Reading is not a straightforward process of lifting the words off the page. Although at first glance reading may seem to be passive, solitary, and simple, it is in truth active, populated by a rich mix of voices and views—those of the author, of the reader, and of others the reader has heard, read about, and otherwise encountered throughout life. Excerpt from the National Writing Project website

What does the author mean by “lifting the words?” Why would these words be associated with reading? What does the word “rich” mean in this context? What is the difference between a “voice” and a “view?” Paraphrase the main idea behind this sentence segment.

What Close reading looks like: Previous perceptions or misconceptions about reading:

A close reading is a 2nd or 3rd reading of the text. It is an intensive analysis of a text in order to come to terms with what it says, how it says it, and what it means. It is the process one goes through to make meaning of the text and understand a big idea or answer an essential question. Sections of this template use strategies & terms from the Lapp, Johnson Text Complexity Rubric

Re-reading the text, by itself, will not result in this “intensive analysis.”

Strategies to Support Close Reading

Thinking Notes Also known as Coding the Text or Reading with a Pencil

What Thinking Questions looks like in the classroom:Thinking Questions

Putting it into Practice Coding the Text with Thinking Questions ? Need clarification, I’m unsure what this means ! This is new or surprising P Important or Key idea This connects to something else I know or have read

Putting it into Practice Written interaction with the text capturing the reader’s thinking, including: - specific questions - important information - outside connections - INTERPRETATIONS/ INFERENCES Annotation: short written notes that document metacognition

More strategies to help students interact with the text: - Question Cards

Ways to Assess Close Reading: Group Discussion Annotated Notes Comprehension Checks, such as the chart Text Dependent Questions