Vocabulary Strategies 

Math Literacy Strategies 

* Most of these resources came from http://www.misd.net/secondaryliteracy/strategicliteracyinstructionwordstudy.htm

How is Close Reading Used?

There is no formula for close reading. 

The reader often begins by asking questions about the text itself, focusing on the text type, its organization, and the author’s purpose. While questions about tone, language, or vocabulary apply to most texts, if not all texts, questions about procedure or claims would be more discipline specific.

Close reading is not intended to be used with every text a student reads. Close reading is purposeful and leads to a larger analysis.  Usually the larger analysis is a written or oral response.

Providing opportunities for students to practice close reading in all content areas will allow students to acquire analytical reading skills necessary when independently reading unfamiliar and diverse text.

Planning for Close Reading

• ·        What support do my students need before they begin reading?
• ·        What support do my students need before reading each chapter/section?
• ·        What strategies will assist them to read the text with purpose and clarity?
• ·        How can I encourage a second reading to facilitate deeper reading?
• ·        Which collaborative activities will help deepen their understanding?
• ·        How can I help students to see the relevance this text plays in their world?

Strategies for Close Reading

• ·        Silent Exchange-

• ·        Trouble Slips-

(Adapted from Deeper Reading by Kelly Gallagher. Stenhouse Publishers, 2004)

Question Stems for Close Reading of Informational or Literary Texts

• ·        What clues show you …
• ·        Point to the evidence…
• ·        How does the author describe X in paragraph X?  What are the exact words?
• ·        What reasons does the book give for X?  Where are they?
• ·        Share a sentence that (tells you what the text is about/describes X/gives a different point of view)
• ·        What is the purpose of paragraph X?  What are the clues that tell you this?
• ·        What does the author think about X?  Why do you think so—what is your evidence?
• ·        What do you predict will happen next? What are the clues that make you think so?

See the section on text-dependent questions for more information about writing questions that require a close reading of the text.

(Adapted from Race to the Top/Strategies for Close Reading)