What is Close Reading? {Close Reading Mini-Series}

 

Welcome! Close reading is the big hype these days with Common Core and the push to expose ALL students to complex texts. I've recently done a lot of research on it for my Master's, so I decided to share it with you and hopefully answer some questions that are floating through your minds!

The mini-series has 5 topics that are essential to close reading.

1. What is close reading?

2. Background Knowledge

3. Complex Texts & Text Dependent Questions

4. Repeated Readings

5. Annotation

Each day, I will fill you in on all the things I know {and all the research I've read} about that specific topic. Citations of articles and research are included throughout these posts. I will also attach a citation page on day 5 with all articles and research in case you are interested in learning more. I hope you enjoy this mini-series, and that it helps you in your classroom this school year!

Day 1

Close reading: “an instructional routine in which students critically examine a text, especially through repeated readings” (Fisher & Frey, 2012a). 

It was used in high school and college in the past, BUT the implementation of Common Core has pushed teachers to use close reading in elementary school.

So, there must be some modifications made in elementary schools. The teacher must build students toward independent reading. As teachers help students dig through reading passages, they are helping students to build habits of great readers. 

I think this quote explains it perfectly: “The teacher’s goal in the use of Close Reading is to gradually release responsibility to students – moving from an environment where the teacher models for students the strategies to one where students employ the strategies on their own to when they read independently” (Brown & Kappes, 2012). 

Close reading gives kids the opportunity to take NEW information from the text and add it to their background knowledge and experiences. When they do this, they increase their schema (what they already know).

Close reading can be used with:

-Several genres

-Several formats

-Literature

-Informational text

BUT, {This is a biggie!} it is only appropriate with some texts.

Close reading does not work with everything. It should not be used with long chapter books or even some multiple page passages. It is not an appropriate strategy for everything and anything. You have to be thoughtful and purposeful when you choose a passage. We will look deeper at this on day 3. 

AND, {This is a second biggie!} it should go along with other instructional practices throughout the school day.

This is simple. Just don't make it the only thing you do. Yes, there's a huge push for it in schools. Yes, it is great for students in certain environments. I love how Brown and Kappes (2012) explain it, "Close Reading of text is one important strategy for fostering independence and analytic skills."

Remember: It is only one strategy. It is not the only strategy to use in the classroom. There are many others that are successful in the classroom. Choose a strategy that fits your students, your topic, and your teaching style.

Until next time! Click here for Day 2's post about Background Knowledge.