Taking a Winter Break

I'll be taking a winter break until January 6.  See you then, and I hope you have a restful and relaxing break as well.  

A Montage of Motivational Quotes

Resources for Close Reading for the Common Core

Although almost any text can be used for close reading, there are some sample sources that can be particularly helpful.  For example, the New York Times publishes Room for Debate, in which guest columnists present views on key issues.  Achieve the Core (provides sample lessons with close reading exemplars.  And Kelly Gallagher gives texts he uses in his classroom in his articles of the week.  You may also want to refer to the list of exemplars provided in the Common Core State Standards.  

Pre-Reading, Close Reading, and the Common Core

When discussing close reading for the Common Core, I’m often asked by teachers, “What am I supposed to do for pre-reading?  Don’t the standards say just throw students into the text?”  There is a difference between explaining everything students will be reading beforehand, and just supporting students by providing critical information and prior knowledge for those who need it. 

For example, if we want students to discover information in the text, telling them everything about the plot in advance spoils the reading experience for them.  So what does this mean?    We need to be strategic in our choices as to what we do with students prior to the text.  Timothy Shanahan (http://www.shanahanonliteracy.com) recommends that pre-reading should be brief compared to the length of time of the reading itself.  He also suggests that teachers not reveal info students can gain by themselves; rather, they should give students a reason to read and/or arouse curiosity.  

Great Children's Book About the University of Virginia

Here's a wonderful new book by a good friend of mine.  A Tour of Mr. Jefferson's University with Edgar the Squirrel is an engaging tour of the University of Virginia, filled with historical references.  
Take a look!

Good Technology Resources

Here's a few resources I've stumbled upon lately.  Enjoy!

5 Ways to Use Instagram in the Classroom

Thousands of Copyright Friendly Pictures for Students and Teachers to Use in Class

Free Comic Printables for Teachers

Close Reading in the Common Core

When I was teaching, my students and I had two different versions of closely reading a text.  Mine involved analysis and thought; theirs focused on finishing as quickly as possible.  The goal of close reading is a deeper understanding of the text.  It involves making observations and interpreting your observations.  Patricia Kain at Harvard University provides a description of the process of making observations for close reading.  

Making Observations for Close Reading

1. Read with a pencil in hand, and annotate the text.

"Annotating" means underlining or highlighting key words and phrases—anything that strikes you as surprising or significant, or that raises questions—as well as making notes in the margins. When we respond to a text in this way, we not only force ourselves to pay close attention, but we also begin to think with the author about the evidence—the first step in moving from reader to writer.

2. Look for patterns in the things you've noticed about the text—repetitions, contradictions, similarities.

3. Ask questions about the patterns you've noticed—especially how and why.