Close Reading

Digging Deep into the Text with Close Reading!

A Must Have Teacher Resource for Successful Implementation of Close Reading in your Primary Classroom

I initially began to create this file because my school district did not provide any professional development on close reading, yet the teachers were expected to start implementing this strategy into our English Language Arts framework. Sadly, that seems to be the case for many other teachers in districts across the country. Most teachers do not like to just implement something new, without a solid foundation of WHY they need to do it and HOW they should be doing it. After taking this school year to research close reading and its connection to the Common Core State Standards, I am ready to share this with you!

The title “digging deep” for this file comes as a result of what close reading really is- DIGGING DEEP into the text by rereading multiple times with a different purpose/focus for each read.

Part One: Digging Deep into the Text with Close Reading: 157 pages

This part of the file informs the teacher about what close reading is, why you need to be using this strategy, and most importantly, HOW it is done correctly and effectively.

Resources include:
1. A background about what close reading is and characteristics of a close reading lesson
2. Guidance about finding a complex text using the three levels of text complexity
3. An explanation, rationale, and the “know how” to create text based questions for a complex text
4. Information about the three tiers of vocabulary and how it is incorporated in the CCSS and close reading lessons
5. Information about scaffolding close reading lessons, including what that means and how to do it
6. An explanation for how YOU can create a close reading leveled passage for your class
7. “Thinking about my Reading” Toolkit of close reading strategies- resources to use with your students as you teach them to annotate or “code” the text
8. Text dependent teacher flip book- a great resource to keep handy as you are creating text dependent questions with your complex text for your close reading lesson
9. Close reading (first, second, and third reading) in action! Detailed explanation of how I used a complex text with my students for every read (a picture is worth a thousand words- they are included, too!)

Part Two: Digging Deep Close Reading Anchor Charts and Classroom Library Book Labels- 84 pages

This part of the file is more for the students. This part includes colorful anchor charts to print and post for your students, so they can refer to them as you teach a close read.

Resources include:

1. There is one graphic organizer for the students to use, which correlates with the 10 reading anchor standards
2. There are more than 10 different colorful anchor charts that list the learning target, ready for you to post as you close read
3. Resources to create your own close reading bulletin board- a nice way to remind your students (and yourself!) the different steps to a close read
4. Classroom library book labels according to genre, series, author name, and social studies/science topic. Also includes a template that you can customize so you can create your own title (this part is a power point file)

***This file does NOT include close reading passages for you to use with your students. What this file does do, however, is teach you about what MAKES a text complex and high enough in quality to use for a close read. Also, please understand that in order to implement close reading successfully and effectively, you will need to take ample time to read through the information presented in this file. Think of it as a professional development in a PDF format!!***

This is ZIP file. This file is aligned to the Common Core Anchor Standards for Reading for grades 1-5.

It is my sincerest wish that this file enables you implement close reading confidently, correctly, and effectively in your classroom!

Please contact me with any questions about this file PRIOR to purchasing.

If you have any questions, please contact me before purchasing!