Improving Reading Skills Across the Content Areas : Ready-to-Use Activities and Assessments for Grades 6-12

by Rebecca Rozmiarek

• ISBN13: 9781412904605
• ISBN10: 1412904609
• eBook ISBN(s): 9781452237251
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-11-11
• Publisher: Corwin Pr

Summary

In today's competitive environment of standards-based education, improving reading proficiency and increasing content knowledge have never been more important. Yet, developing exceptional reading skills in middle and high school students presents many obstacles.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Acknowledgments	xii
About the Author	xiii
Introduction to Reading in Grades 6--12	1	(6)
What Is Reading?	1	(1)
What Is the Reading Process?	2	(1)
The Reading Process	2	(1)
What Defines an Expert Reader?	2	(1)
Who Are Teachers of Reading?	3	(1)
What Is the Essential Vocabulary With Which to Talk About Text?	3	(4)
Setting a Purpose for Reading	7	(14)
Skill Overview	7	(1)
Subskills	8	(1)
Selecting Text	8	(1)
Choosing Effective Strategies	8	(1)
Solving Problems	8	(1)
Forming an Opinion	8	(1)
Skimming for Facts	8	(1)
Learning New Ways to Express Ideas in Writing	9	(1)
Revising Purposes for Reading	9	(1)
Using Self-Generated Criteria to Select Reading Material	9	(1)
Skill-Building Activities	9	(9)
Activity 1: Question/Answer	9	(1)
Activity 2: Yes/No Evaluation	9	(2)
Activity 3: Question/Answer/Opinion	11	(1)
Activity 4: Sticky Notes and Purpose for Reading Double-Entry Journal	12	(1)
Activity 5: Multiple Text Marathon	13	(1)
Activity 6: Author and Me Analysis	13	(1)
Activity 7: Purpose and Problem Solving	14	(1)
Activity 8: Fact-Finding Mission	14	(1)
Activity 9: Persuasion Puzzles	15	(1)
Activity 10: KWL: An Oldie but Goodie	16	(1)
Activity 11: Reading and Following Directions	17	(1)
Activity 12: Text Coding	18	(1)
Assessing Student Mastery of Setting a Purpose for Reading	18	(3)
Setting a Purpose for Reading Rubric	19	(2)
Connecting to Prior Knowledge	21	(14)
Skill Overview	21	(1)
Subskills	21	(3)
Asking Questions	21	(1)
Making Connections	22	(1)
Evaluating Nonfiction Materials Using Prior Knowledge	22	(1)
Reformulating and Modifying Existing Knowledge	22	(1)
Applying New Learning to Real-Life Situations	23	(1)
Formulating Ideas	23	(1)
Constructing an Opinion	23	(1)
Skill-Building Activities	24	(8)
Activity 1: Text Walking and Picture Talking	24	(1)
Activity 2: Double-Entry Journal for Prior Knowledge	24	(1)
Activity 3: Structured Previews	25	(1)
Activity 4: Round-Robin Reflections	26	(1)
Activity 5: Predicting and Confirming	26	(1)
Activity 6: Visual Reading Map	27	(1)
Activity 7: Creating a Reading Action Plan	27	(1)
Activity 8: Viewpoint Synthesizer	28	(1)
Activity 9: A Scavenger Hunt	29	(1)
Activity 10: Buddy Reading	29	(1)
Activity 11: KWL and KWL Plus	29	(1)
Activity 12: Anticipation Guides	30	(2)
Assessing Student Mastery of Connecting to Prior Knowledge	32	(3)
Prior Knowledge Rubric	32	(3)
Understanding Vocabulary Terms and Concepts	35	(10)
Skill Overview	35	(1)
Subskills	36	(2)
Using Sentence Context to Understand Word Meaning	36	(1)
Building Awareness of Root Words	36	(1)
Interpreting Words With Multiple Meanings	37	(1)
Using Compare and Contrast to Clarify Word Meanings	37	(1)
Identifying Shades of Meaning	37	(1)
Understanding Denotative and Connotative Meanings	37	(1)
Understanding Words Related to Content Areas and Current Events	38	(1)
