Moment Ask yourself: Hunger Games • What memory came to the character’s mind? • Why do you think this memory is important to the character or the story?

Words of the Wiser What do you think “Words of the Wiser” could mean? Turn to your partner and explain what you think. Let’s share a few ideas… Let’s take some notes…

Words of the Wiser You should stop and ask yourself… “What’s the life lesson, and how might it affect the character?” When you’re reading and a character (who’s probably older and lots wiser) takes the main character aside and gives serious advice, Whatever the lesson is, you’ve probably found a theme for the story.

Words of the Wiser Ask yourself: Lion King • What advice or insight did the wiser character share? • How do you think this will affect the main character or the one who received the advice?

Tough Questions What do you think an “Tough Questions” could mean? Turn to your partner and explain what you think. Let’s share a few ideas… Let’s take some notes…

Tough Questions You should stop and ask yourself… • “How is this question important to the story and how do you think the character will answer it?” When you’re reading and a character asks himself/herself (or another character) a very difficult question, Whatever the lesson is, you’ve probably learned about the character’s internal conflict and/or found a theme for the story.

Tough Questions Ask yourself: Mulan - Reflections • What did you wonder about when you thought about the question? • How is this question important to the story and how do you think the character will answer it?

Aha Moment Again & Again Words of the Wiser You now have the tools to help you connect with and dig deeper into a text. Look for these signposts as you read on your own. Memory Moment Tough Questions Contrasts & Contradictions

What are signposts ?