Friday Focus: Reading Strategies
This week’s focus is “What the text says?” Have you ever read something and then realized you had no idea what you had just read? That’s because you need strategies to access information, especially when reading nonfiction text.
Understanding what the text is attempting to “tell” you is a fundamental part of textual reading HOWEVER, it is often overlooked because it is considered common sense.
Strategies to comprehend complex or less interesting texts:
Column Notes Column Notes lend themselves to many variations Two-Column Three-Column Category Headings
Here’s an example of what column notes look like: Key Points Details Influences of Steam Power A new source of energy Factories use steam, which allows them to operate without waterpower History of Steam Power 1700’s in Europe – James Watt American Oliver Evans developed a more powerful steam engine How Steam Power Works Boiler: Fuel is burned to heat water and produce steam Cylinder: Steam is built up to push piston up and down Condenser: Increases power by pulling steam out of cylinder and speeds up the piston
OK, so let’s try it: Read the Passage: Arizona wants students to pass U.S. citizenship test before they graduate You will have 10 minutes to read the passage and this slide will move forward automatically Make column notes as you read
You will have 60 seconds to answer each of the questions that follow… The slides will move forward by themselves. Use your column notes as a resource
1. Select the paragraph from the section "Skimming The Surface 1. Select the paragraph from the section "Skimming The Surface?" that explains why some people are worried about civics education. Fewer than 12 states make students take any test about American government to finish high school. In some states, students don't even need to pass. "This has been building for a long time," said Ted McConnell. He works with former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor to increase learning about government in schools. McConnell said he and others are worried that lawmakers are only skimming the surface of what students need to know. Some education leaders are worried about the state of teaching civics. In 2010, a national test looked at educational progress. Only 1 out of every 7 high school seniors got a passing score in American history. If people don't understand the importance of being a citizen they don't vote. The number of people who voted in the last elections for Congress was the lowest in years.
2. Read the sentence from the article 2. Read the sentence from the article. -McConnell said people pushing for the citizenship test have the "right problem, wrong solution." Which sentence is the "wrong solution" described by McConnell? Some education leaders are worried about the state of teaching civics. The institute says lawmakers in 15 states are expected to consider it this year. Those test knowledge that the U.S. citizenship exam does not. It wants all 50 states to use the U.S. citizenship test for high school students by 2017.
3. Which sentence explains one problem with Arizona's approach to civics education? They ask questions about equality before the law, the purpose of democratic government, and being a good citizen. More than a quarter of the school districts said they spent less time on social studies. There are worries the No Child Left Behind act and other laws prevent the understanding of civics. The citizenship exam is actually too simple, some experts say.
4. They ask questions about equality before the law, the purpose of democratic government, and being a good citizen. Which sentence from the article helps explain the meaning of "democratic"? There are worries the No Child Left Behind act and other laws prevent the understanding of civics. More than a quarter of the school districts said they spent less time on social studies. If people don't understand the importance of being a citizen they don't vote. Fewer than 12 states make students take any test about American government to finish high school.
Answers
1. Select the paragraph from the section "Skimming The Surface 1. Select the paragraph from the section "Skimming The Surface?" that explains why some people are worried about civics education. Fewer than 12 states make students take any test about American government to finish high school. In some states, students don't even need to pass. "This has been building for a long time," said Ted McConnell. He works with former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor to increase learning about government in schools. McConnell said he and others are worried that lawmakers are only skimming the surface of what students need to know. Some education leaders are worried about the state of teaching civics. In 2010, a national test looked at educational progress. Only 1 out of every 7 high school seniors got a passing score in American history. If people don't understand the importance of being a citizen they don't vote. The number of people who voted in the last elections for Congress was the lowest in years.
2. Read the sentence from the article 2. Read the sentence from the article. -McConnell said people pushing for the citizenship test have the "right problem, wrong solution." Which sentence is the "wrong solution" described by McConnell? Some education leaders are worried about the state of teaching civics. The institute says lawmakers in 15 states are expected to consider it this year. Those test knowledge that the U.S. citizenship exam does not. It wants all 50 states to use the U.S. citizenship test for high school students by 2017.
3. Which sentence explains one problem with Arizona's approach to civics education? They ask questions about equality before the law, the purpose of democratic government, and being a good citizen. More than a quarter of the school districts said they spent less time on social studies. There are worries the No Child Left Behind act and other laws prevent the understanding of civics. The citizenship exam is actually too simple, some experts say.
4. They ask questions about equality before the law, the purpose of democratic government, and being a good citizen. Which sentence from the article helps explain the meaning of "democratic"? There are worries the No Child Left Behind act and other laws prevent the understanding of civics. More than a quarter of the school districts said they spent less time on social studies. If people don't understand the importance of being a citizen they don't vote. Fewer than 12 states make students take any test about American government to finish high school.