Using Dictionaries and Other Reference Materials	38	(1)
Skill-Building Activities	38	(5)
Activity 1: Vocabulary Baseball	38	(1)
Activity 2: Double-Entry Journal for Defining Vocabulary	38	(1)
Activity 3: Dramatic Photographs	39	(1)
Activity 4: Unknown Word Walls	39	(1)
Activity 5: Attribute Charts	39	(2)
Activity 6: Personal Connection Vocabulary Strategy	41	(1)
Activity 7: Question Cubes	41	(1)
Activity 8: Cartooning	42	(1)
Activity 9: Concept Mapping	42	(1)
Activity 10: Capsule Vocabulary	42	(1)
Activity 11: Personification Vocabulary	43	(1)
Activity 12: Text Coding	43	(1)
Assessing Student Mastery of Understanding the Meanings of Unknown Vocabulary	43	(2)
Vocabulary in Context Rubric	44	(1)
Identifying Significant Information in Text	45	(12)
Skill Overview	45	(1)
Subskills	46	(1)
Noticing Text Features	46	(1)
Asking Questions	46	(1)
Organizing Information	46	(1)
Extracting Appropriate Information	46	(1)
Paraphrasing	47	(1)
Skill-Building Activities	47	(7)
Activity 1: Artistic Creations	47	(1)
Activity 2: Partnered Paraphrasing	47	(1)
Activity 3: Using Note Cards	47	(1)
Activity 4: Put a Box Around What Matters	48	(1)
Activity 5: Insert	49	(1)
Activity 6: Before/During/After Note Taking	49	(1)
Activity 7: Trifold Note Taking	50	(1)
Activity 8: Key Word Note Taking	51	(1)
Activity 9: Cornell Notes	52	(1)
Activity 10: Numbered Heads Together Summarizing	53	(1)
Activity 11: Double-Entry Journal for Identifying Significant Information	53	(1)
Assessing Student Mastery of Identifying Significant Information	54	(3)
Identifying Significant Information Rubric	54	(3)
Visualizing Text Information	57	(14)
Skill Overview	57	(1)
Subskills	58	(3)
Building Visualization Vocabulary	58	(1)
Accessing Prior Knowledge	59	(1)
Analyzing Sensory Detail	59	(1)
Creating Mental Images to Remember Details	59	(1)
Creating Mental Images to Draw Conclusions	60	(1)
Incorporating New Information	60	(1)
Representing Abstract Information as Mental Pictures	61	(1)
Skill-Building Activities	61	(7)
Activity 1: Newscast	61	(1)
Activity 2: Asking Questions to Create the Scene	61	(1)
Activity 3: Text Graphing	62	(1)
Activity 4: Rotating Dramas	62	(1)
Activity 5: Tableau Dramas	63	(1)
Activity 6: Talk Shows	63	(1)
Activity 7: Symbolic Story Representations	63	(1)
Activity 8: Storyboarding	63	(1)
Activity 9: Four Corners	64	(1)
Activity 10: Found Poetry	64	(1)
Activity 11: Double-Entry Journal for Analyzing Imagery	65	(1)
Activity 12: Bookmarking	66	(1)
Activity 13: Double-Entry Journal for Analyzing Characters	67	(1)
Activity 14: Text Coding	68	(1)
Assessing Student Mastery of Visualizing Text Information	68	(3)
Visualization Rubric	68	(3)
Asking Questions to Develop a Deeper Understanding	71	(12)
Skill Overview	71	(1)
Subskills	72	(1)
Categorizing Questions	72	(1)
Monitoring Comprehension	72	(1)
Organizing Content Knowledge	72	(1)
Accessing Prior Knowledge	73	(1)
Inferencing	73	(1)
Asking Questions to Seek Elaboration and Clarification	73	(1)
Skill-Building Activities	73	(8)
Activity 1: Trivial Pursuit and Brain Quest	73	(1)
Activity 2: Partners Question	74	(1)
Activity 3: Question Webs	75	(1)
Activity 4: Bloom's Taxonomy Questioning	75	(1)
Activity 5: Strategy Questioning	76	(1)
Activity 6: An Archaeological Dig	76	(1)
Activity 7: More Coding for Quality Questioning	77	(1)
Activity 8: Concept and Fact Questions	78	(1)
Activity 9: I Wonder . . . Poems	78	(1)
