This girl over here {Laura from Where the Magic Happens} has been enjoying the beautiful weather and hanging out with the boys… oh yeah… I have also been crazy busy at school and have had a million things going on! That’s the reason I have not blogged in what it seems like forever.
Anyhow, I have been reading and reflecting A LOT about how to transform my literacy teaching in this era of higher standards. For about a year I have been a close reading
So really what in the world is close reading?
According to Fisher and Frey, close reading is:
“an instructional routine in which students are guided in their understanding of complex texts.” Basically, close reading is a component of dynamic reading instruction where students:
- Read strategically
- Interact with the text
- Reread to uncover layers of meaning that lead to deeper understanding
- Analyze multiple component of the text and illustrations
- Focus on the author’s message
- Not all texts deserve a close reading
- Close reading is also not necessary when the text is fairly accessible. In other words, when choosing texts for close reading… you want to pick a text that do not give up their meaning easily or quickly.
- Close reading is MORE than a worksheet!!! Our students need to interact with their peers and their teachers using academic language and argumentation skills as they discuss the text.
- Close reading is not one-and-done reading! Rather, it is purposeful, careful, and thoughtful.
And honestly, I could go on and on…
I really could give you a million reasons.
These are some of the benefits of close reading:
- It leads students on a cognitive path that begins with discovering the literal meaning of a text and ends with the exploration of deeper meaning and a plan of what should occur as a result of the reading.
- Close reading will help our students understand the mechanics of a text, especially vocabulary, text structure, and the author’s craft.
- Close reading will require that all students cite textual evidence in their products. {Hello, mCLASS?}
If you are thinking that a close read is an easy task for the teacher… then you might be like Santa Claus in the month of August.
Close reads are divided into four different phases:
- What does the text say? (general understanding and key details)
- How does the text work? (vocabulary, structure, author’s craft)
- What does the text mean? (author’s purpose)
- What does the text inspire you to do? (extended thinking)
You go right ahead and download this evidence based terminology poster to use during your close reading time! {click on picture!!}
And just in case you are wondering, this is what Fisher & Frey recommend as the best think marks for close reading based on their research.
Classroom Materials? No problem, I got you covered! Check out these great close reading materials from my TPT store! Click on the pictures to be directed to my store.
Until next time!
I really like this post. Thank you!!
ReplyDelete