Rigor in Reading Instruction....

I recently read an article entitled, "Unlocking the Secrets of Complex Text".  What is complex text?

This article suggests that complex text:

*conveys multiple ideas/multiple perspectives,
*moves from narrative to expository text,
*changes in tone throughout the text,
*supports points with details in different places in the text.

Ask children ...

1.  What does this text teach?
Now, based on a child's answer to question #1, ask
"What in the text makes you say that?" and
"What details in the text support those ideas?"

Model answering the question above in a minilesson in which you do shared reading and actually "flip" through the book under a document camera looking for things that the text teaches you.  Don't just look at the content, look also at the illustrations, charts, lists, etc.  Invite students to give it a try in their small group and in a literacy centers after repeated modeling on the teacher's part.

Hopefully, this strategy will help our younger students get used to "finding information in the book" to support their answers.

Also, according to research, one more structure that will "aid transference of a skill or strategy is having the opportunity to practice it over and over.    Hattie (2011) found that feedback in the midst of work, followed by a chance to put that feedback into action or play, dramatically improves student achievement.

So as you are planning with your team, ask yourselves....where in the curriculum will my students get another chance to keep on working with this skill/strategy.

More to come......