English Language Arts6-8
Notice and Note Signpost Analysis in The Wednesday Wars
By David D.
A worksheet for 8th graders that has them locate Notice and Note signposts in the final three chapters of Gary Schmidt's The Wednesday Wars and explain their thinking with the Say, Mean, Matter method. It builds close-reading, textual evidence, and analytical writing skills, and works well as a focused 45-minute independent or partner task after the novel's ending.
Customize for your classroom
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use this after students have finished the novel's final three chapters, either as a homework task or a 45-minute in-class activity with partners.
- Discussion question: Which signpost did you notice first, and what anchor question helped you see a deeper idea about Holling's character?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Provide a sentence frame for Say, Mean, Matter ("The text says ___. This means ___. It matters because ___.") and pre-select one passage to model before students work independently.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to find two signposts that interact in the same chapter and explain how together they shape the novel's theme of growth.
- Estimated time: about 45 minutes for the worksheet plus 10 minutes for a brief whole-class share-out.
English Language Arts6-8
Notice and Note Signpost Analysis in The Wednesday Wars
By David D.
A worksheet for 8th graders that has them locate Notice and Note signposts in the final three chapters of Gary Schmidt's The Wednesday Wars and explain their thinking with the Say, Mean, Matter method. It builds close-reading, textual evidence, and analytical writing skills, and works well as a focused 45-minute independent or partner task after the novel's ending.
Customize for your classroom
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use this after students have finished the novel's final three chapters, either as a homework task or a 45-minute in-class activity with partners.
- Discussion question: Which signpost did you notice first, and what anchor question helped you see a deeper idea about Holling's character?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Provide a sentence frame for Say, Mean, Matter ("The text says ___. This means ___. It matters because ___.") and pre-select one passage to model before students work independently.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to find two signposts that interact in the same chapter and explain how together they shape the novel's theme of growth.
- Estimated time: about 45 minutes for the worksheet plus 10 minutes for a brief whole-class share-out.