Activity 10: Double-Entry Journal for Asking Questions	78	(1)
Activity 11: Text Coding	79	(1)
Activity 12: Question/Answer Relationships	79	(2)
Assessing Student Mastery of Asking Questions to Gain Understanding	81	(2)
Questioning Rubric	81	(2)
Drawing Conclusions and Making Inferences	83	(10)
Skill Overview	83	(1)
Subskills	83	(3)
Making Interpretations	83	(1)
Making Speculations	84	(1)
Linking Prior Knowledge and Personal Experience	84	(1)
Making Observations	84	(1)
Identifying and Assessing Evidence	84	(1)
Interpreting Nonfiction Text	84	(1)
Predicting Outcomes	85	(1)
Conveying Underlying Meanings	85	(1)
Using Explicit and Implicit Information	85	(1)
Making, Confirming, and Revising Predictions	85	(1)
Skill-Building Activities	86	(5)
Activity 1: Inferencing About the Author	86	(1)
Activity 2: Text as Words/Text as Mind Images	86	(1)
Activity 3: Talking Responses	87	(1)
Activity 4: Guiding Questions	87	(1)
Activity 5: Inferencing Cubes	87	(1)
Activity 6: Postage Stamps	88	(1)
Activity 7: Colored-Pencil Revisions	88	(1)
Activity 8: Postcard Predictions	88	(1)
Activity 9: Exit Passes	89	(1)
Activity 10: Concept Portraits	90	(1)
Activity 11: Double-Entry Journal for Drawing Conclusions	90	(1)
Assessing Student Mastery of Drawing Conclusions and Making Inferences	91	(2)
Drawing Conclusions and Making Inferences Rubric	91	(2)
Analyzing Text Structure	93	(10)
Skill Overview	93	(1)
Subskills	94	(1)
Identifying Text Structure	94	(1)
Evaluating Compare and Contrast Structure	94	(1)
Examining Cause and Effect Relationships	95	(1)
Assessing Problem/Solution/Support Structure	95	(1)
Recognizing Bias in Problem/Solution Structure	95	(1)
Skill-Building Activities	95	(5)
Activity 1: Simple Prediction Skits	95	(1)
Activity 2: Cause/Effect Dramatic Responses	96	(1)
Activity 3: Calendar Page Predictions	97	(1)
Activity 4: Cause/Effect Study Skills Analysis	97	(1)
Activity 5: Silly If/Then Chain Reactions	98	(1)
Activity 6: Letter Writing and Community Activism	98	(1)
Activity 7: Problem/Solution Games	98	(1)
Activity 8: Super Sequence Chains	99	(1)
Activity 9: Transition Word Puzzles	99	(1)
Activity 10: Double-Entry Journal for Analyzing Text Structure	99	(1)
Assessing Student Mastery of Analyzing Text Structure	100	(3)
Analyzing Text Structure Rubric	101	(2)
Evaluating the Author's Viewpoint	103	(10)
Skill Overview	103	(1)
Subskills	103	(2)
Understanding the Difference Between Fact and Opinion	103	(1)
Understanding the Author's Word Choices	104	(1)
Evaluating Sentence Structure and Text Structure	104	(1)
Determining Author's Viewpoint Through Context	104	(1)
Identifying Methods Used to Convey Viewpoint	105	(1)
Skill-Building Activities	105	(5)
Activity 1: Talk Show Interview	105	(1)
Activity 2: Character Bags	105	(1)
Activity 3: My Opinion/the Author's Opinion	106	(1)
Activity 4: Biased and Nonbiased Storytelling	107	(1)
Activity 5: Author Portraits	107	(1)
Activity 6: Dramatic Inferencing	107	(1)
Activity 7: Author on Trial	107	(1)
Activity 8: Looking at Text Features	108	(1)
Activity 9: Audience Portraits	109	(1)
Activity 10: Author's Resume	109	(1)
Activity 11: Double-Entry Journal for Evaluating the Author's Viewpoint	109	(1)
Assessing Student Mastery of Evaluating the Author's Viewpoint	110	(3)
Understanding the Author's Viewpoint Rubric	111	(2)
Resource: Reproducible Worksheets for Chapter Activities	113	(52)
References and Suggested Reading	165	(2)
Index	167