Reading Like a

Detective

NC DPIEnglish Language Arts

New ELA Resource: 40 Ways to Read Like a Detective: Supporting Text-Centered Instruction

Text-centered instruction is a fundamental practice when teaching the North Carolina Standard Course of Study in English Language Arts. This resource is a practical tool exploring 40 ways to return students to the text to write, find evidence, read deeply, and become strong independent readers. Each research-based strategy is accompanied by a description, suggested instructional activity, and resources.

Main References

• 40 Things to Do with a Text, by Braham and Gaughan

• Teaching Students to Read Like Detectives, by Fisher, Frey, and Lapp

• Making Thinking Visible, by Ritchhart, Church, and Morrison

• Notice and Note, by Beers and Probst• The Art of Slow Reading, by Newkirk

40 Ways to Read Like a Detective

WAYS TO READ

Cards 1 - 9

40 Ways to Read Like a Detective

QUESTIONING / DISCUSSING

Cards 10 - 15

core

40 Ways to Read Like a Detective

EXPLORING WHAT THE TEXT SAYS

Cards 16 - 22

Is this Legit?Elementary

In grade 2, RL.2.2 – students recount folktales from diverse cultures.

• Invite a speaker from another country to read a folktale from his/her country. Students recount the central message.

• Then, have the speaker share information about his/her country. Provide opportunities for students to ask and answer questions to clarify, to gather more information about what the speaker is talking about, or to deepen their understanding of the topic. SL.2.3

40 Ways to Read Like a Detective

ORGANIZATION & STRUCTURE

Cards 23 - 26

40 Ways to Read Like a Detective

FORMAT, GENRE, & MEDIA

Cards 27 - 31

40 Ways to Read Like a Detective

RESPONDING TO IDEAS

Cards 32 - 36

40 Ways to Read Like a Detective

VOCABULARY & GRAMMAR

Cards 37 - 40

Example Text ImpressionWord List

Mount St. HelensMountain

WashingtonVolcano

Floating pieces of landEarth’s surface

Moving, slipping, slidingOverlapping plates

BottomHeatedMelts

Pushed downCenter of Earth

Liquid rock and gasesPushed up

Earth’s surfaceGreat pressures

Example Text ImpressionParagraph

Mount St. Helens is a mountain that is in Washington. It is a volcano. There are floating plates of land near Washington in the earth’s surface. Sometimes there is moving, slipping, and sliding. Some of the overlapping plates go to the bottom of the heated mountain and melt. They can get pushed down to the center of the earth and then turn to liquid rock and gases. Next, they get pushed up out of the earth’s surface and cause a lot of great pressures with people.

Demonstration Lesson

I Saw(Evidence: I saw / heard / read

in the text…)

I Thought(Interpretation: I infer / I

conclude / I thought…)

Zoom InThoughts?

1. What new things do you see?

2. How does this change your hypothesis or interpretation?

3. Now, what are you wondering about that is not observable in the text or image?

4. What is Rockwell’s opinion of Lincoln? Provide evidence from the text to support your analysis.

Zoom In StrategyElementary Example:Social Studies Essential Standards:2.H.1.2 Identify contributions of historical figures (community, state, nation and world) through various genres. ELA CCR Anchor StandardRI.5 Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole.

Text 1 Text 2

Similarities

UniqueCharacteristics/Features

Side by SideDiscuss: Are there things

that the writer can accomplish with words that the artist cannot accomplish with paints, and vice versa?

How does this change your hypothesis or interpretation? Explain.

Culminating Activity

Write a summary comparing and contrasting the ways in which the authors characterized Lincoln, paying close attention to HOW they accomplished what they set out to do. Cite evidence.

Elementary Adaptation

Write a paragraph (or have a discussion) comparing two paintings of Lincoln by different artists. RI.3.1, RI.3.9, SL.3.1

(Class Discussion)How did the painter choose to depict the artist and portray his talents? Use specific evidence from the painting. SL.3.1, SL.3.3

40 Ways to Read Like a Detective

LiveBinder Resources: http://www.livebinders.com/play/play/297779

Click on the tab labeled, 40 Ways to Read This will give you access to all the strategies

How to Order

Title: 40 Ways to Read Like a Detective: Supporting Text-CenteredInstructionItem #: CM194Cost: $8.00

To Order Contact NC DPI’s Publications Sales Office:919-807-34701-800-663-1250 (inside NC only)Email publications@dpi.nc.gov.