What are the 4 R’s?
Read: the first step is simply to read something. Rather than letting the words wash over you, the goal is to read for understanding. So with this step, you’ll select 1 significant quote, generate 2 questions/wonderings, and identify 1-2 new words.
Re-tell: this second step seems really simple, and that’s why it’s so important. If we can’t sum up what we read in a few short phrases or sentences, then we won’t successfully dig into deep connections.
Respond: This can be very challenging thinking. I might read a real-life account of a runaway slave, and if my thinking stayed on the surface level, I’d think: This has nothing to do with my life. I’ve never been in slavery! …But we have to go deeper. To do that, focus on relating to a sentence, or even just a phrase. It’s about connecting to human experience, feelings, beliefs, etc.
Relate: This is sometimes called text-to-world or text-to-text connection. The challenge is to focus on a specific phrase or sentence, then ponder the world around you, other books and stories and articles you’ve read, and find the common thread.
Connections are always there. You have to go below the surface of the text!
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8th grade English @ CVLCC 