Shop Subscribe

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Schoolyard Blog | Teacher Resources | School Specialty

Classroom must haves for teachers plus essential teacher supplies, lesson plans and activities.

schoolyard-logo
  • Education Essentials
  • Inspiration & Planning
  • Learning Spaces
  • Topics
  • Search
  • Next post >
    student close reading book with magnifying glass

    Reading & Literacy
    School Specialty • Mar 12, 2015 • Last Modified: Aug 16, 2022

    What Is Close Reading?

    You’ve probably heard the term “close reading” thrown around in-services and conferences over the past decade. And although the simple meaning is easy enough to grasp—reading a text closely rather than just scanning or skimming. But in practical classroom terms, it can mean a variety of things.

    According to literacy educator Tim Shanahan, close reading is defined as “an intensive analysis of a text in order to come to terms with what it says, how it says it, and what it means.”

    Why we need to teach close reading is clear. New standards are constantly calling for more complex texts—texts that cannot be glossed over. Skills need to be taught that draw the student’s attention deeper into the text. How? There are lots of ways!

    Close reading asks “Why” and “How” instead of “Who” or “What”

    You can dictate the depth of reading by what kinds of questions you ask. Questions that are answered by a simple fact will not force the students to read any closer than they normally would. But if you start asking them the questions behind the text, like why a character behaved in a certain way, it exercises much more than just rote memorization.

    Students ask the questions

    In a similar vein, students need to learn how to ask themselves (and their classmates) questions. If they are close reading by themselves, that’s the only way to force themselves to go deeper into the text. When practicing this in class, make sure they also follow the “Why” and “How” guidelines. A great exercise to use is to have the student who just read a passage ask a question of the student who will be reading next.

    Shorter texts

    You’re probably correct in guessing that close reading takes longer than traditional reading strategies. You’ll have to pause the lesson more often. To make up for that discrepancy, choose shorter texts. You’ll alleviate the pressure both you and the students will feel to “get it over with.”

    Graphic organizers

    There are plenty of graphic organizers that help students organize their thinking about a topic, from the simple Venn diagram to complex story structures. If students are responsible for filling in their organizer, they will pay more attention to the text in order to find the answers.

    All the support you need for reading instruction can be found at School Specialty online.

    Recommended

    Seize Today, Transform Tomorrow: Back to School Planning Starts Now

    Back to School

    Seize Today, Transform Tomorrow: Back to School Planning Starts Now

    Why Books Matter: 3 Steps to Building a Successful Classroom Library

    Reading & Literacy

    Why Books Matter: 3 Steps to Building a Successful Classroom Library

    School Specialty Acquires SchoolKidz to Make Supply Kitting Solutions More Accessible for Education and Non-Profit Use

    News

    School Specialty Acquires SchoolKidz to Make Supply Kitting Solutions More Accessible for Education and Non-Profit Use

    3 Ways to Observe Dyslexia Awareness Month in the Classroom

    Reading & Literacy

    3 Ways to Observe Dyslexia Awareness Month in the Classroom

    Explore The Schoolyard

    Education Essentials

    Inspiration & Planning

    Learning Spaces

     

    TopicsShop Subscribe

    Copyright © 2023 School Specialty, LLC. All rights reserved. Privacy Statement · Social Media Statement · Do Not Sell My Personal Information - CA Resident Only

  • CATEGORIES

    • Education Essentials
    • Inspiration & Planning
    • Learning Spaces
  • TOPICS

    • Arts & Crafts
    • Early Childhood
    • Special Needs
    • Physical Education
    • Educational Technology
    • Student Resources
    • Organization & Storage
    • Classroom Management
    • STEAM & STEM
    • 21st Century Learning
    • Reading & Literacy
    • Healthy Students
    • Teacher Life
    • Back to School
    • Celebrations & Seasons
    • Out of School
    • News
    • Math
    • Science
    • Topics
    • Shop
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube