This week we are focusing on Close Reading in order to become better readers. Close Reading is reading a text multiple times in order to better understand what it says and to find more meaning. Read something more than one time will lead to better comprehension, help find word meanings, and pick out key ideas and details.
Students modeled Close Reading by Close Reading Crackers! First, they ate a cracker as fast as they could.
Students modeled Close Reading by Close Reading Crackers! First, they ate a cracker as fast as they could.
Then, after not remembering what the cracker looked like, what ingredients they could taste, what they smell was, etc. students ate slowly and savored every bite to pick out the details of their cracker.
We kept a list of details on the board.
Then we talked about how slowing down to eat crackers is just like taking time to read or even reread a book. When we take our time, we can pick out details and find more meaning. Finally, we practiced close reading on a short story.