PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

Fill in the blanks in your head or better yet, take a piece of paper and a pencil, and number 1 - 15 (the test is similar to a Mad Lib but you aren't given a direction for the word.  For example, write in a verb, adjective, noun.)  When you're done check your answers below on the critique.  Explanations on metacomprehension, prior knowledge, and schema theory are followed after Poetry Mental Test 1.  Exercise your brains everyone even if it's every once in a while!



The questions that (1) p_____ face as they raise

(2) ch_____ from (3) in_____ to adult life are not

easy to (4) an_____.  Both (5) fa_____ and

(6) m_____ can become concerned when health problems

such as (7) co_____ arise any time after the

(8) e_____ stage to later life.  Experts recommend

that young (9) ch_____ should have plenty of

(10) s_____ and nutritious food for health growth.

(11) B_____ and (12) g_____ should not share the same

(13) b_____ or even sleep in the same (14) r_____.

They may be afraid of the (15) d _____.



[Above adapted from Madelyn Hunter]



Prior knowledge:  (PN) defined as the experience and information a reader brings to the process of understanding a text.  (In other words, what knowledge you know and to what degree about any certain subject in general.  So the more you know, the more you can understand.).  Prior knowledge must be ACTIVATED and RELEVANT to help in comprehending a text.  (Or to sum up, certain bits of knowledge will be activated in your brain to understand something.)



Schema:  (S) defined as a mental framework or conceptual pattern which allows a reader to:  (1) store information (2) access information (3) process or apply information (All like a computer).  A schema is a COGNITIVE ENZYME without which information cannot be turned into MENTAL NUTRITION (e.g. learning).  In other words, without learning something previously, for example, learning your ABC's, you won't know how to read, or understand, etc.  (Schemas are in sum little bits of general knowledge that is a guide for understanding.  Schemas are like maps where you're guided in your head on understanding or applying your knowledge to certain things.  For example, "Mary heard the ice-cream truck down the street.  She remembered her birthday money and ran into the house."  Since she heard the ice-cream truck, a schema (or bit of general info.) was activated in her mind to lead her to remember the birthday money she can buy the ice cream with.



Metacomprehension:  (M) "Who of us has not had the experience of reading a book and becoming aware that we have not understood the content of the last few pages?  At the point of that awareness, our metacomprehension was very high -- we "knew" we hadn't processed anything we'd just read.  On the other hand, while we were reading absentmindedly, our metacomprehension was low -- we had been unaware of our lack of understanding.  METACOMPREHENSION, THEN, IT THE AWARENESS OF AND CONSCIOUS CONTROL OVER ONE'S OWN UNDERSTANDING OR LACK OF IT."  - from Sally N. Standiford, "Metacomprehension," ERIC Digest, 1984.