Literacy Instruction and Strategies
for all content areas
This page contains strategies and hand-outs to help improve literacy across all curricular areas. These strategies are organized by type. If you have something that works that you would like to add, please contact us.
Check back as this page is still growing!
Check back as this page is still growing!
Current entries include strategies and organizers for:
Summarizing
Reciprocal Teaching
Compare and Contrast
Close Reading
Summarizing
Reciprocal Teaching
Compare and Contrast
Close Reading
Summarizing
One Pager
The one pager is a means of summarizing and extracting meaning after reading an article. The purpose of the one pager is to determine importance in the reading and then summarize the article. The one pager uses words and pictures to summarize the important ideas, including finding an important, relevant quote from the reading and explaining why it is important and relevant. This may be used with the strategies of marking the text and writing in the margins.
The one pager is a means of summarizing and extracting meaning after reading an article. The purpose of the one pager is to determine importance in the reading and then summarize the article. The one pager uses words and pictures to summarize the important ideas, including finding an important, relevant quote from the reading and explaining why it is important and relevant. This may be used with the strategies of marking the text and writing in the margins.
one_pager_template_for_single_article.pdf | |
File Size: | 460 kb |
File Type: |
One Pager for Multiple Article/Activity Research
This is an adaptation of the one pager to be used when summarizing information from various sources and activities during research. The one pager allows information to be summarized through writing and through visual representations, such as flow charts or info graphics. Important ideas from different reading selections and activities can be combined and connected to support a position or conclusion.
This is an adaptation of the one pager to be used when summarizing information from various sources and activities during research. The one pager allows information to be summarized through writing and through visual representations, such as flow charts or info graphics. Important ideas from different reading selections and activities can be combined and connected to support a position or conclusion.
one_pager_modified_for_research.pdf | |
File Size: | 325 kb |
File Type: |
Reciprocal Teaching
(Summarizing, Questioning, Clarifying, Predicting)
Reciprocal Teaching Overview and Organizer
Reciprocal teaching is a structured discussion of a reading using four strategies (summarizing, questioning, clarifying, and predicting). The discussion may be between students and the teacher or between students organized in a small group. The organizer provides space for each strategy used when reading an article. At the bottom of the organizer is a space for writing connections to prior knowledge or prior readings.
Reciprocal teaching is a structured discussion of a reading using four strategies (summarizing, questioning, clarifying, and predicting). The discussion may be between students and the teacher or between students organized in a small group. The organizer provides space for each strategy used when reading an article. At the bottom of the organizer is a space for writing connections to prior knowledge or prior readings.
reciprocal_teaching_overview.pdf | |
File Size: | 342 kb |
File Type: |
Compare and Contrast
Triangle Organizer (Compare/Contrast 3 Items)
Comparing and contrasting information is often represented through a Venn diagram. The triangle organizer allows for comparing and contrasting three separate items. The similarities would be written in the middle circle, the differences would be written in the triangle, and pictures or visual representations could be drawn or attached outside of the triangle. Summarizing what is learned from the comparisons can be summarized on the back of the organizer. This could be used to compare and contrast information or concepts from one source or could be used to compare and contrast three different articles or sources.
Comparing and contrasting information is often represented through a Venn diagram. The triangle organizer allows for comparing and contrasting three separate items. The similarities would be written in the middle circle, the differences would be written in the triangle, and pictures or visual representations could be drawn or attached outside of the triangle. Summarizing what is learned from the comparisons can be summarized on the back of the organizer. This could be used to compare and contrast information or concepts from one source or could be used to compare and contrast three different articles or sources.
triangle_comparison.pdf | |
File Size: | 44 kb |
File Type: |
Idea Comparison Circles
The "Idea Circles" facilitate the comparison of information from readings or activities and experiences. When used with a summary evaluation or conclusion, students can determine which information is more valid or more important.
The main concept or topic would be written in the center circle. Around the outside of the larger circle are written "older" or "previous" ideas or understandings about the topic. Inside the larger circle are written "newer" or "current" ideas or understandings about the topic.
For example, if students are learning about the genetics of identical twins, then the circles can be used to compare older understandings of identical twin DNA to newer understandings of identical twin DNA. Articles about older thoughts of identical twins having identical DNA could be read, summarized, and used to fill in the "older" understandings section. Articles proposing newer ideas about the DNA of identical twins being slightly different could be read, summarized, and used to fill in the "newer" understandings section. The student could then reflect on and evaluate the information provided in the articles and respond to the summary evaluation or conclusion question of determining which theory is more valid and supporting their answer with evidence from the articles.
This method could also be used to ask students to show student learning or modeling from their older ideas to newer, revised ideas about a particular topic or concept.
The "Idea Circles" facilitate the comparison of information from readings or activities and experiences. When used with a summary evaluation or conclusion, students can determine which information is more valid or more important.
The main concept or topic would be written in the center circle. Around the outside of the larger circle are written "older" or "previous" ideas or understandings about the topic. Inside the larger circle are written "newer" or "current" ideas or understandings about the topic.
For example, if students are learning about the genetics of identical twins, then the circles can be used to compare older understandings of identical twin DNA to newer understandings of identical twin DNA. Articles about older thoughts of identical twins having identical DNA could be read, summarized, and used to fill in the "older" understandings section. Articles proposing newer ideas about the DNA of identical twins being slightly different could be read, summarized, and used to fill in the "newer" understandings section. The student could then reflect on and evaluate the information provided in the articles and respond to the summary evaluation or conclusion question of determining which theory is more valid and supporting their answer with evidence from the articles.
This method could also be used to ask students to show student learning or modeling from their older ideas to newer, revised ideas about a particular topic or concept.
idea_comparison_circles.pdf | |
File Size: | 198 kb |
File Type: |
Close Reading
Close Reading Plan
Each close reading plan uses carefully selected text-dependent questions that align with the Common Core State Standards. The reading plans offer step-by-step "think aloud" advice to help teachers implement close reading in their classrooms. The plans also offer remediation and extension activities to assist in differentiating instruction.
Close reading plans are available at:
http://ctcorestandards.org/?page_id=3708
Each close reading plan uses carefully selected text-dependent questions that align with the Common Core State Standards. The reading plans offer step-by-step "think aloud" advice to help teachers implement close reading in their classrooms. The plans also offer remediation and extension activities to assist in differentiating instruction.
Close reading plans are available at:
http://ctcorestandards.org/?page_id=3708