Collaborative Strategic Reading (CSR): A Comprehension Strategy to Enhance Content Area Learning

Explicitly teaching, as well as continually modeling and practicing reading comprehension strategies with students is one of the most important jobs we have as teachers of growing readers. Research shows that teaching reading strategies encourages

The SQ3R reading method, like the PQRST method, helps students organize their thoughts and note-taking while reading textbooks and longer reading materials like articles. Regular reviews of the SQ3R reading session notes will make studying for exams easier as well.

The Kaplan Depth & Complexity chart is a way to promote complex and in-depth analysis of academic and non-academic content.

Although I think a system I’ve been using to encourage students to keep good notebooks works really well for me, and might even work well for students, I am not exactly sure what they’r…

Last week I finished up my short series on phonological disorders. In case you missed any parts in the series, I wanted to go ahead and provide you with links to all four parts here. Simply click on the image to take you to the post! Enjoy! Let me know if you […]

Making predictions is a critical reading comprehension strategy to teach and practice with students. It requires students to use what they have read and know about a topic in order to anticipate what will happen

Through project based learning students can become better readers. I suggest using reading strategies during the reading and research phase.

My students have had a fabulous time learning about the Statue of Liberty. In fact, my friend who cuts my hair told me that some of my students came into her

When a teacher takes a stand against plagiarism, the ensuing showdown can be painful.

Via Ana Cristina Pratas, juandoming

Students cannot learn what they cannot understand. For ESL students, there is a greater challenge when content material is the target knowledge. For native speakers, learning the content its

Snowy evenings often inspire poets, musicians and writers. One that I love is Robert Frost’s famous poem entitled Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening. I have a beautiful copy of this poem with illustrations by Susan Jeffers. This poem happens to be an exemplar poem listed in Appendix 2 of the Common Core State Standards. The last page of the book has a note written by the illustrator about her mother, an artist, who would take her daughter for walks on snowy evenings: “My mother’s favorite thing to do was simply to walk outside and look. She was a painter and my first painting lessons came from her. They were really lessons in looking. She would ask me: What is the color of the tree shadow? Is it blue? Blue- green” Violet? She was teaching me to paint what I saw, not what I knew. What I knew would never be enough.” Color often is a clue to the author’s, poet’s or illustrator’s theme. Robert Frost’s poem, so beautifully illustrated in this version, reminded me of Owl Moon by Jane Yolen and illustrated by John Schoenherr, due to similarities of the winter night’ setting, the owls and the mention of colors...

Reading is a complex skill. Our brains are wired to speak, but not to read and write. Various parts of the brain work together in order to read.

Just as travelers need a map or a GPS to help them find their way to their destination, likewise students also need to be explicitly told what the final objective of the lesson is, and how the teacher would like to see the students achieve it. Research has shown that objectives help both teacher and […]

Marking the Text Guide that helps students interact with what they are reading. This file can be made into a poster, projected, or made into handouts. *Perfect addition to the Reading Section of the WICOR Binder...

