Close Reading Strategies

1. Stop ReadingFast
...startthinkingmore
Tammy Gillmore
Batesville High/Lyon College
ARA Publications Chair

2. PARCC
ACT Aspire
English
Reading
Writing

3. Instructions v Instruction
Giving
directions,
orders, steps
to follow...
Providing
insight for
how to do
something...

4. This week in English12...
• Bell Work
• Video 1 - Channel 1
• Video 2 - FoxNews
• Video 3 - FoxNews
• What’s wrong with this activity?
• ?
• ?

5. CloseReading-Question for Anne Frank
How would you feel if you
had to hide in a closet
with little food for a long
time?
How does Anne feel about
hiding in the attic, and
where are the passages that
provide the evidence?
•BUT what about connections?
• ACT Aspire
• Reading = just based on the text
• Writing = not text/based on background knowledge
• SO?

6. WhatisCloseReading?
• Works with a short passage.
• Focus is intense
• Will extend from the passage itself to other parts of the
text.
• Involves a great deal of exploratory discussion.
• Requires re-reading.
• Allows questioning of the text...especially in nonfiction
texts.

7. PopularCloseReadingStrategies

8. SignPosts
Contrasts and
Contradiction
• Behavior that contradicts
previous behavior.
• Why would the character
feel/act this way?

9. MayIRecommend?
30%
off
now!

10. SignPosts
Aha Moment
• Character’s realization of
something that SHIFTS his
action or understanding.
• How might this change
things?

11. SignPosts
Tough Questions
• Reveals inner struggle.
• About what does this
question make me wonder?

12. SignPosts
Words of the Wiser
• Advice/insight of wiser
character about life.
• What’s the life lesson and
how might it affect the
character?

13. SignPosts
Again and Again
• Events, images, words
that recur.
• Why might the author bring
this up again and again?

14. SignPosts
Memory Moment
• Flashbacks
• Why might this memory
be important?

16. FourCorners
oftheText

17. 3 BIGQuestions
1.What surprised me?
2.What did the author think I already knew?
3.What challenged, changed, or confirmed me?
Ask these questions when notice a Signpost.

18. Signposts
Contrasts and Contradictions
• Sharp contrast
• Difference between 2 or more elements

19. Signposts
Extreme or Absolute Language
• Language that allows no compromise
• All, always
• OR seems to exaggerate
• Everyone...

20. Signposts
Numbers and Stats
• Specific quantities
• OR writer is vague, imprecise about
numbers

21. Signposts
Quoted Words
• Expert opinions or conclusions

22. Signposts
Word Gaps
• Unfamiliar vocabulary

23. Strategies
The scaffolds that make
the invisible thinking process
visible. - p. 181

24. Strategies
Before Reading
Possible Sentences
• Teacher chooses words from the text; students create
sentences.

25. Strategies
Before Reading
KWL 2.0
• Changed Column 2 to ask, “What do you want to know about
the topics in Column 1?”

26. Strategies
During Reading
Somebody Wanted But So
• Somebody in the text
• What did that Somebody want?
• But what happened?
• So what was the outcome?
See sample on page 205

27. Strategies
During Reading
Syntax Surgery
• Must be able to write/draw on text.
• Connect parts of the text.

28. Strategies
During Reading
Sketch to Stretch
• Transmediation: changing from one medium to another.

29. Strategies
After Reading
Genre Reformulation
• Also known as Story Recycling
• Example: turn the expository text into a rap song

30. Strategies
After Reading
Poster
Write responses to text on the paper.

31. ColdRead
Turn and Chat
Which Question, Signpost, Strategy would you suggest?

32. ColdRead
Turn and Chat
What if we paired this text with “Jack and Jill”?

33. Your Thoughts? Experiences?

34. ForMoreInformation:
• Gillmorepd.wikispaces.com
• tammy.gillmore@gmail.com
• tammy@arareading.org

35. Resources
Notice and Note: Strategies for Close Reading
Resources at Heinemann
TeachersPayTeachers
Reading Nonfiction: Notice and Note Stances, Signposts, and Strategies
Resources at Heinemann