Chapter Two-Preparing Students to Understand

The authors recognize that when students are asked to discuss characters in a book they may be reading they rely on surface information to describe that character. They never delve deeper into a character or try to connect to a character through their own life experiences. Helping students connect to a character beyond recognizing their color of hair, eyes, skin, age or height can be difficulty. However, the authors suggest using they myers briggs typology personality test to help students understand themselves further and to begin to understand what teachers would like from them when discussing characters from a book. Furthermore, having students reflect on how they see people should be how they would understand characters helping students understand the connection helps them relate and understand characters beyond the surface.

Having students reflect on how they understand people, ultimately helps students understand characters. Transfer of learning cannot occur if students do not understand what they have learned. The author suggests that we use texts that focus on texts that support the interpretive skill we are trying to teach. Simulations provide connection practice and help students transfer learning.