Enhancing Student Comprehension Through Close Reading

Guiding Questions O What is Close Reading? O What are Text-Dependent Questions? O How can I use Close Reading & Text- Dependent Questions in my classroom? O How are Close Reading & Text-Dependent Questions connected to the TEKS?

What is Close Reading?

Close Reading in Elementary Schools O by Douglas Fischer & Nancy Frey O Read the article independently with a specific question in mind O Work with your group to answer the question using text evidence

Debrief Article

Text-Dependent Questions O What are Text-Dependent Questions? O How can Text-Dependent Questions be used with students? O What are the benefits of using Text-Dependent Questions?

Instructional Implications O Text-Dependent Questions can be developed directly from a TEK being taught O Students can respond to the Text- Dependent Questions in Reader’s Notebooks O Student responses can be assessed and recorded as grades

2 nd Grade O Students read the Time For Kids article Honeybees without any background knowledge or class discussion. O While reading, students made “think mark” notes that would allow them to get a better understanding of the article. O Teacher re-read the article aloud and answered lingering questions to increase all students’ understanding. O The learning outcome of this close reading exercise was for the students to generate a summary of the information read. O Students then compiled their notes from the article and discussed information to draft their summary.

3 rd Grade O Students read the poem Saw My Teacher on Saturday without any background knowledge. O Students answered a text-dependent question using response notebooks: O What clues does the speaker give that lets the reader know that the speaker feels uncomfortable? O *Students highlighted text evidence and wrote responses in readers notebooks O Lastly, students completed the Close Reading Graphic Organizer.

Guiding Questions O What is Close Reading? O What are Text-Dependent Questions? O How can I use Close Reading & Text- Dependent Questions in my classroom? O How are Close Reading & Text-Dependent Questions connected to the TEKS?

Planning to Apply O Which mini-lesson texts will you be using in coming lessons? O Develop a Close Reading plan to enhance student comprehension O Which TEKS will you be teaching & assessing in coming lessons? O Create some Text-Dependent Questions connected to TEKS that could used to assess student comprehension

Sources O Close Reading In Elementary Schools By: Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey O Pre-reading or Not? On the Premature Demise of Background Discussions By: Timothy Shanahan O PPT can be located on: Carrie Pierce’s website-Schluter Staff page