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
Enlisting a Student as Coteacher
In this second video in a two-part series, Sean Moore invites second grader Isaiah to present his learning to the class.
Expanding Definitions of “Just Right” Books
Tammy Mulligan works with two seven-year-olds to teach them strategies for building reading stamina. After discussing the “take a break” strategy, she introduces them to the “make a plan” strategy and has them practice.
Conferring to Coteaching
In this first video in a two-part series, Sean Moore confers with second grader Isaiah. Sean prepares Isaiah to share what he is learning later in the writing workshop.
Running and Middle School Reading Goals
“Mrs. TAYLOR!” “What was that from?” ”Wow -- you are SWEAT-YYYY!” I hear lots of giggles. “Last weekend,” I started, “I ran a half marathon in Oxford, which is where...
Conferring About Tracking Characters
In this video from a 4th grade classroom, Aimee Buckner confers with a student who is reading The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson.
From Rages to Rags: Conferring with Conner
Conferring with Conner has taken many different twists and turns throughout the year. His ability to converse about strategies during his reading has improved, but there is often a sense...
Rereading Strategy: Conferring with Emily
Sean Moore confers with 2nd grader Emily about the strategy of rereading for comprehending reading and writing.
Focused Independent Reading in Second Grade
Sean Moore demonstrates how he helps students focus their independent reading with preparation and then with discussion after reading.
Inferring Small Group in 5th Grade
Karen Terlecky meets with a small group in her 5th grade class to discuss the strategy of inferring.
From Rages to Rags: Conferring with Conner
In this video, Sean Moore confers with Conner who is working on reading accurately. When he bumps into an unknown word, Sean reminds him of the kinesthetic motions for Does it look right? Does it sound right? Does it make sense?
Digging Deeper with Rereading
In this video from Katie DiCesare's first-grade classroom, Katie uses the strategy of rereading to help students look more closely at words - in this case, rhymes and word parts.
Inferring Read Aloud
In this whole-group minilesson, sixth-grade teacher Katie Doherty uses the book Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge to have the students listen and chart their clues, schema and resulting inference.
Conferring About Inferring
Katie confers with two middle school students after the inferring minilesson as they practice the strategy by annotating and discussing inferences in their picture books.
Conferring About Inferring
During reader's workshop, my main goal is to have students reading and practicing some form of reading strategy with the text that they choose. At the beginning of the year,...
Middle School Conferring About a Series
In this video from Katie Doherty's sixth-grade classroom, Katie confers with a student who has returned to a series book she had previously rejected. Katie weaves in talk about strategies,...
Accuracy and Comprehension: Conferring in Second Grade
In this video from Sean Moore's second-grade classroom, Sean confers with a student who comprehends text well but has some issues with accuracy.
Main Ideas, Summaries, and Notes in a Reading Conference
In this conference with a 4th grader, Aimee Buckner tackles text choice, notes, and main ideas all in less than five minutes.
Accuracy and Comprehension: Conferring in 2nd Grade
In this video, Sean confers with a second grader who is working on reading the actual print words vs. substituting words that make sense in context, but may alter the meaning slightly. She begins by summarizing her series book and then they work toward the goal. Sean reinforces what is really important for her as a reader.
Point of View: Conferring with a 5th Grade Reader
In this conference with a fifth grader, Aimee Buckner shares two strategies -- one to use when putting a book away between readings, and another to help keep track of characters in a complex narrative where the point of view is constantly shifting.
Talking About Synthesis: Metaphors from 2nd Graders
Principal Karen Szymusiak visits a second-grade classroom in her school to sit in on a discussion of synthesis.
Working on Accuracy and Fluency: Conferring with Colin
Joan Moser confers with Colin, a first grader who is working on the skills of fluency and accuracy.
