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Matson, Lisa

Welcome to the webpage of

 Lisa Matson
[email protected]
(860)870-6860 x20305

 Reading Development


This class helps students become stronger readers.

We work on answering text dependent questions through citing and explaining evidence and we practice summarizing by determining the most important information.

The best way to improve your reading is to READ!!

If you can't find a book you like ask me for recommendations.  Don't forget audio books!  Audible.com is a great place to look for downloadable young adult books.

Are you reading at home? 

The Common Core State Standards are incorporated into all the lessons and  assessments.  Following these standards will help everyone understand grade level material more deeply.



Tips and Things to Remember
When you are answering an open-ended question, you need to explain your evidence after you give it.

Good readers ask themselves "so what?" and think about why the author chose certain plot points or information.

Word choice and use of figurative language creates the author's tone in a piece.


In summarizing, we take the important details which support the main idea and construct  fluent sentences that condense the vital information.  The goal is to prove that you understood the passage and can explain it to someone else in writing. Be objective--NO OPINIONS!

I have noticed that many of you struggle with transitions.  Strive to use text-dependent transitions.  That means that the transitions include information from the text.


Remember to listen for new words! Tell me what you're reading.

James Patterson has a website called readkiddoread.com.  Try it out.

  •  I am reading all the Nutmeg book nominees for 2016 over the school year.  Do you dare to take the challenge?
  • Check out my book page for other book suggestions.
  •  

    Remember:
    Awareness of the inner voice is crucial for all aspects of comprehension.

     

  • You should be reading at least 15 minutes a day in order to get better at it.
  •  

    Here are some helpful links that may help improve your reading and writing:

    Enjoy some quotes about reading and books:

    A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.  ~Chinese Proverb

    There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them. – Joseph Brodsky

    "There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island." — Walt Disney


    You will get a prize if you read this and come in with a new quote.

    Lit and learning pic

     

     Why You Should Read for 20 minutes Every Day:

    "WHY CAN'T I SKIP MY 20 MINUTES OF READING TONIGHT?"

    LET'S FIGURE IT OUT --- MATHEMATICALLY!

    Student A reads 20 minutes five nights of every week;
    Student B reads only 4 minutes a night...or not at all!

    Step 1: Multiply minutes a night x 5 times each week.
    Student A reads 20 min. x 5 times a week = 100 mins./week
    Student B reads 4 minutes x 5 times a week = 20 minutes

    Step 2: Multiply minutes a week x 4 weeks each month.
    Student A reads 400 minutes a month.
    Student B reads 80 minutes a month.

    Step 3: Multiply minutes a month x 9 months/school year.
    Student A reads 3600 min. in a school year.
    Student B reads 720 min. in a school year.

     

    Student A practices reading the equivalent of

    ten whole school days a year.
    Student B gets the equivalent of

    only two school days of reading practice.

     

    By the end of 6th grade if Student A and Student B maintain these
    same reading habits, Student A will have read the equivalent of 60
    whole school days.  Student B will have read the equivalent of only
    12 school days.

    One would expect the gap of information retained will have widened
    considerably and so, undoubtedly, will school performance.  How do
    you thing Student B will feel about him/herself as a student?

    Some questions to ponder:

    Which student would you expect to read better?
    Which student would you expect to know more?
    Which student would you expect to write better?
    Which student would you expect to have a better vocabulary?
    Which student would you expect to be more successful in school . . .  
    and life?

    The source for these this article is the U.S. Department of Education
    America Reads Challenge publication "Start Early, Finish Strong,
    How to Help Every Child Become a Reader."  

    Happy Reading!