Aha Moments Notice and Note Strategy P O

Aha Moments Notice and Note Strategy

P O ST and Notice & Note Aha Moment Question? When you’re reading and suddenly a character realizes, understands, or finally figures something out, When? You should stop and ask yourself: “How might this change things? ” If the character figured out a problem, you probably just learned about the conflict. If the character understood a life lesson, you probably just learned theme. Why?

Aha Moment Practice verbs Past tense The author is showing v Character is changing v The plot will shift in some way What do these words have in common? Words/phrases that show Aha Moments v Realized v Knew v Understood v Figured out v Saw v Occurred to me v Became aware of v Grasped v Comprehended v Noticed

Aha Moment Practice Underline the words that signal to you that the character has realized something. “Nowhaving she knew certain “And youforhere withwhat me over “For the firsthad time, it occurred to me Uncle Henrik meant when he the past year has made me realize had talked tomy hermother’s in the barn. behad thatthings maybemust leaving that change. For. Toyears brave came more easily if you knew nothing whatsoever to do with I’ve thought they should, but itme. ” nothing. ” seemed hopeless. ” From Walkthe. Two Moons (p. 176) From Number Stars (p. 84) From The Giver (pp. 154 -155)

Aha Moment Practice Which words did you underline? “Now shefirst knew for certain whatto me “For the time, it occurred “And having you here with me over Uncle Henrik had meant when he thatpast maybe myhas mother’s leaving had the year made me realize had talked to her in the barn. To be nothing whatsoever to do with me. ” that things must change. For years brave came more easily if you knew I’ve thought they should, but it nothing. ” From Walk Two Moons (p. 176) seemed hopeless. ” From Number the Stars (p. 84) From The Giver (pp. 154 -155)

Practice – From Esperanza Rising (pp. 181 -182) By Pamela Munoz Ryan “She put her hands under the faucet, rinsed off the avocado, and patted them dry. They felt better, but still looked read and weathered. She took another avocado, cut it in half, swung the knife into the pit and pulled it from the flesh. She repeated Hortensia’s recipe and as she sat for the second time with her hands smothered, she realized that it wouldn’t matter how much avocado and glycerine she put on them, they would never look like the hands of a wealthy woman from El Rancho de las Rosas. Because they were the hands of a poor campesina. ”

Practice – From Esperanza Rising (pp. 181 -182) By Pamela Munoz Ryan 1. Reread the passage. 2. Underline the signpost that shows you the Aha Moment. 3. Then, answer the anchor question – “How might this change things? ”

Practice – From Esperanza Rising (pp. 181 -182) By Pamela Munoz Ryan “She put her hands under the faucet, rinsed off the avocado, and patted them dry. They felt better, but still looked read and weathered. She took another avocado, cut it in half, swung the knife into the pit and pulled it from the flesh. She repeated Hortensia’s recipe and as she sat for the second time with her hands smothered, she realized that it wouldn’t matter how much avocado and glycerine she put on them, they would never look like the hands of a wealthy woman from El Rancho de las Rosas. Because they were the hands of a poor campesina. ” “How might this change things? ”

Noticing Aha Moments q There’s often another signpost nearby. q They’re often easy to spot, but hard to answer, “What does it mean? ” q Where is the Aha Moment? q Is there a Contrast/Contradiction? She wants her hands to look like a wealthy woman’s hands – don’t have to do hard work. This contrast between what she wants and what she is seems to be a problem for Esperanza.

Practice 2 In the following passage, Kenny is on a school bus with his friend, Rufus, and his younger brother, Cody. Rufus and Cody are very poor, and a mean kid, Larry, decides to make fun of the clothes Rufus and Cody wear. After a rude comment from Larry, everyone on the school bus, including Kenny, laughs. Read the passage and underline the portion that shows Kenny is having an Aha Moment. Then, answer the anchor question – “How might this change things? ”

Practice – The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963 (p. 43) By Christopher Paul Curtis “Maybe it was because everybody else was laughing, maybe it was because Cody had such a strange look on his face while he peeked at his underpants, maybe it was because I was glad that Larry hadn’t jumped on me, but whatever the reason was I cracked up too. Rufus shot a look at me. His face never changed but I knew right away I’d done something wrong. I tried to squeeze the rest of my laugh down. ”

Practice – The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963 (p. 43) By Christopher Paul Curtis 1. Underline the signpost that shows you that Kenny is having an Aha Moment. 2. Then, answer the anchor question – “How might this change things? ”

Practice – The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963 (p. 43) By Christopher Paul Curtis “Maybe it was because everybody else was laughing, maybe it was because Cody had such a strange look on his face while he peeked at his underpants, maybe it was because I was glad that Larry hadn’t jumped on me, but whatever the reason was I cracked up too. Rufus shot a look at me. His face never changed but I knew right away I’d done something wrong. I tried to squeeze the rest of my laugh down. ” “How might this change things? ”