First Read
Comprehension Strategies:
Summarizing
Monitoring & Clarifying
Comprehension strategy instruction allows students to become aware of how good readers read. Good readers constantly check their understanding as they are reading and ask themselves questions. In addition, skilled readers recognize when they are having problems and stop to use various comprehension strategies to help them make sense of what they are reading.
While reading "Elias Sifuentes: Restaurateur," model and prompt the use of the following comprehension strategies. Take turns reading the story with your child.
SUMMARIZING: prompts readers to keep track of what they are reading and to focus their minds on important information.
MONITORING & CLARIFYING: helps readers understand the meaning of words and difficult ideas or passages.
(page 146) Model:
I will clarify the meaning of words or passages I do not understand. What's a "front man"? Since Elias says he will do all the cooking, he will be in the kitchen. The kitchen is usually in the back of the restaurant. The front man must be the person who is in the front of the restaurant and greets all the customers.
(page 148) Model Monitoring & Clarifying:
I'm confused by the expression "starting from scratch." What does that mean? Do you have any idea how we can figure this out?
(page 148) Model Summarizing:
We've read a lot of information. We need to summarize everything we've learned so far to check our understanding. Elias got experience working in Mexican restaurants. Then he started his own restaurant. He had a lot to learn, and it was hard, but now his restaurant has grown, and it is successful.
(page 150) Model Monitoring & Clarifying:
I'm confused. What does Elias mean when he says if you "don't have your heart in it, forget it"? What is the "it" he's talking about?
Discussing Strategy Use:
After your child has read the selection, encourage him/her to share any problems that they encountered and to tell what strategies they used. Ask how often they summarized as they read. Ask how they clarify confusing passages by reading on.
While reading "Elias Sifuentes: Restaurateur," model and prompt the use of the following comprehension strategies. Take turns reading the story with your child.
SUMMARIZING: prompts readers to keep track of what they are reading and to focus their minds on important information.
MONITORING & CLARIFYING: helps readers understand the meaning of words and difficult ideas or passages.
(page 146) Model:
I will clarify the meaning of words or passages I do not understand. What's a "front man"? Since Elias says he will do all the cooking, he will be in the kitchen. The kitchen is usually in the back of the restaurant. The front man must be the person who is in the front of the restaurant and greets all the customers.
(page 148) Model Monitoring & Clarifying:
I'm confused by the expression "starting from scratch." What does that mean? Do you have any idea how we can figure this out?
(page 148) Model Summarizing:
We've read a lot of information. We need to summarize everything we've learned so far to check our understanding. Elias got experience working in Mexican restaurants. Then he started his own restaurant. He had a lot to learn, and it was hard, but now his restaurant has grown, and it is successful.
(page 150) Model Monitoring & Clarifying:
I'm confused. What does Elias mean when he says if you "don't have your heart in it, forget it"? What is the "it" he's talking about?
Discussing Strategy Use:
After your child has read the selection, encourage him/her to share any problems that they encountered and to tell what strategies they used. Ask how often they summarized as they read. Ask how they clarify confusing passages by reading on.
Second Read
Building Comprehension Skills
Have your child reread the selection silently. Revisiting or rereading a selection allows students to apply skills that give them a more complete understanding of the text. Some follow-up comprehension skills help students organize information. Others lead to a deeper understandingo "reading between the lines," as mature readers do. In this selection, students will apply the following comprehension skill:
MAIN IDEA & DETAILS: Authors use Main Idea and Details to let the reader know what the selection is about.
Reading with a Purpose: Have your child look for things that made Elias Sifuentes' restaurant successful. What qualities does Elias Sifuentes possess that helped the success of his restaurant.
(page 147) Main Idea & Details
Remind your child that the main idea is what the paragraph, passage, or selection is mostly about. Supporting details give further information so that readers can fully understand a subject. Paying attention to the main ideas of a selection is especially important in nonfiction articles because a lot of information is given. Have your child identify the main idea and supporting details of the first paragraph on page 146.
The main idea of the first paragraph is in the first sentence, "I do it all."
Details that support the main idea include the fact that Elias Sifuentes opens his restaurant each day and closes it each day.
Have your child identify other main ideas and details in other paragraphs on these pages.
(page 149) Main Idea & Details
Have your child identify the main idea and details of the second paragraph on page 148.
The main idea is that Elias was worried about starting his new business because he didn't speak English very well.
The details that support the main idea are that Elias could write in English, and learning how to manage his business without knowing how to speak English was a big step.
(page 151) Main Idea & Details
Have your child identify the main idea and details of the first paragraph on page 151.
The main idea is that Elias's gaol was that his customers get proper service from all of his employees, including himself.
The details that support the main idea are that he greets his customers at the door, he takes care of problems and complaints from customers, he visits the customers at their tables, and tastes everything prepared in the kitchen.
MAIN IDEA & DETAILS: Authors use Main Idea and Details to let the reader know what the selection is about.
Reading with a Purpose: Have your child look for things that made Elias Sifuentes' restaurant successful. What qualities does Elias Sifuentes possess that helped the success of his restaurant.
(page 147) Main Idea & Details
Remind your child that the main idea is what the paragraph, passage, or selection is mostly about. Supporting details give further information so that readers can fully understand a subject. Paying attention to the main ideas of a selection is especially important in nonfiction articles because a lot of information is given. Have your child identify the main idea and supporting details of the first paragraph on page 146.
The main idea of the first paragraph is in the first sentence, "I do it all."
Details that support the main idea include the fact that Elias Sifuentes opens his restaurant each day and closes it each day.
Have your child identify other main ideas and details in other paragraphs on these pages.
(page 149) Main Idea & Details
Have your child identify the main idea and details of the second paragraph on page 148.
The main idea is that Elias was worried about starting his new business because he didn't speak English very well.
The details that support the main idea are that Elias could write in English, and learning how to manage his business without knowing how to speak English was a big step.
(page 151) Main Idea & Details
Have your child identify the main idea and details of the first paragraph on page 151.
The main idea is that Elias's gaol was that his customers get proper service from all of his employees, including himself.
The details that support the main idea are that he greets his customers at the door, he takes care of problems and complaints from customers, he visits the customers at their tables, and tastes everything prepared in the kitchen.
Checking Comprehension:
What business does Elias own and operate? (He runs a Mexican restaurant).
Why did he start this business? (It is something he always wanted to do because he likes to work with people).
How does Elias deal with his customers? (He tries to make them happy by resolving their complaints and being friendly).
How has this selection added to your knowledge of business?
Discussing the Selection:
Discuss why Elias Sifuentes decided to open his own restaurant.
Discuss the problems Elias had to overcome.
Discuss how Elias deals with customers.
Discuss how many hours a day Elias works at his restaurant
What business does Elias own and operate? (He runs a Mexican restaurant).
Why did he start this business? (It is something he always wanted to do because he likes to work with people).
How does Elias deal with his customers? (He tries to make them happy by resolving their complaints and being friendly).
How has this selection added to your knowledge of business?
Discussing the Selection:
Discuss why Elias Sifuentes decided to open his own restaurant.
Discuss the problems Elias had to overcome.
Discuss how Elias deals with customers.
Discuss how many hours a day Elias works at his restaurant
