Sitting around the perfect size table for small people, Sloatsburg Elementary third grade teacher Francine DiGiacomo looked around and asked, “What does a good reader do?”
Local teacher Francine DiGiacomo at the round table for a small group reading discussion with third graders.
Hands were thrust into the air, vying for attention and eager to answer the teacher’s question.
“Comprehend the book,” answered Jorge.
“Re-read it to get the gist and character, setting, motivation, problem and solution,” Riley added.
“Read around unknown words to find details that help you understand what the words mean,” said Lily.
“Read through the questions, then re-read the text to gather information,” Kevin noted.
“Then, stop at the details that help answer the questions and write them down on Post-It notes,” concluded Bronwyn.
DiGiacomo’s class has been using Thank You, Mr. Falker, the outstanding Patricia Polacco autobiographical book on how a student with a learning disability bonds with a teacher and finally learns to read. Ms. DiGiacomo has been using the heartfelt book to build strategies with students to help them figure out the story’s main idea while paying attention to supporting details from the text.
This reading strategy process is part of the Ramapo School District’s Expeditionary Learning English Language Arts (ELA) module called “Close Reading” and designed to assist students with developing close reading and informational writing skills.
“Close Reading” provides a series of steps students follow to deepen their reading comprehension and become more fluent readers and writers. Coupled with a broad vocabulary, strong close reading skills position students to meet rigorous grade-level Common Core ELA standards.
It’s also hopeful that the strategy might play a role in deepening a student’s appreciation for the mystery and magic of literature itself, as in the delightful story told in Thank You, Mr. Falker.
Upper elementary students across the District will be applying close reading strategies throughout the school year.
“Since teachers of grades three, four and five are all teaching the same skills and strategies in the same way, students will have many opportunities to achieve mastery,” explained DiGiacomo.
“Close reading requires students to spend significant time reading and analyzing complex text to achieve deep comprehension,” said Sloatsburg Elementary School Principal Eric Baird. “When performing a close read, students are reading with a specific purpose, going back to the text several times, and answering text-based questions that require them to demonstrate a very high level of understanding.”
For more information on close reading? Check out the Parent & Family Resources posted online at engageNY.org.
Photo and information courtesy of Jennifer Citrolo, Ramapo Central School District.
Caption: During a recent lesson, Sloatsburg Elementary School teacher Francine DiGiacomo facilitated a small group discussion on finding the main idea. (Sloatsburg students donned hats to “Keep a Lid on Drugs,” as part of the schoolwide Red Ribbon Week.)
