Teaching Reading in Content Area

Purpose CTE stresses teaching practical application of academic skills Reading is basic life and career skill Reading comprehension skills help students become independent, life- long learners

Experiences Leading to Higher Reading Scores Reading assigned books outside of class Reading 3+ hours per week outside of class Writing one or two major research papers Completing short writing assignments frequently Making several oral presentations Reading technical materials frequently

Your Role Create appropriate environment Be sensitive Make students aware of need Motivate students through interests Assess students’ reading needs Know what is required for entry level jobs Identify students with possible problems Know whether students can handle your materials

Your Role (cont.) Extend Adapt reading skills to more difficult, technical material Develop Teaching new, unique skills required in your area Diagrams

Fusing Reading with Content Incorporate instruction into lessons More effective if can apply right away Learn content and how to learn the content

Individual Assessment Observe performance in classroom Inability or reluctance to read aloud Failure to complete assignments that require reading Inability to spell or write Inability to follow directions Inability to read chalkboard, bulletin board, posters Inability to locate information in manual or catalog

Ability to Handle Instructional Materials Compare student reading level to those of materials Cloze procedure Select samples from your materials Delete every fifth word Evaluate scores 70% and above – independent reader 40% to 70% - instructional level 40% and below – frustration level

Components Pre-reading activities Create interest and motivate students During-reading activities Guide reading and comprehension process Post-reading activities Aid in comprehension Review what was read

Pre-Reading Tactic Anticipation Guides Select reading material & determine major ideas Write ideas in short, clear statements Put in format that will make students anticipate and predict what will be read (e.g., True/False) Include brainstorming section Discuss predictions Assign reading Compare and contrast predictions with reading

During-Reading Tactic SQ3R Survey – look at title, headings, graphs, summaries Question – turn headings into questions Read – read text following a heading Recite – recite answer to question Review – review entire chapter by outlining main points (come from headings, main ideas, key words)

Post-Reading Tactic Graphic Organizers Create several together until students get the hang of it Several forms to choose from Venn Diagram Spider Map Web Chain Mind Map Sequential Thinking Model Job Search Cover LetterResumeInterview

Improvement Strategies Teach technical vocabulary Provide practical reading knowledge & tips Use reading games Introduce reading assignments Supplement reading assignments Individualize reading help Provide practice and reinforcement

Teach Technical Vocabulary (new, essential, and specialized) Definitions – oral or written; glossary Context – need to be taught how to use this Examples – provide examples of how used Common equivalents – common terms Real objects, models, pictures – show the object Demonstrations – show the action or procedure

Rules for Introducing Vocabulary Present word orally and in writing Helps fix sound and spelling in mind Teach the meaning Ensure everyone understands Use the word as often as possible Ask questions requiring its use Devise some permanent, visible reminder Label objects, post vocabulary list, create posters

Context Clues Exercises Select sample sentences from reading Copy sentences and highlight word to define Design procedure to guide students Identify any signal words Point out clue section of sentence Analyze clue section to identify possible meanings List possible meanings from which students can select

Structural Analysis Exercise Provide a list of prefixes, roots, and suffixes along with their definitions Provide a list of terms using the prefixes, roots, and suffixes provided Have students write literal translations Have students look up word and write dictionary definition Compare literal and actual definitions

Practical Reading Knowledge & Tips Point out clues about what is important New vocabulary may be underlined or in bold New vocabulary may be found in margin List of new vocabulary may be found at beginning or end of chapter Mention other devices for highlighting key points Introduction or summary sections Chapter titles and subheadings

Practical Reading Knowledge & Tips Reading process Point to what they read as they read Underline important points in materials Preview skimming Provides framework for organizing information Rapid reading of material to pick out important points Read carefully, absorbing the information

Use Reading Games Crossword puzzle - practice vocabulary Word search - word recognition and spelling Can have students match terms with definitions first Word maze – no list provided, find words on own Word scramble – word recognition and spelling Can have puzzle using numbers to go with it Directions game – begin with one word and follow directions to end with another word Analogies – two pairs of words with similar relationships

Introduce Reading Assignments What they are reading Broad, general picture of particular topic or detailed treatment of one point Retain main points and important details or lots of minor details Why they are reading the assignment How does it fit into what they are learning How does it fit into the world of work

Supplement Reading Assignments Audiotapes – listen while reading Videotape process described in reading Illustrations of what they are reading Vocabulary sections – present definitions and illustrations of new and important vocabulary Flash cards – vocabulary, vocabulary plus pictures, pictures on front and vocabulary on back Peer teaching – pair stronger & weaker readers

Individualize Reading Help Do not require students to perform additional activities that are not needed Group students with similar abilities together and provide them with supplemental materials Make sure it doesn’t seem like more work

Provide Practice & Reinforcement Provide reading materials on students’ interests Encourage students to use comprehension activities at end of chapter Add written notes or questions to end of reading assignment to help students focus

Resources Beers, S., & Howell, L. (2003). Reading strategies for the content areas. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Beers, S., & Howell, L. (2005). Reading strategies for the content areas: Volume II. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Canary, A. J. (2001). The importance of reading in family and consumer sciences. Ellensburg, WA: Family and Consumer Sciences Education Association. Roe, B. D., Stoodt, B. D., & Burns, P. C. (1983). Secondary school reading instruction: The content areas. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.