MODULE 3 ASSESSING THE READABILITY OF TEXT BY: ERIC ZAMORA & DENISE HUNTER

MAIN IDEA -Narrative vs. Expository -Struggles of reading expository text -Solutions and strategies to combat struggles

WHY IS ASSESSING THE READABILITY OF TEXT IMPORTANT? -Teachers need to see if students are finding meaning in the text and engaged in the topic, or if they are simply decoding words -If readability of text is too difficult, students will be frustrated with text which leads to lack of motivation and increase of inappropriate classroom behavior

HOW DOES IT PERTAIN TO SECONDARY ED? - Narrative vs. Expository -Story telling vs. factual text -Elementary vs. Middle and High School -Secondary Ed teachers have to deal with the students’ limited contact with expository text - Reading expectations change from “learning to read” to “reading to learn”

REVIEW OF MODULE 3 ASSESSING THE READABILITY OF TEXT

STRUCTURED READING LESSON (SRL) -Prepares (Before Reading) -purpose, instill curiosity, draw upon background knowledge, present unfamiliar vocabulary -Engages (During Reading) -discussion centered around lesson objectives, focus student attention on lesson objective, relate prior knowledge -Reflection (After Reading) -summarize, higher-order thinking

USING MICROSOFT WORD TO CHECK READABILITY -Creates a readability statistic -Checks percentage of passive sentences -Checks ease of understanding -Rates text U.S. grade level

CLOZE ASSESSMENT - Making meaning of incomplete information -A fundamental process in the reading process -Draws upon reader’s ability to interact with the text as it is being processed -Example -The horses entered the final turn on the dirt covered ________ as they sped toward the finish line -Promotes active reading

TEACHING WITH THE NEWSPAPER Teachers can use newspapers to teach current events = “Living textbook” Reading newspapers help with developing reading, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills Newspapers as Motivation: interesting articles, choice Newspaper in Education Programs: free newspapers Teaching Strategies: Think-Pair-Share (Discuss with a partner to build confidence, record ideas, share with class) Fishbowl Discussion (small group of students disc uss an article while others watch) Allows teachers to use “writing across the curriculum” methodology

QUIZ! 1.Which of the following is NOT a “Before Reading” activity in the Structured Reading Lesson? a.Establish purpose for reading b.Instill curiosity and motivation c.Draw upon or build background knowledge d.Reflect upon the meaning of the text 2. True or False? Narrative text is more challenging for students to read.