Reading Humor from the Reading Club

Fear not, this boy simply needs the right reading strategy.

KWL: Horvath Style

Brian Horvath recently used a KWL reading strategy in Applied Christianity. 

"I made two blank columns on the white board. One column was named, ‘don’t know,’ and the other, ‘I know.’  Students were processing information from chapter 1 in The Case for Christ. The students were asked to, at any time during the class period write down a word they did not know on the board. The rest of the class, while noticing one of their classmates wrote down a word, if they  knew the word, would walk up to the front and write a quick definition of that word.

Students were to do this without talking and distracting the class. They had 100% freedom as to go up to the front or not."

 On a scale of 1-10 Brian rated this experience an 8, explaining, "It has potential." 

What would he change or tweak if he repeated this strategy?   I’m not opposed to using it again. I think it’s valuable because students find the courage to come up and write down a word they don’t know. The other students who know the word are able to assist another student based on their prior knowledge. And the student who didn’t know the word, now has a better idea.

Brian found a unique way to blend this reading strategy with technology:

 I would tweak it this way (and did in one class): Students were hesitant to go in front initially and I knew they knew what a word meant. In one class, I used Polleverywhere and the question was, ‘what does exemplary mean?’  I went from having no definition to have 10 definitions. Apparently, there is more stress related to going in front than I thought.

Vocabulary Strategies

Reading strategies strengthen students' abilities to comprehend and understand what they read. Vocabulary strategies do the same and that's why this year we are shifting our focus from reading strategies to vocabulary strategies.

The National Reading Panel offers some great insights into the importance of effectively teaching vocabulary:

"First, vocabulary should be taught both directly and indirectly. Repetition and multiple exposures to vocabulary items are important. Learning in rich contexts, incidental learning, and use of computer technology all enhance the acquisition of vocabulary."





In his book Reading Reminders, Jim Burke offers some guidelines for teaching vocabulary:

Teach the words that are most useful now and in the future

• Teach the words they need before reading; review them after they are done; reinforce them when they come up in the subsequent readings


• Provide multiple exposures to these words in different contexts over time
  
• Help students activate their prior knowledge when learning new words
  

Burke also offers a warning with vocabulary instruction:

• Don't spend too much time preparing students to read a text; too many vocabulary words and too much review of prior knowledge will intimidate the readers and undermine their interest in the reading selection.

Here are some strategies Burke recommends: word walls, Semantic maps, Modeling, Words as ideas, Vocabulary square, Linear array, Concept target.We will have a closer look at these Wednesday, October 13. If you would like to borrow my copy of Burke's book, I'd be more than happy to share.

Word wall: Keep a running display of words you have introduced so they can be referred to or reviewed by students. Model using the words yourself. When students see you consulting the word wall for just the right word, they will be more likely to do the same.

Whose job is it?

"The college instructor blames the high school teacher, the high school teacher complains of the grade teacher, each grade teacher above first grade finds fault with the poor work of the teacher in the grade below, and the first grade teacher in turn is chagrined at the shortcomings of the home training. Must this go on indefinitely? Whose opinion shall prevail? Is it not possible to get away from personal opinion to an agreed-upon consensus of opinion? May we not replace the constantly conflicting subjective standards with definitely defined objective standards?" —Wilson & Hoke, 1921 1

Although Wilson and Hoke are discussing the need for national standards, the same idea can be applied to reading strategies and thinking skills. When struggling readers walk into our classrooms, what can we do to help them better understand and learn content?

Using reading and vocabulary strategies across the curriculum is a great way to improve our students' ability to read, think and learn.

Baiting the Reading Hook

The October issue of Educational Leadership has a great article entitled "Baiting the Reading Hook." There is a copy of it posted in the faculty lounge for your perusal.

One quote stood out of the article.
"Research has shown that high-achieving students read more than low achievers (Allington, 2006; Guthrie, 2008). To accelerate students' achievement in reading, literacy educators must ensure that striving readers are reading at least as much as their higher-achieving peers."

How can we accomplish this simplistic, yet crucial goal? The article offers some insights.

Reading-as-Thinking

Harvey Daniels is the author of Subjects Matter: Every Teacher's Guide to Content Area Reading. The Lutheran North faculty is using this book to help students become better readers and thinkers in all their classes.

Daniels authored another book, Teaching the Best Practice Way. Chapter two of this book is entitled "Reading-as-Thinking" and contains some great insights into what students, teachers and parents can do to help readers better understand what they are reading.

Follow this link and peruse chapter two to learn what educators and parents can do to help students become better readers, better learners, better thinkers.

Technology and Reading Strategies

Tim Hardy recently sent me information that reveals how e-readers can be used for reading strategies. Before you roll your eyes and say, "I'll never use one of those technological e-reader gizmos", read on.

At some point, our students might be using one e-reader instead of lugging around an assortment of physical textbooks. Right now, some students and their parents use the iPod touch, Kindle or Nook. Clinton Township residents can check out a Kindle from the Clinton-Macomb library to experience this e-reader.

Students have access to a variety of e-readers so exposing them to reading strategy options for this technology might enhance their learning experiences. If you have time check out this brief video on the diigo application to learn about how students can highlight text and use technological sticky notes with e-readers.

If nothing else, it's an interesting and practical use for developing reading strategies.

Sticky Note Reading Strategy

Here is an easy-to-use reading strategy that helps students focus while they’re reading and provides entry points into the text that will strengthen understanding after they’ve read the passage.
Many teachers already use this strategy because it provides concrete reminders of what students were thinking about while they were reading. Students can use these reminders to prompt discussion and strengthen understanding.

Why Use It?
How many times have we absent-mindedly read the same sentence, paragraph or page several times? Tracking and returning to important points in our reading is something that all competent readers do, particularly with material for a course or other practical purpose. And when the notes mark particular concepts, facts, or thinking strategies that teachers wish to emphasize they help students actively watch for them.

How Does it Work?
1. Students need guidance when they first use this strategy. Explain what you want them to discover, find or investigate. Maybe you simply want them to note a confusing word or idea in the text. A question mark on the sticky note with a brief note on the confusion is all that’s needed.
2. When students are done reading you may want them to look back on their notes and see if any questions are clarified. If not, they will be able to ask questions for the following day’s discussion. 3. Assessing this assignment is easy. Have the students peel off the notes after completing the chapter or unit, stick them to notebook paper and turn in as an assignment.
4. Use the paper cutter to make strips of sticky notes. Most applications don't require a lot of writing space. Cut the stack of notes in half and double the quantity, double the pleasure, double the fun.


Here are some other options for sticky notes:



Making Connections



Content Area Suggestions

International Literacy Day

Yes, the rumors are true!

Today, is actually International Literacy Day. To help you celebrate this festive event check out the International Reading Association's reading resources.

A webinar on Building Support for Effective Reading Instruction featuring IRA President Patricia Edwards, Richard Carson (Rotary Representative to the OAS) and Instructor Judy Backlund is available.

Check it out and learn how you can help your students become better readers and better learners of your content.

3...2...1...LAUNCH!

Welcome to the Lutheran North Reading Blog. The LHN Reading Club will use this blog as a compendium of reading resources, strategies, ideas, research and other information that will help you use reading strategies in your classroom.

The Reading Club will alert you when there are new posts with useful information. The idea is not to overwhelm you with information, but present reading strategies, applications and research in a way that is manageable and practical. You can also subscribe to this site with the RSS feed on our Google Reader.

This blog will also be made available to parents and students so they can benefit from the reading strategies as well.

Helping our students become better thinkers and readers will also help them become better learners. Now that's a win-win!