Close reading anchor chart…but remember…
Posted on July 11, 2013Share This Content
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Prepare Students for the Joy of Summer Reading
Posted on May 7, 2013Are you getting that “WE’RE ALMOST DONE” feeling? (Speaking to many of my peers in the northern hemisphere who are almost out of school for the summer đŸ˜‰ So sorry if you’re not!) This is a great time to host lots of space and time for students to JUST READ FOR ENJOYMENT, hoping this time …Read more
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Lesson – Text-Dependent Predictions, Part II
Posted on April 14, 2013So I had a great time teaching a lesson on making text-dependent with a class of second grade students a few weeks ago. In my last blog entry, I wrote about teaching objectives that surfaced during reading conferences with three of these students. The students revealed to me they were not previewing nonfiction texts strategically …Read more
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Conferring with 2nd Grade Reader
Posted on October 19, 2012Yesterday I conferred with a second grader who was reading The Moon by Deborah Eaton (written at a late 2nd grade level). When I approached her, I started by saying, “What are you reading about?” She responded with “the moon.” I followed by asking, “What have you learned about the moon so far?” This question …Read more
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Reading Aloud in Grades 6-8
Posted on September 26, 2012While it’s important for students to read as much on their own as possible, there are a lot of benefits to continuing to read aloud to them even in middle school. (I would argue through 12th grade even.) For students who are not reading “on grade level,” when you read aloud, they have an opportunity …Read more
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Nonfiction Text Set – Labor Movement in Chicago
Posted on September 12, 2012Since I work in the schools in Chicago, I think it might be timely to trace the history of labor movements in Chicago. The current teacher strike is part of a larger picture and long history of Chicagoans being at the heart of movements that have led to better working and learning conditions for everyone. …Read more
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Nonfiction Theme – Working Together
Posted on September 5, 2012Last night I spent hours watching televised speeches at the Democratic National Convention. After the first couple of speakers, some of the rhetoric and facts started to feel repetitive which was okay because what emerged for me as the evening progressed was a powerful theme. By “COMING TOGETHER” – we can solve problems of the …Read more
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So…I’ve been getting a lot of questions about “anchor charts” for “close reading.” I’ve been hesitant because I don’t want students to consider close reading as a lock-step process. Close reading is the simultaneous orchestration of multiple skills, used fluidly and iteratively. BUTÂ there are potential benefits when we use an initial anchor chart as a …Read more