Focus on Close Reading

 What is close reading?  Trust me, it is NOT what is happening in this picture!

     As defined by Fisher and Frey (2015), close reading consists of:

• Short, complex passages
• Repeated reading
• Annotation ("reading with a pencil")
• Collaborative conversations about the text

     Additionally, the same authors suggest there are four phases of close reading that "begin with establishing the literal meaning of a text and ends with an exploration into the deeper meaning and a plan as for what should occur as a result of the reading" (p. 7).  These phases, or umbrella questions, are:

• What does the text say?
• How does the text work?
• What does the text mean?
• What does the text inspire you to do?

     In grades K-5, all elementary students in Lakewood are being instructed in strategies for close reading.  It is the focus of our Continuous Improvement Process this year and is expected to expand reading skills for ALL readers.  Some learning goals within the area of close reading include:

• Asking and answering questions by citing evidence in the text
• Determining central themes and summarizing key details
• Analyzing the how and why of the development of ideas, characters, events and relationships in text 
• Interpreting words and phrases to determine their meaning

     

     At Horace Mann, teachers are participating in a year-long book study related to close reading.  We are reading and discussing--with the help of Mrs. Brenda Budzar, Coordinator of Teaching & Learning--Text -Dependent Questions:  Pathways to Close and Critical Reading (Fisher & Frey, 2015).  Through this professional development, we hope to expand our common knowledge about the important topic of close reading, not only through reading the book, but also by talking with one another.  

     If you have any questions about close reading or any other aspect of curriculum and instruction, please contact me or your child's teacher.  What can you do at home?  Keep reading to and with your child...and be sure you do some reading of your own!