This week I introduced my 4th grade students to several of the Notice and Note signposts. The students were excited to learn this new strategy for interacting with the text. We spent the entire week talking about using signposts as we read
Johnny Tremain. At the end of class on Friday, several of the students asked if they could share their "Aha Moments" from the week. Several students commented on how much they learned from each other by stopping to notice the signposts and ask questions. Just by stopping to notice some of these signposts, students identified and really discussed symbolism (again and again), themes (words of the wiser), character changes (aha moment and contrast and contradictions). One student commented that she had never been so exhausted from a reading group. Then quickly added "But a good exhausted. I learned so much today."
These are not struggling readers. They are fourth grade gifted students who cruise through books at lightening speed. However, they often forget to stop and notice important aspects of the story. Notice and Note signposts have offered them a new way to engage with texts. I can already see how much rigor these lessons and conversations add to our work together. I am excited to see how students begin to utilize these signposts as they engage with their own independent texts. I put together new reading logs for students to use as they read their independent texts. I plan to distribute the reading logs on Monday.
I highly recommend this book and the signposts for teachers looking for ways to deepen literary conversations for gifted students.
