How to Implement Close Reading in Science {Freebie Included} - Teaching to Inspire with Jennifer Findley

Create a “go-to close reading steps” strategy that works with any science text.

It is ideal to have a set of close reading steps that are specific to the text you are reading (and I have an example to share with you – keep reading till the end!). However, let’s be real, that doesn’t always work. You need something practical and realistic so you can truly implement it all year with any text the students are reading. To create these close reading steps, think of what you want your students to focus on and gain from each text they read. Then create a list of 3-4 steps they can use with any text they read. Here is an example:

1. Read the text and write three questions you have.
2. Reread the text and highlight and define the 3-4 most important words.
3. Reread the text. Write the main idea and 3-4 supporting details from the text.

Use thinkmarks.

Teach your students to use thinkmarks to annotate all science texts they are reading. This will aid their understanding of the science concept and do wonders for their overall reading comprehension (in all subjects!). Click here to see the text symbols I have my students use for annotations. The students love using these symbols! Your students can’t write on the text? Let them write on post it notes. They can write the symbol and then tally mark each time they have that thought while they are reading. Or they can cut up a sticky note into smaller pieces and “stick” their thoughts all over the text.

Provide a focus question for reading.

Regardless of whether you use generic close reading steps or text specific steps, have a focus question in mind before the students even begin reading. This will allow them to closely read the text with that question in mind. (I do this for guided reading as well- it really makes a difference in the students’ comprehension). Each time you revisit a text or a section of the text, provide a different focus question.

Read the text in small chunks.

This is important. Students need to understand that informational text cannot be quickly read like fiction text. They must read it in chunks, analyze the chunks, connect the chunks, and monitor their own understanding.

Use questions that require evidence.

Have your focus questions require evidence from the text. An easy way to do this? Add a “Why?” or “How do you know?” to any question.

Try it Out!

Want some no prep ways to start close reading in science with your students? I have some Just Print Science Packs with passages that lend themselves to close reading. In fact, each set that I have in my store includes text specific close reading tasks for each passage. The students use the close reading steps to help focus their reading. The final step of the close reading process is to answer the text dependent questions that come with the passages. I have also included a annotation poster that works well with informational text.

Using this freebie is a great way to introduce close reading as part of your science instruction! Click on the image below to grab your copy.

Click here to see my all of my Just Print Science Packs with passages and text dependent close reading steps.

Don’t forget to head over to Ideas by Jivey’s blog to grab her a Social Studies freebie from her, too! Are you using close reading in science or social studies already? Let me know in the comments!

Original article and pictures take http://teachingtoinspire.com/2015/12/how-to-implement-close-reading-in-science.html site