Let's Not Forget Skimming in Our "Bag of Skills"

Skimming is not the opposite of close reading.  It is the gateway to pull information out of text.  Sarah Tantillo tells of her experience observing a 7th grade class reacting to a teacher response to a student answer - a close reading descriptor with evidence in a passage 12 pages long - all in 3 minutes.  As she observed, she noted that the students did not know how to skim.  Asking the teacher for a "time-out" Ms Tantillo took over the lesson and taught the students the D.DAT strategy.  To find out more read her article.

Skimming:  The Overlooked Close Reading Skill. Sarah Tantillo. 1.19.14 MiddleWeb
http://www.middleweb.com/12133/skimming-overlooked-close-reading-skill/

'Reading' Visual Information

Past research (20 years ago) has shown that many readers focused on text and often ignored visuals in textbooks.  That may have changed in recent years since we have moved to a highly visual society.  However, we still need to teach our students how to interpret charts, graphs, and maps that are embedded in text and show how these details contribute to understanding of text.  Other enhancements like videos and digital information all play a part in "close" reading, one of the important shifts asked for in Common Core.
How do you teach visual information presented in text to your Title I students?  Are your students learning from it and integrating the data for a more complete understanding?

What Do We Mean by 'Reading' Maps?  Phil Gersmehl. 7.22.13.  Education Week - Premium Article
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/07/22/37gersmehl.h32.html?tkn=ZPVFjq2ICDJjHMLSPhxzAWq8OxrC8qB5uCy9&cmp=ENL-EU-VIEWS1

Reading Instruction Changing When Aligned to CC

Read this article to help understand the criticism that is out there by teachers who have been used to a standard set of practices in teaching reading.  The process of "close" reading is criticized by traditional teachers.  David Coleman, one of the architects of CCSS ELA standards is  criticized because of his objections to commonly held practices held "dear" by traditional teachers.  He's also criticized because he never had classroom-level experience.  Reminds me of the phrase "highly qualifed."  Important changes in American education are coming from outside the school environmnent - think of businesses, foundations, universities, government and the variety of think-tanks that have educational improvement high on their needs list.

Which brings us back to looking at our own LEX skills and strategies program.  We are celebrating masteries when examples of skill application are demonstrated by our students.  Skills and strategies are not ends in themselves but tools to increase knowledge.  Close reading, digging deep into text enriches our students' language and better prepares them for college and the world of work where detail becomes critically important.

Please comment on this article.  What are your thoughts -- Title I reading and SRSS teachers as we  tip-toe our way into CC by asking you to adjust your teaching approach?

How will reading instruction change when aligned to the Common Core? Kathleen Porter Magee/1.27.12.  Thomas Fordham Institute.-Common Core Watch