The document summarizes strategies for improving reading comprehension. It discusses connecting students to texts before, during, and after reading through building background knowledge, understanding text structure, establishing a purpose, and writing about or discussing what was read. It also addresses assessing whether students can comprehend textbook passages independently and providing support through pre-reading activities and simplified materials when needed. Formative assessment techniques are recommended to identify students struggling with reading speed, comprehension, or vocabulary.

2. From Time to Act , a study commissioned by the Carnegie Foundation, 2009: Although U.S. students in grade 4 score among the ( highest, lowest ) in the world, those in grade 8 score much ( higher, lower ). By grade 10, U.S. students score among the ( highest, lowest ) in the world.

3. From Time to Act , a study commissioned by the Carnegie Foundation, 2009: Although U.S. students in grade 4 score among the highest in the world, those in grade 8 score much higher . By grade 10, U.S. students score among the highest in the world. Is it this?

4. From Time to Act , a study commissioned by the Carnegie Foundation, 2009: Although U.S. students in grade 4 score among the highest in the world, those in grade 8 score much lower . By grade 10, U.S. students score among the lowest in the world. No, it’s this: What’s your theory?

7. Elementary School Middle School High School volume: detail, description, vocabulary: technical and general academic terms sentence length reference to diagrams different kinds of punctuation objective (does not address the reader as “you”) less familiar imagery

9. 10,000 hours of practice

10. Reader Orientation and Text Types: Organizational structures such as : 1. It describes the features or parts of one thing ( Outline ) 2. It lays out a sequence ( Story Arc ) 3. It explains a relationship between two things ( T-Chart )

12. Text Types: Genres Narrative (Telling a story) Other literary text: poetry, drama, etc. Informational text (textbooks) Journalism (news articles, feature articles, editorials, critiques) Reports (findings from research) Procedures (step-by-step)

13. Getting Reading and Writing to Work Together: Writing-to-Learn Practices Consider: Column A: End-of-chapter questions Test-like questions Column B Reader-created outline Reader-created summary Reader-created paraphrase

16. Outline: Elementary Boxes & Bullets Main idea Main idea Main idea Middle Sch I. A. B. C. II. A. B. C. III. A. B. C. High Sch I.________ A.______ 1._____ 2.______ a._____ b._____ c._____ B.__________ II.____________ A.__________ B.__________ 1._______ 2._______ 3._______ C.__________

18. The Reading Process: Before During After 3C’s: B : Connect ! (4 connections) D: Concentrate ! (5 behaviors) A: Complete ! (3 choices) Or, 3F’s: B: Frontload D: Focus A: Finish

19. The Reading Process: Before: Connect ! 3 C’s Connection 1: Background knowledge (incl. key vocab) Connection 2: Text type (organizational structure) Connection 3: Establish a purpose for reading Connection 4: Overview

20. Before: Connect! 3 C’s “ What comes to mind when I say the word______?” “ What do/does ___________remind you of?” “ What do you see in your mind when I say ______?” “ What words are you seeing that you need to know more about?

21. Before: Connect! 3 C’s Building Background Knowledge: Pre-teach new vocab Present visuals Connect to personal experience

22. Before: Connect! Prepare for the genre How is it organized? 3 C’s Picture the structure. Set up a “mental closet” to contain the information. Think about what you expect in this structure.

23. Before: Connect! Have a focus for reading. 3 C’s Decide what you are looking for. (page 86)

24. Before: Connect! Get an Overview 3 C’s THIEVVES: Title Headings Introductory paragraph Every first sentence of every paragraph Visuals and Vocabulary End-of-chapter questions Summary

25. The Reading Process: During: Concentrate! 3 C’s Adjust the environment: eliminate all sensory distractions Visualize: Look for imagery in the text Visualize the organizational structure Monitor comprehension: Be prepared to reread and/or seek outside help Be an active reader: Anticipate, react, predict, question connect

26. The Reading Process: After: Complete! 3 C’s Write, talk, or draw

27. Cooperative Learning Protocol for Improving Reading Comprehension 4-Roles in the Group 1. I’m the summarizer. 2. I’m the question asker. 3. I’m the word clarifier: 4. I’m the predictor:

28. Let’s summarize: The ABOUT, AND technique: 1 . It’s about…….. (one or two words) 2 . and…. It’s about geckos It’s about birds and how they stick to vertical surfaces.

29. Text I: It’s about the Industrial Revolution and how it changed family life. Text II: It’s about Eos and Tithonius and how their ill-fated love story played out. Text III: It’s about England and why it is to be treasured. Text IV: It’s about the different kinds of taxes and what they are used for. Summary Starters:

30. Cooperative Learning Protocol for Improving Reading Comprehension 3 Kinds of questions: 1. “Right there”: The answer is stated directly I. Yes/No II. Who/what/when/where/why/how 2. “Put it together”: The answer is implied in the text 3. “Beyond the Text”: The answer is not given; the text evokes the question QAR: Question-Answer Response

31. Where do I need help? Understanding the vocabulary Making connections: Text-to-text Text-to-self Text-to-world Visualizing Answering the questions Summarizing Remembering what I read Taking notes K-W-L Chart Concentrating

32. Five Gears of Reading: Skim it: Scan it: Sample it: Read it: (optional) Study it: Glance over it; (30 secs per page); get the gist; be able to state what it is about in a complete sentence Look it over with an eagle’s eye , scanning for specific information, such as information that has key words to answer questions Now that you’ve let the text wash over you, read it thoroughly: every word, every sentence, every graphic. Go back, as necessary, getting a more useful and permanent understanding. This may involve working with a partner, taking notes, creating graphic organizers, and other meaning-making activities. www.amybenjamin.com Find a segment that is most interesting to you and read it carefully.

34. Time Interdisciplinary connections strengthen learning Simultaneous use of instructional time: Teach skills that allow students to process information independently

35. Can my students read the textbook independently? Preparation: Read one page, timing yourself. Compose 5 basic comprehension questions Assess the vocabulary: How many words on the page will be problematical for the students? Are there sufficient context clues for readers to determine meaning of unfamiliar words?

36. Can my students read the textbook independently? Formative Assessment : : Ask students to read the targeted page in class and time themselves. Note the students who took significantly more time. Ask students to answer the 5 basic comprehension questions. Note the students who have more than 2 wrong. Ask students to identify the words that they don’t understand after reading the passage. Note the students who identify more than five words.

37. Can my students read the textbook independently? How to help: Intensify the “Before” reading strategies that connect reader to text. Provide pictures Provide simplified versions