» Guided Reading Discussion Cards (for teachers)

1.   Choose any sentence from the first page of your book and write it in your exercise book. Now rewrite this sentence using two synonyms  

[Help]  [1 mark]

Let's say the sentence you choose reads like this: George, please don't make such a loud noise.

You might choose to use synonyms for "make" and "noise". When you rewrite the sentence, it will look like this:

George, please don't create such a loud racket.

You could choose two sentences from your chosen book if you think one of its sentences doesn't have enough good words to find synonyms for.

2.   Choose any sentence from the first page of your book and write it in your exercise book. Now rewrite this sentence using one antonym  

[Help]  [1 mark]

Let's say the sentence you choose reads like this:

George, it's too hot to work!

You might choose to use an antonym for "hot". When you rewrite the sentence, it will look like this:

George, it's too cold to work!

3.   Write an example of alliteration [what?] relating to your book.   [1 mark]

4.   Write an example of onomatopoeia [what?] relating to your book.  [1 mark]

5.   Write an example of hyperbole [what?] relating to the cover of your book.  [1 mark]

6.   Write a simile [what?] relating to the cover of your book.   [1 mark]

7.   Write a metaphor [what?] relating to the cover of your book.   [1 mark]

8.   Read the below text which you must read and re-write in your exercise book correctly. There are 4 words missing.

David and Mary ____________ climbed the __________, old totara tree which grew in their backyard.

"We can see our school from up here!" __________ Mary.

"Yes," replied David, "but I'm hungry. Let's go back ______________."

Word list: crazy, inside, asked, yelled, quickly, blue, massive.   [2 marks]

9.  Read the below text which you must read and re-write in your exercise book correctly. There are 4 spelling errors.

The monster crept threw the dark forest as quietly as a mouse. Maybe even quieter!

Its red eyes glowed as the monster serched for dinner. It sniffed the air, its nostrils snuffling and snorting quietly.

Suddenly, the monster saw its next victum and froze in its tracks. Slowly, inch by inch, the monster approached its next dinner, its mowth drooling with saliver.

At last, the monster stood over its prey and roared with triumph. Then it pounced and began eating and eating and eating. The monster simply loved mushrooms and these were the best he'd eatten for a very long time!   [2 marks]

10.  Set up a scene from your book. You can use models or real people. Take a photo of this scene with the digital camera. Now use this photo as part of a newspaper or magazine headline piece with a caption. Your teacher will explain in more detail. [3 mks]  

[Help!]

Go here for more guidance on basic newspaper headlines

12.  Prepare and deliver a short speech (no more than 90 seconds!) telling the class your book is great and that they should read it. Remember, your speech should make people want to read the story, so make it interesting - and give reasons why they should read your book! You don't need to write anything in your book. You will be marked on your speech. You may use props or audio-visual aids. [4 mks]

13.  What is the setting for your story. You should think about the story's setting in place and time.  [1 mark] 

[Help!]

Setting

Think about both time and place.
Say when the action of your story takes place. What year, or which years? It could be a period in time (e.g. the sixties, the nineties, etc.). It could be the past, present, or future - just be as specific as you can be.
Say where the action of your story takes place. There may be more than one place. It may be a country, a city or town, a house, a forest, and so on. It could even be a non-Earth setting!

15.  Use a Double-Bubble Map [Help! What is this?] to compare and contrast yourself and a main character from your book. [3 mks]  

[Help!]

Point out what you have in common with a main character from your story and what is different. These ideas can be hobbies, interests, personality, physical things like hair, height, and so on, boy or girl, adult, child, whatever.

16.  Use a Double-Bubble Map [Help! What is this?] to compare and contrast any two main characters from your book. [3 mks]  

[Help!]

Point out what you have in common with a main character from your story and what is different. These ideas can be hobbies, interests, personality, physical things like hair, height, and so on, boy or girl, adult, child, whatever.

            a)What emotion was it and what do you think caused this emotion? [2 mks]

            b)Think of a time when you felt the same way. Discuss how you felt and what caused you to feel this way. [3 mks]

18.   Think of a character in your book who does NOT like the main character. Write a creative and interesting first person explanation for why this character (i.e. you!) does not like the main character.   [2 marks]  

[Help!]

First person point of view. "First person" is when "I" am telling the story. The character is in the story, relating his/her experiences directly, and from their own perspective and coloured by their unique personality.