Fifth Grade

Episode Analysis
An Episode Analysis is a way for students to summarize and analyze problems in a story. Students are first asked to summarize a chapter or section of a story. Then students must locate a problem in the chapter or section, determine how the character acted and reacted, and then state the solution to the problem.

Making Connections
In order to better comprehend a story, students are often asked to make connections. Connections can be made to something a student has read before, something that has been seen or heard on TV or in a movie, or something that they have done or know about. When students make connections as they read, comprehension is increased because students are thinking more about what they are reading and making it more understandable and real by connecting it to something they already know about and understand.

Story Map
A story map is a quick and easy way to summarize a chapter or story. Students can download the story map and fill it out for a particular chapter or set of pages they have read, or for the whole novel.

Response Journal
Response journals are like diary entries. Students can pick from a list of Response Journal Starter Ideas or they may start a journal of their own ideas. A journal allows students to really think about the chapter(s) or pages they have read, and then respond to the reading in ways that are interesting and meaningful. Students can make connections to characters, make predictions, comment on improvements they would make and more.