Reading narrative text
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Compass Points
Compass points is a strategy that can be used with informational or narrative text, video, blog etc. This is an extension of the traditional pro/con which encourages deeper thinking. It uses the compass points for thinking at different angles.
E=Excitements. What excites you about this idea? What's the positive?
W=Worries-What do you find worrisome? What the negative?
N=Needs-What else do you need/want to know?
S=Stance, Steps, or Suggestions-What is your current stance/opinion?
What steps do you take next to evaluate this idea?
What suggestions do you have at this point?
Share-their thinking
Additional suggestions may be found in Making Thinking Visible by Ritchhart,Church, and Morrison.
Copies available via district libraries.
E=Excitements. What excites you about this idea? What's the positive?
W=Worries-What do you find worrisome? What the negative?
N=Needs-What else do you need/want to know?
S=Stance, Steps, or Suggestions-What is your current stance/opinion?
What steps do you take next to evaluate this idea?
What suggestions do you have at this point?
Share-their thinking
Additional suggestions may be found in Making Thinking Visible by Ritchhart,Church, and Morrison.
Copies available via district libraries.
Concept Definition Map
This strategy helps students to understand new vocabulary or a concept. It is a graphic display that focuses on category, characteristics or properties, and illustrations. It is always important to model the strategy before students are expected to practice it.
LINK
LINK
CSI: Color, Symbol, Image
CSI is a strategy in which students must figure out the big ideas from a reading, video, or speaker through color, symbol and an image.
Procedure:
Optional beginning:
You could have students share out main ideas to get started.
1. Each student chooses a COLOR and states why this color represents a main idea.
2. Next each student chooses a SYMBOL that represents a main idea and states why.
3. Lastly, each student chooses an IMAGE that represents a main idea and states why. The image may be a sketch, or a photograph.
4. Share with a partner, small group or on a google presentation for a large group share.
Additional suggestions may be found in Making Thinking Visible by Ritchhart,Church, and Morrison.
Copies available via district libraries.
Procedure:
Optional beginning:
You could have students share out main ideas to get started.
1. Each student chooses a COLOR and states why this color represents a main idea.
2. Next each student chooses a SYMBOL that represents a main idea and states why.
3. Lastly, each student chooses an IMAGE that represents a main idea and states why. The image may be a sketch, or a photograph.
4. Share with a partner, small group or on a google presentation for a large group share.
Additional suggestions may be found in Making Thinking Visible by Ritchhart,Church, and Morrison.
Copies available via district libraries.
Extension of Concept / Knowledge Map
Here are two ideas you may want to try if you are a fan of the concept map.
Strategy 1: Decide on a cue word to place in the center (aerobic exercise). Students work in teams to think about how key concepts connect to aerobic exercise. These can be displayed as a gallery walk to share with the whole class.
Strategy 2: Each team is given a different cue word (jigsaw). For example: aerobic and anaerobic. Discussion follows.
Templates
Strategy 1: Decide on a cue word to place in the center (aerobic exercise). Students work in teams to think about how key concepts connect to aerobic exercise. These can be displayed as a gallery walk to share with the whole class.
Strategy 2: Each team is given a different cue word (jigsaw). For example: aerobic and anaerobic. Discussion follows.
Templates
First Impression of Character
Five Movement Strategies in the High School Classroom
Research suggests movement and learning coincide. As the year winds down, these movement strategies may be useful in lesson planning. Check out... "Five Movement Strategies in the High School Classroom".
Opinion / Proof Chart
This is a two column chart where students state their opinion, but then must be able to support it. It can also be used as an organizer in preparation for a persuasive essay.
Resource
Resource
Sentence, Phrase, Word
As students read they focus on the gist of what they have read through:
1. A sentence that was meaningful or sums up the big idea.
2. A phrase that struck them.
3. A word that was powerful.
In a small group share what you wrote and why. Begin with students explaining their sentence and why. Encourage the rest of the group to comment. Continue in similar fashion with phrase and word.
After the group has shared, look for any common themes and points of discussion.
As a whole group, look at what each student wrote and reflect on the overall responses.
You may want to consider using Padlet, for example, to share each students sentence, phrase and word.
1. A sentence that was meaningful or sums up the big idea.
2. A phrase that struck them.
3. A word that was powerful.
In a small group share what you wrote and why. Begin with students explaining their sentence and why. Encourage the rest of the group to comment. Continue in similar fashion with phrase and word.
After the group has shared, look for any common themes and points of discussion.
As a whole group, look at what each student wrote and reflect on the overall responses.
You may want to consider using Padlet, for example, to share each students sentence, phrase and word.
Silent Exchange
After reading a passage students write an open-ended question at the top of the page. The paper is passed around the room and students have two minutes to answer the question and pass it on.
"Silent Exchange" is easy to do and requires no prep. Students like this strategy and are eager to read the responses. The discussion at the end is usually successful.
"Silent Exchange" is easy to do and requires no prep. Students like this strategy and are eager to read the responses. The discussion at the end is usually successful.
Tableaux
Definiton: A tableau is a living, frozen picture made up of large groups. Tableaux help students express setting, plot, and/or character developments and motivations without having to use words. They are used to reinforce content as well as to develop group problem-solving strategies. Participants have a role to play in a ‘snapshot’ of a scene. Students are given a situation or event, e.g., replicating an illustration in a book, or recreating a historical event, and then create a group pose to portray that situation.
Three Minute Pause
3-Minute Pause is similar to a time out in a sporting event. Sometimes when students read they need a time out to reflect on what they have read, ask questions, clear up something confusing, etc. During a 3-Minute Pause students summarize, make connections, share something interesting, or ask a question. This strategy is quick and easy to incorporate into your lessons.
Link
Link
Summarization
See the template below for a summarization tool that is used before, during, and after reading.
The directions are simple and a template is provided.
The directions are simple and a template is provided.