Grade Level: 5-8

Interest Level: 4-12

The Discovering Literature Series is designed to develop a student’s appreciation for good literature and to improve reading comprehension. While many skills reinforce a student’s ability to comprehend what he or she reads (sequencing, cause and effect, finding details, using context clues), two skills are vital. They are: discerning main ideas and summarizing the text. Students who can master these two essential skills develop into sophisticated readers. 80 pages.

Each chapter analysis is organized into three basic elements: Student Directives, Chapter Vocabulary, and Chapter Summary.

The Student Directives contain the main ideas in each chapter. They provide the students, working individually or in groups, with a framework for developing their summaries. Student Directives can also be used as group discussions.

The Chapter Vocabulary includes definitions of keywords from each chapter. To save time, students need only to copy, not look up, definitions.

A Chapter Summary for each chapter is included for teacher use and knowledge.

Throughout the guide Skill Pages and Tests are provided for to build an increased understanding of the book and to review student’s knowledge.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Notes to the Teacher

Skill Pages

Writer's Forum

Chapter 1 - Reading

Chapter 2 - Reading

Chapter 3 - Reading -

- Skill Page - Writing Fantasy

Chapter 4 - Reading

Chapter 5 - Reading

Test on Chapters 1-5

Chapter 6 - Reading

Chapter 7 - Reading

Chapter 8 - Reading

Chapter 9 - Reading

- Skill Page - Elements of a Narrative

Chapter 10 - Reading

- Skill Page - About the Characters

Test on Chapters 6-10

Chapter 11 - Reading

Chapter 12 - Reading

- Skill Page - Sequencing

Chapter 13 - Reading

Chapter 14 - Reading

- Skill Page - Cause and Effect

Chapter 15 - Reading

Test on Chapters 11-15

Chapter 16 - Reading

Chapter 17 - Reading

- Skill Page - The Lab at NIMH

Chapter 18 - Reading

Chapter 19 - Reading

Chapter 20 - Reading

- Skill Page - About the Characters, Part 2

Test on Chapters 16-20

Chapter 21 - Reading

Chapter 22 - Reading

- Skill Page - Outlining

Chapter 23 - Reading

Chapter 24 - Reading

- Writer's Forum - Newspaper Writing

Chapter 25 - Reading

Test on Chapters 21-25

Chapter 26 - Reading

Chapter 27 - Reading

- Skill Page - Character Development

Chapter 28 - Reading

- Skill Page - Plot Development

Test on Chapters 26-28

Summary & Vocabulary (Blackline Master)

Sample Cover Sheet

Answer Pages

Chapter