Sidney Jones
Digital Portfolio
Different RAHAing
US History
In this reflection I will be explaining what I learned in US History. This year I think I expanded my knowledge of reading methods and while taking notes in United States History.
In the beginning of the year we did a lot of readings and I still have them. In some of the readings we had to RAHA and sometimes we had to complete a chart. We did the charts and RAHAs while learning about Native Americans, early slavery, the lost colony of Roanoke, Pocahontas, Christopher Columbus and much more. When the American Revolution project started we had to do our own research. Our teacher Mrs. Durkee gave us some sources and lessons but besides that we had to venture out with our partners.
One of our first RAHA readings in US History is seen on side. From two years of past experience in RAHA in 6th and 7th grade it was easy for me. The reading was also front and back. I have a highlighted sentence with an annotation because we have to have an annotation for every part we highlight. There is also an underlined part in pen with another annotation. As the unit went on the reading would get longer and for me it was just tiring and boring just reading a bunch of text. I stayed persistent and read the paper. Even though it was a packet the process was easier for me. I like to physically mark the paper, if I can’t entire text anyway. In a newer RAHA I had basically a packet printed, but I did the exact same thing I did in the older reading.
In one of my first reciprocal reading charts it was kind of hard because I like to physically mark the paper, I always wish I could mark the paper no matter how long the reading. Sometimes my eyes kind of wander when I start to get bored and when I read online. I’m probably just use to RAHA because I’ve done it for so long. Just like the other readings I got a 100% on it and I started get used to it more and more. As we continued to do more RR charts. You can see the same results in my newest reciprocal reading chart, I write the main points and then come up with an annotation.
At first we only did RAHA just like in 6th and 7th grade. RAHA stands for Read, Annotate, Highlight and Answer. You read, make a note or drawing to remember what you read, highlight what is important and now you can answer the question. After RAHA for a while we were introduced to the reciprocal reading chart which we might have done a few times last year in 7th grade. The reciprocal reading chart is when you first make predictions about the section your about to read and give evidence on why you gave those predictions. Then you title the first section and you have to write one to three main points about the section, after you have to write a question you can answer by reading the section or a question you have about the question.
We also had a different method of note taking in class with charts. We would write the date of the date, summary and effect of the event. Then we would explain the different perspectives of women, patriots African Americans and loyalist on the event. This chart was specifically made for the American Revolution unit to show all of the events that happened that lead up to it and the multiple perspectives on that event. This was also a more organized way because the chart sorts the different
With the American Revolution research I had to become more efficient at reading so my partner and I could still create out comic book. Without research we won’t know if we are accurate and inaccuracy would make our comic inaccurate. We basically can’t continue the comic without having all of the content we want and need. We completed a few mostly RAHAs and RR charts on events that led up to the American Revolution because Mrs. Durkee still had to teach us content.
These are the two pages of a RAHA I had at the begining of the year.
Comic Book Event Tracker Chart
In a RR chart for the American Revolution unit we read about the intolerable acts and the tea act. We also read about the continental congress and the continental association. This wasn’t a very long reading it’s only three pages. So I did my one to three sentences for each section and wrote corresponding questions. Lastly I summarized the reading and got a 100%.
On my newest reciprocal reading chart I got a 100% because I got more use to the amount of reading we have. I recently completed a reading packet on slavery we were given a choice of RAHA or reciprocal reading. I automatically chose RAHA, I’m just a RAHA type of person. It’s just an easier method for me. I could get use to the amount a be even better at the reading chart, who knows maybe there will be a whole other way of taking notes or reading next year.