Reading to Learn in Social Studies Presented by Debra Williams Region 4 ESC – Houston, TX

Discussion Guidelines Listen to what others have to say. Stick to the topic. Challenge/Support ideas, not people. Respect others’ viewpoints. Support your ideas with examples and facts. Seek first to understand others. Keep an open mind.

Organizational Patterns “An organizational pattern is the way ideas and information are arranged in narrative or informational text.” Source: Doty, J, Cameron, G.N. & Barton, M.L. (2003). Teaching reading in social studies (2 nd ed.). Aurora, CO: McRel.

Organizational Patterns It is important that students not only know and understand the text structure (how the author presents information), but also how to use this information to read for the purpose of acquiring, analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating information.

Organizational Patterns In Social Studies, the four most common organizational patterns of text structure are: –Cause and effect –Comparison and contrast –Description –Sequential

Organizational Patterns Think about these four organizational patterns of text structure: Choose the one that you feel is the most important in the teaching and learning of social studies. Go stand in the corners where this pattern is located. Discuss with the others in your corner why this is the most important pattern for the teaching and learning of social studies.

Organizational Patterns As a group, be prepared to share your rationale with the whole group. Now, move to the corner of your second choice as the most important pattern in social studies. Discuss with the others in your corner why this is an important pattern for the teaching and learning of social studies.

Dominant Organizational Patterns in Social Studies Text Cause and effect Comparison and contrast Description Sequential

Cause and Effect Organizes information establishing a causal relationship linking the cause(s) to the effect(s)

Cause/Effect Frame What is it that happens? What causes it to happen? What is the effect? What are the important elements or factors that cause this effect? How do these factors or elements interrelate?

Cause/Effect Signal Words because since consequently this led to so that nevertheless accordingly because of as a result of in order to may be due to effects of therefore for this reason if …then thus

Example of Cause/Effect Write a cause and effect statement based on a key concept or idea from your course.

Comparison and Contrast Organizes information representing two or more topics by highlighting similarities and differences

Compare/Contrast Frame What is being compared and contrasted? What categories of characteristics or attributes are used to compare and contrast these things? How are the things alike or similar? How are the things not alike or not similar? What are the most important qualities or attributes that make them different?

Compare/Contrast Signal Words different from same as Similar to as opposed to instead of although however compared with as well as either…or but on the other hand not only…but also while unless similarly

Example of Compare/Contrast Think of two major ideas, terms, or concepts that students need to be able to compare and contrast in your course. Record them and think about how you it would look in instruction.

Description Organizes specific information about a topic, event, object, person, or ideas (facts, characteristics, traits, features)

Description Frame What is being described? What are its critical attributes? What are the characters, places, and objects in the passage? Why is this description important?

Description Signal Words for instance for example such as to illustrate most important in addition another furthermore first second to begin with also in fact

Example of Description Think of a location you have visited or would like to visit. Write a brief geographic description about its location.

Sequential Frame Organizes events into a chronological or a logical order

Sequential Signal Words First Second Next Than Initially Before After when finally preceding following on (date) not long after now as

Example of Sequential Think of a key idea, process, or concept from your course that is presented in a sequential manner. Record that idea.

Three Phases of Reading Before (Pre-active) During (Interactive) After (Reflective) Source: Doty, J, Cameron, G.N. & Barton, M.L. (2003). Teaching reading in social studies (2 nd ed.). Aurora, CO: McRel.

Pre-active (Before Reading) Activating schema (prior knowledge) Directing attention to purpose for reading Sparking interest and curiosity

Examples of Pre-active Activities Anticipation guides Brainstorming Drawing analogies Bridging Free writing Oral previews Vocabulary development

Interactive (During Reading) Self-monitoring learning Checking for understanding Interacting with the text Questioning and summarizing Using fix-it strategies

Examples of Interactive Activities Reciprocal teaching Paragraph patterns SQ3R Visual representations/ graphic organizers Embedded questions

Reflective (After Reading) Self-assessing learning Reflecting on new learning Clarifying and using new concepts Taking ownership of the new learning

Examples of Reflective Activities Discussion K-W-L (Plus) Verifying Prediction Think-Pair-Share Making Inferences Synthesizing/summarizing Evaluating