Close Reading with Text Dependent Questions
By: Macey Lindberg and Meghan
Fetting
What is Close Reading?
Close reading is an instructional
method where students critically examine a text. Close reading of a text
involves an investigation of a short piece of text with multiple readings, over multiple lessons through text based questions and discussion. During this time the
students are guided to deeply analyze various aspects of the text. Having the
students go back into the text multiple times will prepare them for the
inevitable future of standardized tests and builds deeper comprehension. We dig deeper into the text by using text dependent questions that allows readers
to think within the text, about the text, and beyond the text.
What are the components to close reading?
There are five salient features that are necessary in order for students to
be able learn to participate in close reading.
* Choose short and complex passages - Texts that are chosen for
close reading should range from multiple paragraphs to multiple pages. The complexity of the text also needs to
withstand multiple readings that will challenge the readers to think
critically.
* Multiple Readings - Students reread a text for different purposes.
This includes answering different text dependent questions, finding evidence
for inferences and conclusions, or for discussion purposes. Allowing students
to reread a text improves fluency and comprehension.
* Annotation – Annotating the text will
look different depending upon the grade level. Students in grade K – 2, may or
may not write directly on the text depending on the text difficulty. Students
in grades 3 – 5, should write directly on the texts that they are reading. Sometimes
readers number the paragraphs in a passage to indicate a sequence of points
stated by the author. It’s also important to write in the margins to record
questions and answers throughout the passage.
* Collaborative conversations
regarding the text - Collaborative
conversations should occur AFTER reading the text independently. Students need
to be interacting with others that facilitates each others understanding of the
text.
*
Text Dependent Questions – Text dependent questions require students to provide evidence from the
text as part of their responses. Text dependent questions serve as a scaffold
for students and different levels of text dependent questions should be given
depending on the day.
Day
1 Questions: These questions should be from within the text. Day 1 questions should
include general understanding, main idea, retelling, and overview questions.
Day
2 Questions: These questions should be about the
text. Day 2 questions should include vocabulary, text structure, and
authors purpose.
Day
3 Questions: These questions should be beyond
the text. Day 3 questions should include inferential, and evaluative.
Apps to Support Close Reading with Technology
Apps
|
App Description
|
Paperport Notes
 |
Paperport Notes allows the
students to use various tools such asstickie notes, highlighting, add
multiple pages from a book to annotate. Multiple note sets can also be saved
at one time if only one iPad is in the classroom.
|
Skitch
 |
Skitch is a perfect app to use for
annotating a text. Skitch allows an image to be uploaded and then annotating
marks can be added such as stars, arrows, exclamation points, and hearts.
|
GlowNote
 |
GlowNote is another great app for
annotating a text. Students can search for the key details, take a picture of
the text, and then can write, underline, or circle their evidence. Finished
products can be emailed to the teacher then as a form of assessment.
|
ThingLink
 |
ThingLink is a wonderful app that
is great to use with a nonfiction
passage. Students can find videos, or photos online and link the images to
the passage.
|
Sticky
 |
Sticky can be used during close
reading by taking a picture of a passage, Then, the image can be uploaded and
then sticky notes can be added throughout the passage. This would be great
for students to use to make inferences, predictions, and connections such as
text to self, text to world, and text to text.
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Lino it Exit Slip
