Choice Lit Topic: Reading Strategies
Are your students buried in post-its? Oversharing with those text-to-self connections? Parroting back comprehension tips but rarely applying them when they are actually reading? Our contributors sort through what works with strategy instruction, and have wise advice for avoiding superficial approaches to developing comprehension skills.
Results
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Recently, I sat in the midst of my classroom's nonfiction library looking at books scattered across the floor. Fiction books were piled onto empty nonfiction shelves. When I looked at...
Graphic Novels for Beginning Readers
“Whoa! Do we get to read this?” asked Malik, holding up a copy of the graphic novel Binky the Space Cat. “No, sweetie,” replied Rochelle. “That book is for the...
Deep Reading of Picture Books in Middle School
I have listened to my favorite song, “Paradise” by the BoDeans, more times than I can count. However, nothing beats a live performance. In fact, I enjoy it so much...
Kindergarten Reading Conference: Building Confidence
Mikey was my second reading conference, and before I had settled in, he had an urgent need. He needed to tell me he couldn’t read the book he had self-selected....
Extended Inquiry with Article of the Week
I have been using Kelly Gallagher’s “Article of the Week” strategy in my classroom for some time now. On Mondays, I introduce an interesting or pertinent article to my students...
Understanding Character Traits: Part 3
Jason DiCarlo leads a lesson in a third-grade classroom about understanding character traits. He concludes the lesson with partner work exploring Henry's Freedom Box and a whole-class discussion. This is...
Teaching Inference Through Picture Books
One reading strategy my fifth graders still struggle with is inference. After years of working with students this age, I think they are making this more complicated than it needs...
Stamina Bubbles
I sat down next to Sarah to listen in on her reading when she whispered, “Why do you always say 'Happy reading!' to us when we begin?” Her question caught...
Literary Analysis and Authenticity in Middle School
Literary analysis essays are scary. They sound so serious and formal. Although I know it is the style of writing that will be required of my eighth graders most often...
Close Reading for Comparison in Fifth Grade
I am always on the lookout for a great picture book to use in a minilesson. One skill my fifth graders struggle with is comparison, in texts, across texts, which...
Close Encounters with Text: Reading Many Ways
I believe in one day and someday and this perfect moment called Now. Jaqueline Woodson Getting children to pay attention as they are reading requires front-end work on task...
Beginning a Novel with Close Reading
Aimee Buckner helps a fourth-grade boy tease out emerging themes in the first pages of the novel Morning Girl.
Understanding Fiction and Nonfiction in First Grade
This is a demonstration lesson in a first-grade classroom on understanding the difference between fiction and nonfiction led by Erin Quealy. It is the first video in a three-part series....
Second-Grade Reading Group
Heather Rader leads a second-grade small group on reading strategies.
Just Reading?
A colleague recently said to me, “My seventh graders never just read. Every time they pick up a book, they have an activity to do.” Following up, I uncovered that...
Fourth-Grade Read Aloud: Checking In
In this video from a fourth-grade classroom, Gi Reed reads aloud Small as an Elephant by Jennifer Richard Jacobson. Notice how Gi continually checks in with her students, making sure...
Using a Strategy Card in a Reading Conference
Deb Gaby confers with second grader Reagan early in the school year. She is reading her first chapter book, and using a reading strategies "tool kit" for support.
Provoking Young Readers
Since attending a Teachers College workshop a few years ago, Shanna Schwartz's suggestion to be provocative with young opinion writers has stuck with me. When one of our second-grade teachers...
Book Clubs Then and Now: Change Is the Constant
I am a book club junkie. I believe that the desire to get together and talk about books is a natural offshoot of being a reader. I belong to two...
Owl Research Notes Group
Andrea Smith helps a group of boys completing their note taking during an owl research project.
Favorite Wordless Picture Books for Teaching Inference
When children are first learning to read, figuring out the alphabetic system is often so taxing that grappling with letters and sounds relegates meaning to the back burner. Although we...
