Reading Mini Lesson: Synthesizing

Ashley L. Perry
EDG 341

Lesson Focus/Teaching Point: How to Synthesize Information

Materials: The High Rise Private Eyes and the Baffled Bear ~
Synthesizing Superhero Visual Chart ~

Yesterday we were working on how to summarize

what we were reading by using a retelling graphic
organizer.
Today I am going to teach you how synthesize what
you are reading. Synthesize is a big word to say the
process of thinking 1) What did I just learn? 2) What
am I thinking about right now? 3) After thinking about
Connections _________, now I think _____________. 4) Now I get it, I
understand __________. ( The above steps will be
displayed for the student) I am going to teach you how
to do this because it will help you to make sense of
what you are reading.

Teaching

Demonstration
Guided practice
Explain & give
an example
Inquiry

We are going to read together, The Case of Baffled Bear.

Before we begin to read, lets look at the Synthesizing
Superhero (see attachment). Are you ready to be a
Superhero? Lets read the first two pages together.
Now, let me show you how I use my superhero skills
and our steps to understand what I am reading.
Hmmm ... 1) l learned Bunny and Jack are Private
Eyes. 2) Right now I am thinking, what does it mean to
be a private eye? 3) After thinking about what it means
to be a private I, now I am thinking that it must mean
they are a type of detective, I know this from what we
have read so far about their office. 4) Now I get it,
Bunny and Jack must solve problems of other characters
in the story because they are detectives/private eyes.
Did you see how I remembered that I am a
synthesizing superhero and I read a few pages and then
went through the steps of synthesizing?
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Reading Mini Lesson: Synthesizing

Ashley L. Perry
EDG 341

Active
Engagemen
t

Now it is your turn to try. Lets read the two pages

together. Lets go through the steps of synthesizing
together.

What text
will you use
for the active
engagement?

Link

Independen
t Work Time

Share
We tie the
closing to the
mini lesson, and
use it as a time
to validate,
troubleshoot, or
further instruct.

Today and everyday when you are reading, you

can use the steps to synthesize that I made for you to
keep. This will help you to build on what you already
know and understand new information.
This strategy for young students is difficult to do completely
independently. The student(s) will read the next two pages on
their own and try to do the steps with little or no guidance from
the teacher.

The student(s) will share with the teacher their favorite part of
the story that they understood better because they stopped to
go through the steps of synthesizing.

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Reading Mini Lesson: Synthesizing

Ashley L. Perry
EDG 341

Picture Sample

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Reading Mini Lesson: Synthesizing

Ashley L. Perry
EDG 341

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Reading Mini Lesson: Synthesizing

Ashley L. Perry
EDG 341

Ways to Differentiate
This lesson was adapted specifically for a literacy partner who is four years old and
reading on level F (F&P). For students who may have trouble following the steps of
synthesizing, the teacher could continue to work with the student(s) one-on-one to
guide them through their thinking about what they are reading.

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