The Effectiveness Of 2nd Grade Close Reading Activities

By Frank Murray


Literature tends to be complicated at first glance. To better understand the manner in which words are used certain strategies should be put to use. 2nd grade close reading activities are methods aimed at assisting students to understand different passages. In order to grasp this concept students need to work closely with their teachers.

Teachers should not be there throughout the whole way. Their purpose is to offer a little guidance and leave the rest of the heavy lifting to those being taught. Students who understand the concept being taught will have the concept on their fingertips. Proper understanding does not come easy for everyone. Students need to be patient with themselves and give their best.

Ensure that you are a close reader yourself. While teaching, it is important that you understand the text forwards and backwards. Each time that you get to ask a question or raise an issue, you will know ways to help your students find textual evidence in the text. Demonstrating close reading through class discussion is as essential as direct instruction in learning.

One should not just choose random texts for the purpose of this work. There should be a certain aim one has that will guide in selection of passages. An individual seeking to evoke different discussions will look at comprehensions that are likely to have different interpretations. This will bring about healthy discussion. Students need to be challenged a little. Selecting stretch texts will occupy most of their time as they involve lots of reading.

Always ensure that you set a reason for reading. Once your students have read a text through once, assist them to dig deeper by setting specific purpose for rereading it. That purpose may be aimed to identify a concept or theme. Providing students with something specific that they can focus on needs they go back to the text and pay much focus to it.

A question session must be set aside to see if the students are okay at different points. Those who have properly understood may state something specific from what they have read without necessarily rereading through the whole thing. Such students have shown good understanding. Students should feel free to discuss on related topics that they have previously heard of. If there is no proper comprehension, teachers need to re-strategize.

A group discussion can be held. Students can be paired for discussion on a certain area concerning the text. The topics to be discussed may include the phrases and vocabulary used. There is a lot that can be discussed. Individuals should feel free to always say what they have in mind. These discussions push all the students, even the quiet ones to put their thinking caps on.

When you start letting questions and ideas of the students take the lead, you will find that your class is more invested in reading. You will play the role of keeping them grounded to the process of learning. As you probe into the questions of your students, you will learn more about where your students are and provide them with opportunities to deeply engage with the text. Ultimately, you will be learning everything you can from the students.




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