Two types of Reading Activities

Stamina: Less Complex TextStrength: More Complex Text

Read like a Detective

HO

Small Group Reading /Work Stations

Shared or Independent

Reading

Read aloud

Balanced Literacy

What Makes Text Complex?

• Vocabulary: Knowledge of word meaning

• Sentence Structure: How the words operate together

• Coherence: How particular words, ideas, and sentences in text connect with one another

• Organization: The patterns authors use to communicate complex information

• Background Knowledge: The reader’s prior knowledge

Educational Leadership, March 2012 The Challenge of Challenging TextTimothy Shanahan, Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey

Not all books are worthy!

Creating a Close Reading

Use a short

passage

Re-reading

“Read with a pencil”

Text-dependent questions

Give students the chance to struggle a bit

Close Reading in Action

Modifications for Elementary Classrooms

Who Reads?

Modifications for Elementary Classrooms

Frontloading Background Knowledge

Need to read text

Text Dependent Questions

Teaching Annotation at Different Levels

“Close Reading” of a Stand-Alone Text

© 2012 The Aspen Institute

© 2012 The Aspen Institute

Guidelines for Creating Text-Dependent Questions

Step One: Identify the core understandings and key ideas of the text. (with standards/learning targets in mind)

Step Two: Start small to build confidence.

Step Three: Target vocabulary and text structure.

Step Four: Tackle tough sections head-on.

Step Five: Create coherent sequences of text-dependent questions.

Step Six: Identify the standards that are being addressed.

Step Seven: Create the culminating assessment.

Planning a Close Read for you Grade Level

Close Reading Illustrations and Images

Based on the picture? What is BB Wolf planning to do?

Why was Stellaluna embarrassed?

Connections to TPGES

We have arrived!