CLOSE READING

The answers you get from literature depend upon the

questions you pose.-Margaret Atwood

WHAT IS CLOSE READING? “ Essentially, close reading means reading to

uncover layers of meaning that lead to deep comprehension.” Nancy Boyles, Educational Leadership December

2012/January 2013

K-4

“…students must read widely and deeply from among a broad range of high-quality increasingly challenging literary and informational texts.”

Note on Range and Content, CCSS, page 10

CLOSE READING REQUIRES:Creating a safe environment where students feel free to

discuss their understanding-or lack of understanding.

Understanding your purpose in reading

Understanding the author’s purpose in writing

Seeing ideas in a text as being interconnected

Engaging in a text while reading

Formulating questions and seeking answers to those

questions while reading

CLOSE READ PROCESSIntroduction of text with minimal commentary

1. Cold Read with Purpose ◦ (star an idea you want to discuss and ? An idea you don’t

understand.)2. Read aloud (Stopping often for discussion and clarification)3. Paraphrase a section of the article that includes key ideas.

A. Shoulder partner discussion. B. Discuss differences and similarities together in class.

4. Text dependant questions5. Identify important and/or unfamiliar vocabulary. Discuss

meaning of vocabulary how it is used in the text.

TIME FRAME Close reading can be done in a shortened

format, however time needs to be set aside for an in-depth close read at least once or twice a month.

It is not uncommon for a close read to take more than one class period.

Close reading is a process to teach our students how to “dig deeper”-think about their thinking.

HOW DO WE GRADE/ASSESS THIS? Close reading is a process used to teach

students to read text for deeper meaning. Therefore, grading a close read is not always necessary. If teachers feel that grading needs to take place, participation and completion would be the acceptable form of grading.

IN CLOSING…Close reading does not change what you teach. It changes how you teach subject matter. Through reading, information will presented and learned more in-depth. Communication between content area teachers and knowledge of previously introduced material is vital to aid in class discussion in order to assist the students in making meaningful connections. Close reading should be done in all subject areas at all levels because when students are taught to think independently about text meaning, they will be successful academically and college and career ready.