Chapter 7 Constructing Meaning

I found all the strategies in this chapter to be very enlightening.  I never knew that there were so many different types of during reading strategies.  Compared to before and after reading strategies, I find during strategies to be the most beneficial.  I like the idea of trying to decipher the text while reading it because, in my opinion that is when most confusion occurs.  If you conduct these strategies at that moment, text can hopefully become clearer, earlier.  One activity that I found particularly interesting was say something.  I liked that it involved peers working and collaborating together.  It allows them to bounce ideas off each other and expand their thoughts, perhaps  even on something they did not pick up on right away.  I also really liked the concept of the character bulletin board.  I think this really can help the visual learners understand the text.  If we can put words into pictures, perplexing thoughts and ideas can be displayed in more simplistic images.  It reminded me of the classroom activity we did with our first book review; which I really enjoyed doing.  Drawing pictures really helped me recognize main points and themes of the novel.  Which brings up another good point about this strategy, I really believe it could work for all age groups.  Drawing pictures enables kids to express their creativity, which in terms of classroom lessons, is more appealing than simply just reading.