Visual processing is an important cognitive skill for students to master. It assists with the encoding of information into the brain, and it helps students make sense of the learning content. This skill often needs to be developed and exercised, and there are many engaging activities that can help. What is Visual Processing? Visual processing is a cognitive skill that allows us to process, interpret and find meaning from visual images. In other words, it is how we make sense of what we see. Why is Visual Processing Important? Visual processing is vital because it plays a key role in learning visual information from our environment. It is a fundamental skill for reading, math, and spelling. What Are the Different Types of Visual Processing? Visual processing involves a number of cognitive processing skills: Visual Construction Skills: organizing and manually manipulating spatial information to make a design. Visual Processing Speed: processing visual information at a certain pace or speed. Visual Scanning: looking at and absorbing all parts of a visual field or text document. Visual-Spatial Skills: manipulating 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional figures in one's mind. Visual-Spatial Reasoning: perceiving the spatial relationships between objects. Visual Memory: remembering what is seen. Visual-Motor Integration: translating visual perception into a motor response. Visual Synthesis: uniting visual information into a coherent whole. Visual Sequencing: determining or remembering the order of symbols, words, or objects. Visual Closure: making sense of visual information when some of the images are missing. Visual Reasoning: finding meaning and making sense out of visual information. 5 Free Ways to Improve Visual Processing for Weak Readers: Help students improve and strengthen their visual tracking skills so they can read in a fast and fluid manner. Click here to learn some free strategies. Exercise and improve visual processing skills by playing key games. Click here to get a comprehensive list of games. Go to Eye Can Learn and do eye exercises to strengthen tracking, visual discrimination visual memory, visual sequencing, visual-spatial skills, visual closure, and more... Use text-to-voice Apps like Voice Dream Reader that highlight the words while it reads the text aloud. This helps with both visual and auditory processing as well as sound/symbol association. You can also use their "Pac Man mode" that erases the words as they are read aloud. This helps the brain to process without getting visually overloaded. Read aloud to yourself or someone else. This helps the eyes and brain to work in sync. Watch my Youtube Video: What are Some Ready-Made Materials that Strengthen Visual Tracking and Processing? Visual Tracking Exercises: Visual Reasoning and Tracking Activities Visual Tracking Assessment and Activities for Improved Learning Building Peripheral Vision, Visual Tracking, and Visual Attention for Improved Reading and Scanning Visual Processing Exercises: At Good Sensory Learning we now offer a series of visual processing exercises! You can choose from the following publications. You can click on the following links to learn more. Visual Synthesis and Figure-Ground Visual-Spatial and Closure Activities Visual Discrimination and Directionality Activities Visual-Motor Activities Following Directions Primary: Following Directions Primary offers fun activities that develop visual processing, listening skills, linguistic abilities, and the core cognitive skills needed for reading. The 49-page download offers coloring and process of elimination activities. Cute animals and aliens as well as numbers, letters, shapes, and arrows are used in these enjoyable brain breaks. If you are interested in learning more about this publication and would like to download FREE ACTIVITIES CLICK HERE. Reversing Reversals Primary: Reversing Reversals Primary strengthens the foundational cognitive skills needed for reading and math. It also develops visual processing and perception such as reversals that impact students with dyslexia. This publication is available as a download, and it offers 72 pages of activities as well as a game. If you would like to learn more about this publication and also get FREE ACTIVITIES CLICK HERE. I hope you found this helpful. If you found this helpful, you might also like my blog titled: 10 Free Ways to Improve Visual Tracking for Weak Readers.If you know of other sites, materials, or games that you find benefit visual processing, please share them below. Cheers, Erica Dr. Erica Warren is the author, illustrator, and publisher of multisensory educational materials at Good Sensory Learning. She is also the director of Learning to Learn, and Learning Specialist Courses.· Blog: https://goodsensorylearning.com/blogs/news· YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/warrenerica1· Executive Function Podcast: https://goodsensorylearning.com/pages/the-personal-brain-trainer-podcast-with-dr-erica-warren· Store: http://www.Goodsensorylearning.com/ · Courses: http://www.learningspecialistcourses.com/ · Newsletter Sign-up: https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/694000

Helping K-2 Teachers Like You Save Time, Grow Instructional Skills, and Teach With Confidence!

Get the right-brain benefit of visuals combined with the left-brain advantage of structure!

Teach Shakespeare in a way that makes his works relevant, engaging, and accessible for high school students. Grab 11 ideas in this post.

This worksheet explores the types of extreme weather with a short reading comprehension exercise.

It’s no secret that ¡Corre en Círculos! is one of my favorite activities to do with my students! It’s an incredibly flexible activity that you can use for vocabulary, grammar, and reading practices! I LOVE using this activity in my classroom. I probably do it at least once a chapter because it can be used ... Read More about ¡Corre en Círculos! Variations

I develop curriculum for middle school math. I focus on using critical-thinking skills in my content so the math makes sense to the students.

If your non-English speaking students aren't ready to do the regular class work, what should you have them do instead? This handy tool can help.

What reading strategies do students need to know? Find out here and keep track with a free chart!

I feel that it is essential for every English literature student–whether that be honors, regular, or support level– to have the ability to read a single text through a different critical lens. This skill teaches students how to have an open mindset and view the world through someone else’s perspective–which is one of the fundamental purposes ... Read More about Creative Ways to Teach Critical Lenses

Integrating Quick Writes in reading, writing, vocabulary and speaking lessons for ELLs. Developing ELL writing skills across content areas.

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During a first read, this anchor chart is helpful for students who need support in figuring out what to jot down. After they retell their summary (in their own words), they can write those notes in the margins.

Wanting to revamp your independent reading program? Try using a classroom book club, which is a great way to enrich, engage, and differentiate in secondary.

The purpose of these critical thinking question stems is to help students practice willingness to sit with an idea and struggle wonderfully.