Reading Strategies Metacognitive Journal

Strategy Predict: Make a smart guess about whats going to happen next Quotation Its strange how things can change back as suddenly as they changed normally. When one thing happens and suddenly, things are back to normal On Monday, Brad came back to school. (Chbosky 149) My Response As I read this section, I predicted that something big was going to happen, like a showdown between Brad and Patrick that would be quite emotionally powered, as Patrick feels so intensely about him and Brad shows no emotion. This is after his father catches them in the basement and he starts being heavily abused in front of Patrick, which he is completely worried sick about and terrified of, but also annoyed that Brad would not talk to him when he called to check up on him. So, I saw my sister get When I read this, I did not understand why her diploma and my Charlie would say that when he saw Brad mother cry again. And graduate that it was okay, when he then I saw Mary Elizabeth. attacked his friend and broke his heart, as And I saw Alice. And I well as yelling gay slurs at him which resulted saw Patrick. And I saw in a rather large fight he was involved in. Sam. It was a great day. But, he knows that Patrick really did like him, Even when I saw Brad. It and Brad thanked Charlie afterwards for seemed okay. (Chbosky defending Patrick and stopping his friends 189) from being Patrick to a pulp. That was the reason why he said it was okay; He was willing to look past what he and his friends did because he and Patrick still felt for each other. Some seniors filled the This quote was just too good to give up. swimming pool with Charlie isnt the most descriptive writer in his about six thousand journals, but when he said this, I pictured a packages of grape Kool- bright purple pool in the middle of a school Aid. (Chbosky 167) gym, and an unsuspecting teen jumping in without looking, coming out of the pool freezing and sticky with the Kool-Aid.

Clarify: Look closer when something is confusing

Visualize: Imagine a picture or movie in your mind as you read Ask Questions: Ask questions to learn more Make Connections: Connect what youre reading to something

When we finished, we looked at the bus driver for a tense second. Then, we all laughed because we knew we could get in trouble for swearing, but

Reading this made me think of the last day of school when I was in Quebec, the kids not even caring if they could get in trouble for what they were doing. Of course, it was a bit more than swearing, but all of the kids on the bus knew that they were so large in

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the strength of our number, that if they acted out, they numbers would prevent wouldnt be punished, as there were so any retribution. many and it was the last bus ride that they (Chbosky 183) had to take. Summarize: With Charlie kicked out of the group, he is quite lonely, but still loyal. Retell what Once Brad comes back to school, he and his friends start to harass happened in Patrick in the lunchroom, and they begin to beat him up. Charlie refuses the story so to take that as an answer, and so butts in and finishes the fight, far protecting his friend. Sam welcomes him back into the group, along with everyone else, and Charlie starts to spend more time with a depressed Patrick. He begins thinking about how most people around him are going away for school, including Patrick, Sam, and his sister, too. At prom, the truth comes out that Craig was cheating on Sam for the whole time, and whilst she is upset, Charlie is not happy about the breakup, since he knows that she really enjoyed him for the time they were dating and that she was happy. He then attends graduation, seeing his friends down with his sister, and watching his sister give her speech, which makes their family cry, even their especially hard to crack grandfather. Afterwards, he goes to celebrate with Sam and her friends at the club, going to dance with her and having the time of his life. One by one, he sees his friends leave, and Sam confesses that she too liked him, but wanted to be with someone who did something about it. When she tries to go further with him, he goes as white as a sheet, and cant go any further. As soon as she left, everything was a blur. Then, Charlie relapses and goes back into the hospital. Many people come to see him, but no one makes him as happy as Sam and Patrick. As they promise, they go through a ride in the tunnel together, this time with Charlie in the back of the pickup, truly feeling infinite with his friends.

Reading Strategies Metacognitive Journal: Example Hunger Games Chapter 1

Strategy Predict: Make a smart guess about whats going to happen next Quotation Effie Trinket crosses back to the podium, smoothes the slip of paper, and reads out the name in a clear voice. And its not me. (Collins 20) My Response Immediately, when I read this, I thought that the tribute that was chosen would have a close relationship to Katniss. I think that this would make sense because if Katniss is the novels protagonist than she would have to somehow be connected to the people participating in the games. I think that Katniss will ultimately end up fighting in the games herself or attempting to stop the games through force.

Clarify: Look closer when something is confusing

This is the day of the reaping. (Collins 3).

At this point in the chapter I had no clue what a reaping was. Since the next paragraph didnt explain it, I paused and took a minute to look it up online. Most definitions related the word to farming which lead me to believe that it was harvest day in their district. A read on only to discover that it was in fact harvest day, however, they were harvesting contestants (kids) to fight to the death. This was a particularly striking scene for me. I pictured this fantasy forest, glowing meadows and beautiful forestry. It reminded me of the movie Avatar and their habitat as its rich and plentiful. It really sounds like a place I would love to go for peace and quiet. Collins introduces this setting in stark contrast to what weve read already. The Hob and the Seam are dark, dreary and depressing. Katniss and Gale clearly come here to escape reality as well as to hunt and provide for their families.

Visualize: Imagine a picture or movie in your mind as you read

Ask Questions: Ask questions to learn more

We settle back in a nook in the rocks. From this place, we are invisible but have a clear view of the valley, which is teeming with summer life, greens to gather, roots to dig, fish iridescent in the sunlight. The day is glorious, with a blue sky and soft breeze. (Collins 9). Prims face is as fresh as a raindrop, as lovely as the primrose for which she was named. My mother was beautiful once, too. (Collins 3).

This character introduction happens on the first page of the novel where Katniss describes both her mother and sister in detail. Where is her dad? I wonder if I will find out later that they are fighting or that he has left the family behind. Where did/would he go? Who is supporting the family? Is Katniss more like her dad or her mom? I hope Collins answers these questions shortly. I find it odd that Katniss introduces us to her sisters nasty looking cat and not her father. This is Katniss explaining the reaping and how it works regarding Tesserae. This made me think of one of my favourite stories, The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. This story involves a similar lottery where two names are drawn every year and the family who is chosen via the draw has to redraw amongst only themselves and the loser is stoned to death as a sacrifice to a good harvest. Its a great story but it makes me angry how unfair and awful it is that people are forced to do these types of things by the people in power. I know I am going to have similar feelings in the Hunger Games towards the Capitol.

Make Connections: Connect what youre reading to something else

You become eligible for the reaping the day you turn twelve. That year your name is entered once. At thirteen, twice. And so on and so on until you reach the age of eighteen, (Collins 13).

Summarize: Retell what happened in the story so far

Chapter One of the Hunger Games begins with a brief introduction to the protagonist, Katniss, and her family and friends. Then, Collins reveals to us what life is like in this post-apocalyptic society. It is very strict in its rules and punishments for breaking them appear to be severe. Gale is Katniss best friend and hunting partner. Her mother and sister, Prim, live with them and her dad died in a coal mining explosion, which seems to be the key resource for District 12. Then we, as readers , learn that the Hunger Games are an annual event where 1 male and 1 female are chosen from a draw each year to fight in an arena to the death! These two are called tributes. They compete against other tributes from each of the 12 districts and it is televised.