Clarifying While Reading

What do I do when I don’t understand?

How do you figure out what a word means?

Use Context Clues (Outside word strategies) or Deconstruction (Inside word strategies)

Types of Context Clues

Very Big Cockroaches Eat Slime Visualization, Mood, Tone, Setting

Background experience Comparison/contrast Examples, explanations, definitions

Synonym, appositive,

Very Big Cockroaches Eat Slime Visualization, Mood, Tone, Setting

Background experience Comparison/contrast Examples, explanations, definitions

Synonym, appositive,

Using Visualization to Infer Meaning

Imagine the sentence. From your picture decide on the word meaning.

Example: Imagine taking a walk in the woods. In front of you is a deciduous tree. The leave have turned red and are about to fall off.

Imagine the sentence. From your picture decide on the word meaning.

Example: Imagine taking a walk in the woods. In front of you is a deciduous tree. The leave have turned red and are about to fall off.

Background Experience helps Infer Meaning

Use information in your background knowledge to understand a word.

As you continue the walk in the woods, you look up in the trees and notice the dew glistening on the leaves.

Use information in your background knowledge to understand a word.

As you continue the walk in the woods, you look up in the trees and notice the dew glistening on the leaves.

Comparison/Contrast Antonym

A word meaning the opposite of an unknown word provides a contrast which helps the reader figure out the meaning of the unknown word.

Signal Words: “contrasted” “while others” “in contrast” “in comparison” “but”

The jovial actor contrasted the depressed character very well.

A word meaning the opposite of an unknown word provides a contrast which helps the reader figure out the meaning of the unknown word.

Signal Words: “contrasted” “while others” “in contrast” “in comparison” “but”

The jovial actor contrasted the depressed character very well.

Example/Explanation Definition

The meaning of the word is explained or an example is given.

Signal word: “means” “is” - definition

“are those who” “for example” “such as” “for instance” “might be” - examples

“Deciduous trees are those whose leaves turn colors in the fall.”

The meaning of the word is explained or an example is given.

Signal word: “means” “is” - definition

“are those who” “for example” “such as” “for instance” “might be” - examples

“Deciduous trees are those whose leaves turn colors in the fall.”

Synonym or Appositive

A synonym gives a similar meaning to the word. Often a synonym is written in the form of an appositive with commas around the synonym.

Signals: commas; “or”

The interval, or gap, between the rings was three seconds.

A synonym gives a similar meaning to the word. Often a synonym is written in the form of an appositive with commas around the synonym.

Signals: commas; “or”

The interval, or gap, between the rings was three seconds.

What context clues are shown?

The intensity of the blue gem matched the color of the beautiful blonde’s eyes. When she smiled her alabaster, or white, teeth were striking in contrast to her dark eyes.

The intensity of the blue gem matched the color of the beautiful blonde’s eyes. When she smiled her alabaster, or white, teeth were striking in contrast to her dark eyes.

What context clue is shown?

The land was devastated after the fire. The once beautiful trees were now hideous in comparison. Animals that did not escape the heat were charred. When something is charred, it is burned black like coal.

The land was devastated after the fire. The once beautiful trees were now hideous in comparison. Animals that did not escape the heat were charred. When something is charred, it is burned black like coal.

Notebook Entry

Describe what you can remember about each context clue: V B C E S

Describe what you can remember about each context clue: V B C E S

Notebook Entry

Tell which context clue you used to decide the meaning of the underlined word. Tell what the word means, as well.

The birds stopped singing. The squirrels ceased their constant chatter.

Tell which context clue you used to decide the meaning of the underlined word. Tell what the word means, as well.

The birds stopped singing. The squirrels ceased their constant chatter.

Notebook Entry

Tell which context clue you used to decide the meaning of the underlined word. Tell what the word means, as well.

Boiling mudflows surged down the mountain. Within minutes, trees were flattened and wildlife disappeared.

Tell which context clue you used to decide the meaning of the underlined word. Tell what the word means, as well.

Boiling mudflows surged down the mountain. Within minutes, trees were flattened and wildlife disappeared.

Notebook Entry

Tell which context clue you used to decide the meaning of the underlined word. Tell what the word means, as well.

He’d take the artificial blue of a pool and the sting of the chlorine any day. The river smelled of decaying fish.

Tell which context clue you used to decide the meaning of the underlined word. Tell what the word means, as well.

He’d take the artificial blue of a pool and the sting of the chlorine any day. The river smelled of decaying fish.

Notebook Entry

Tell which context clue you used to decide the meaning of the underlined word. Tell what the word means, as well.

“Be careful with that tree, son,” Tony mimicked, “you might get hurt.”

Tell which context clue you used to decide the meaning of the underlined word. Tell what the word means, as well.

“Be careful with that tree, son,” Tony mimicked, “you might get hurt.”

Notebook Entry

Tell which context clue you used to decide the meaning of the underlined word. Tell what the word means, as well.

He quenched the fires in the path but left the rest to burn.

Tell which context clue you used to decide the meaning of the underlined word. Tell what the word means, as well.

He quenched the fires in the path but left the rest to burn.

Notebook Entry

Tell which context clue you used to decide the meaning of the underlined word. Tell what the word means, as well.

I frowned at him and shook my head vigorously.

Tell which context clue you used to decide the meaning of the underlined word. Tell what the word means, as well.

I frowned at him and shook my head vigorously.

Notebook Entry

Tell which context clue you used to decide the meaning of the underlined word. Tell what the word means, as well.

The flame symbolized Mother Dove’s origin as a magic bird.

Tell which context clue you used to decide the meaning of the underlined word. Tell what the word means, as well.

The flame symbolized Mother Dove’s origin as a magic bird.

Notebook Entry

Tell which context clue you used to decide the meaning of the underlined word. Tell what the word means, as well.

This wind picked up a copper saucepan and thwacked her on the head with it.

Tell which context clue you used to decide the meaning of the underlined word. Tell what the word means, as well.

This wind picked up a copper saucepan and thwacked her on the head with it.

Notebook Entry

Tell which context clue you used to decide the meaning of the underlined word. Tell what the word means, as well.

The Home Tree was swaying like an upside-down pendulum and groaning while it swayed.

Tell which context clue you used to decide the meaning of the underlined word. Tell what the word means, as well.

The Home Tree was swaying like an upside-down pendulum and groaning while it swayed.

Notebook Entry

Tell which context clue you used to decide the meaning of the underlined word. Tell what the word means, as well.

Her glow illuminated just a few inches, and she saw only rain, sheets of rain, almost no space between the drops.

Tell which context clue you used to decide the meaning of the underlined word. Tell what the word means, as well.

Her glow illuminated just a few inches, and she saw only rain, sheets of rain, almost no space between the drops.