Step #1: Observation

 In the step of OBSERVATION we become more and more familiar with what the text says.  First, we notice things in the text like people, places, main ideas, contrasting thoughts, important words, repeated words, illustrations, lists, summaries, quotes, etc.   Then, we examine them closer to gather more information about the thing we noticed. 

“What does the text say?”

In this step we are detectives gathering clues but not drawing conclusions.  Observation is not deciding what the text means but simply looking for the facts without interpreting them. Thorough observation will lead to well informed interpretation

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 THREE TIPS FOR OBSERVATION:

  1. Read the whole book aloud in one sitting and write a 2-3 sentence summary of the book.

  2. Summarize each paragraph in five words or less

  3. Use a Color Code to mark the things you notice as you read

 “Look, look, look until looking becomes seeing”