Have you ever pulled out a passage with comprehension questions and heard groans from the class? I have so many times which is why I had to try something new and engaging. I started looking into close reading a few years ago and have never heard another groan.
What is Close Reading?
Close reading is thoughtful, critical analysis of a text. It focuses on significant details or patterns in order to develop a deep, precise understanding of the text’s form, craft, meaning, etc. It is a key requirement of the Common Core Standards and directs the reader’s attention to the text itself.
What All Does Close Reading Include?
Close reading involves short passages and excerpts and allows the reader to dive right into the text with limited pre-reading activities. It focuses on the text itself and requires rereading deliberately. Students will take the time to notice things that are confusing and will be given the opportunity to discuss the text with others through options such as think-pair share or turn and talk. This will give students the ability to accurately respond to text-dependent questions.
What Are Text Dependent Questions?
Text dependent questions can only be answered with evidence from the text. They can be literal (checking for understanding), but must also involve analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.
Text dependent questions will focus on a word, sentence, or paragraph, larger ideas, themes, or events as well as on difficult portions of text in order to enhance reading proficiency.
Why Do Kids Love It?
Close reading allows students to read text that is over their heads. It offers them the safety net of peers during think-pair-share and turn and talk to discuss it together, causing much learning to take place. I display a “text talker” poster to give students sentence starters when they are with their partners.
Another reason I have found that my students love close reading is the annotating portion. They love to use their different color pens or color pencils and mark all over the text with their thoughts and feelings about what they read. This is another time I will display a poster with several symbol options they can use to mark up their text.
Allowing students to read and learn from what is challenging and unfamiliar, opens up so many possibilities for them.
How Can You Use This in Your Class?
I would love for you to try this out with your class. If you click HERE or on the pictures you can access a free passage with text dependent questions to try out. I’d love to know how it goes for your students so make sure to come back and comment or leave pictures!
Hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving!
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