1. Using Reading Comprehension to
Incorporate Critical Thinking in the
Latin Classroom
Whole School Professional Development
April 24, 2013
by Suzanne Henrich and Maritere Mix

2. Welcome!
Just a quick reminder that you will need the following
for today's workshop:
- Your LFL laptop (WiFi is always helpful)
- A lesson plan that involves interacting with Latin text
- Your thoughts on the following question: What do you
think critical thinking looks like in the Latin classroom?

3. Today's Agenda Pt. 1
PRESENTATION/GUIDED DISCUSSION
● What do you think critical thinking looks like in the
Latin classroom?
● What is Reading Comprehension?
● What are the pros of Reading Comprehension?
○ DISCUSSION: Different activities that relate to
Reading Comprehension.
● What is Critical Thinking?
● What does the lesson look like?

4. Today's Agenda Pt. 2
ACTIVITY
● Adapt/modify an existing lesson to incorporate
structured reading comprehension/critical thinking
activities; Share your lesson

5. Reading Comprehension vs.
Translation
Tandem Hercules in tanto dolore erat ut se
interficeret et a Iove in Olympum captus est.

6. Reading Comprehension vs.
Translation
Tandem Hercules in tanto dolore erat ut se
interficeret et a Iove in Olympum captus est.
Finally Hercules was in such great pain that
he killed himself and was taken to Olympus
by Jupiter.

7. Reading Comprehension vs.
Translation
Tandem Hercules in tanto dolore erat ut se
interficeret et a Iove in Olympum captus est.
Why did Hercules kill himself?
OR
What was the result of Hercules’ grief?

8. What are the pros for
reading comprehension?
For students? For teachers?

9. "Critical thinking is a desire to seek, patience to
doubt, fondness to meditate, slowness to
assert, readiness to consider, carefulness to
dispose and set in order; and hatred for every
kind of imposture." – Francis Bacon (1605)
What is Critical Thinking

10. What is Critical Thinking?
Tends to go beyond just what is stated in
the text; requires students to draw and
prove conclusions based on the text...

11. What is Critical Thinking?
E.G.: Do you think that Nessus truly exacted
revenge on Hercules? Why or why not?
- Option #1: Yes, because Nessus ultimately
caused Hercules to commit suicide.
- Option #2: No, because Hercules ultimately
ended up in Mt. Olympus with the gods.

12. Suggested Reading Comprehension Base
Activities
1. Answer English questions in English about a
Latin text
2. Answer Latin questions in Latin about a Latin
text
3. Draw the Latin text (usually best if broken
into ideas/actions)
4. Summarize the main points of a Latin text

13. Online Resources
- Small Group Discussion (Think-Pair-Share)
- Whole Class Discussion
- MEAL Essay
- Four Corners
- Think outside the box...
Use songs
Use art

14. How to Turn Reading Comprehension into
Critical Thinking...
After Reading Comprehension Activities
- Small Group Discussion (Think-Pair-Share)
- Whole Class Discussion
- MEAL Essay
- Debate (can be informal, e.g., Four Corners)
- Think outside the box...
Use songs
Use art