Librarian
Useful Web Resources for Deep Reading
- Kelly GallagherKelly Gallagher uses Articles of the Week to develop close reading skills.
- Dave Stuart Jr.Kelly Gallagher is Dave Stuart Jr.'s mentor developing his Article of the Week program in his teaching practice.
- Erica BeatonFriends with Gallagher and Stuart but Erica equally values deep reading and the skills associated with deep reading.
- They Say/I SayOld edition but still useful!
- What in the WorldLesplan.com puts out a publication on current events that is grade appropriate for deep reading informational text material. They resources come in PDF and Word format which makes them easy to transfer to a deep reading template.
- Scaffolding Students with Complex TextsA Close Look at Close Reading guide by Beth Burke, NBCT baburke@aacrc.net
Why Read?
Ms. Shimoyama's Deep Reading Assignments
Close Reading-What?
Do you want your students to be stronger readers? Close reading can help your students slow the reading process down and teach them to be "mindful" readers.
Annotating is a key component to close reading. Annotating is a skill that needs to be practiced and built up with students.
If done regularly and with purpose, annotating a text can be a powerful tool for active reading and the comprehension of material.
If you are new to deep reading or annotating as a literacy strategy, the article by Carol Porter O'Donnell is a useful place to being your inquiry.
Where to Start?
Where to start? Check out this Power Point (below) about deep reading and annotating text. Generally, these assignments take a week to complete. Of course, the assignment can be broken down and adapted/modified for your own learners.
I break down each step and model each step via document camera and I show students my own deep reading process publicly so that they are able to transfer the same skills to their own deep reading process.
*template credit goes to Vale Middle School's AoW items on their website for free.
- Teacher Guide to Close ReadingPurpose of deep reading, guidelines and strategies to interact with text. Graphic organizer included.
- Deep Reading Article ExampleThis article is from the What in the World resource and is moved into a standard template that I use to make the article user friendly for deep reading skills.
- Student ExemplarThis person was quite skilled at Deep Reading Assignments but it does give something for your students to aim for!
Where to Get Content?
Where to get articles suitable for your students?
- Scholastic Scope magazine ------> free via ebsco SD57 District Learning Commons
- What in the World
- PG Citizen
Pre-made Article of the Week assignments
How to Teach & Learn About Annotations
Deep Reading is Not Just for English
We use deep reading skills in science and math regularly; we are often not aware that we use many deep reading strategies when working on math problems.
Check out this article by smekenseducation.com on how we traditionally use close reading skills with math problems.
Teaching How to Use Close Reading Strategies to Solve Math Word Problems guide
Close reading poster for math.
Close reading math template.
Using primary and secondary sources also use the same type of deep reading skills needed for difficult English texts.
