English Language Arts and Reading.3.8.B

The student is expected to

explain the relationships among the major and minor characters;

multiple genres TEKS talk image

Knowledge and Skills Statement

Multiple genres: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking using multiple texts--literary elements. The student recognizes and analyzes literary elements within and across increasingly complex traditional, contemporary, classical, and diverse literary texts.

When students explain relationships among characters, they understand and can describe what has happened between characters and how these interactions may affect the plot overall. For example, in some cases, character relationships add to the conflict of the story, whereas in other cases relationships may contribute to the solution. Additionally, students should understand that the major characters are central to the plot of the story while minor characters are not. Plots follow the actions and experiences of major characters. The function of a minor character is to contribute to the development of the major characters or the plot.

Research

1. Freeman, J. (2016). Story is king: How to be a great storyteller. School Library Journal, 62(6), 40+. Retrieved from https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A453920020/PROF?u=tea&sid=PROF&xid=1ff34e81.

Summary: The author uses storytelling to build reading skills, such as plot analysis and understanding characters. She provides concrete examples for storytelling in the classrooms and gives a list of 21 classic folk and fairy tales that can be adapted for storytelling.

2. Droop, M., Elsäcker, W. V., Voeten, M. J., & Verhoeven, L. (2015). Long-term effects of strategic reading instruction in the intermediate elementary grades. Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, 9(1), 77–102. doi:10.1080/19345747.2015.1065528

Summary: The findings of this research suggest that third and fourth grade students should first attain and enhance their knowledge of reading strategies through teacher modeling. Then, they should learn how reading strategies are used and verbalized. After these steps, students can learn to apply this knowledge when reading. The more often a student uses the strategies, the more internalized the strategies become.