Synthesizing Information
Readers retell what they have read
Teach them to:
1. Tell what is important,
2. In a way that makes sense,
3. Without telling too much.
Gradually release by:
1. Stop reading now and then,
2. Allow children to synthesize reading so far,
3. Collaborate, and
4. Chart thoughts as a whole group
Ask children to read independently for 5-10 minutes, stop, find a partner and retell in their own words
Ask children who are reading the same text to synthesize it when finished, then get together and compare thinking
Synthesis at a Glance – the Bottom Line
Readers must learn to:
1. Understand their own thinking
2. Monitor meaning
3. Understand themes and important concepts
4. Retell what they have read
5. Share, recommend and criticize books they read
6. Extend thinking from literal to inferential
Suggested Texts for Synthesizing Information
The Alphabet by Leo Lionni
Charlie Anderson by Barbara Abercrombie
Fables by Arnold Lobel
Frederick’s Fables by Leo Lionni
Oliver Button is a Sissy by Tomie dePaola
The Rag Coat by Lauren Mills
See the Ocean by Estelle Condra
Smoky Night by Eve Bunting
The Story of the Jumping Mouse by John Steptoe
The Table Where Rich People Sit by Byrd Baylor
Tea with Milk by Allen Say
Teach them to:
1. Tell what is important,
2. In a way that makes sense,
3. Without telling too much.
Gradually release by:
1. Stop reading now and then,
2. Allow children to synthesize reading so far,
3. Collaborate, and
4. Chart thoughts as a whole group
Ask children to read independently for 5-10 minutes, stop, find a partner and retell in their own words
Ask children who are reading the same text to synthesize it when finished, then get together and compare thinking
Synthesis at a Glance – the Bottom Line
Readers must learn to:
1. Understand their own thinking
2. Monitor meaning
3. Understand themes and important concepts
4. Retell what they have read
5. Share, recommend and criticize books they read
6. Extend thinking from literal to inferential
Suggested Texts for Synthesizing Information
The Alphabet by Leo Lionni
Charlie Anderson by Barbara Abercrombie
Fables by Arnold Lobel
Frederick’s Fables by Leo Lionni
Oliver Button is a Sissy by Tomie dePaola
The Rag Coat by Lauren Mills
See the Ocean by Estelle Condra
Smoky Night by Eve Bunting
The Story of the Jumping Mouse by John Steptoe
The Table Where Rich People Sit by Byrd Baylor
Tea with Milk by Allen Say
synthesis.doc |