• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Creativity to the Core

Creativity to the Core

Learning Makes Us Who We Are

  • Home
  • About
  • PD
  • Resources
    • Freebies
    • Recommendations
  • Blog
  • Book Now/Contact
  • Shop
  • TPT
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

Repeated Reading

Close Reading for the Holidays

Are you in need of some low-prep activities to get your students through the holiday season? Check out my newest close reading passages! They are perfect for small group, guided reading, weekly homework, and thematic units. All you have to do is simply download and print! If you are not familiar with close reading you can read more about it in my Close Reading Mini Series.

I’m excited to be a part of The Primary Gal‘s Unwrap a Gift Linky Party. There are so many engaging gifts for you from some of my favorite teachers. Keep reading for a closer look and be sure to unwrap your gift at the end of this post! 

I have two sets of holiday close reads: European traditions (7 passages) & Asian traditions (6 passages). Each passage is written at an appropriate text complexity level for 2-3rd grade according to the Common Core State Standards. However, it totally depends on your students. I often used similar close reads with my high first graders, and I have a friend who uses them with her struggling fourth graders. There are two different versions of most handouts within each set. Instant differentiation!

Close reading is all about developing a true understanding of the text. Therefore, I make sure that students are rereading many times. One passage will last us 3 days to a full week! Students reread the passages silently, aloud, and to partners. Then, they annotate by highlighting or circling unknown words, numbering paragraphs, and underlining answers in the text. You can have students use any annotation marks that you like (although I recommend no more than about 3 at a time – see the close reading blog series above for in depth information).

After reading, students will respond to text-dependent questions. I ask students to go back to the text and underline or highlight their answers. They are also required to write the number of the question beside the sentence in the text. This is a wonderful skill to start early on! It works wonders on standardized tests! Each passage in my close reading sets has two different sets of response questions which is great for differentiation in class.
I hope you enjoy your holiday season! Click the image below to UNWRAP YOUR GIFT!
Head over to The Primary Gal to unwrap more gifts!

 

Filed Under: Literacy, Misc Tagged With: Annotation, Christmas, Close Reading, Complex Text, freebie, Holidays, Reading, Repeated Reading, Text Dependent Questions

Repeated Readings {Close Reading Mini-Series}

Close Reading - repeated reading strategies

Repeated reading is a BIG part of the close reading process. Each time students interact with the text, they come to a deeper understanding of it. Each time, they have more background knowledge than before. Each time, their conversations deepen.

Struggling Readers or English Language Learners

Struggling readers and English Language Learners (ELLs) may need extra time when reading. Each has his/her various challenges. However, close reading is great for struggling readers and/or ELLs because of this repeated reading. It gives kids time and many different opportunities to process information and make connections.

Who is reading?
The text is being read over and over. But who should read the text each time? Many times, the reader changes. It is usually suggested that the students tackle the text independently through silent reading the very first time. However, as mentioned before, modifications must be made for younger students. This may mean that a teacher reads aloud as shared reading for the very first time.

Types of Repeated Reading
-Individual
-Groups
-Teacher
-Partner

Remember that the type and number of repeated readings depends on the
specific passage and students in the classroom. You do not need to use all of those listed above. Choose what works for you and your kids.

Thanks for stopping by! Click here to read about annotations while reading!

Close reading - What's it all about? Understanding the in's and out's of close reading in an elementary classroom
signature

Filed Under: Literacy, Misc Tagged With: Background Knowledge, Close Reading, Mini-Series, Repeated Reading

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I’m Meredith!

READ MORE

Search

Follow on Instagram

Footer

Copyright © 2022 · Creativity to the Core · Site by Ready to Blog Designs