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Showing posts with label Informational Text. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Informational Text. Show all posts

April 14, 2015

Comprehension Website--Read Theory!

I don't know about you all......but I feel as though the world wide web is lacking in quality reading websites. Not that there isn't any great sites....but it seems as though all of the quality websites available only cater to K-2 aged students as opposed to the upper elementary-middle school grades. These K-2 sites are awesome for kids learning how to read, but I want a website to reinforce and supplement reading comprehension!

Well I may have found it...... (thanks TPT forums!)

A while back, I briefly blogged about the website called Read Theory.  Yo can read the quick post by clicking here.


I love this FREE comprehension website, and I pinky swore I would write a more in-depth blog post about it.  Well...fast forward 2 months....and I am finally ready to blog about it! Sheesh.....time flies, right?!?

Anyway.... Read Theory is a wonderful free educational tool.  Once teachers set up a class, their students instantly gain access to thousands of leveled reading passages.

Teachers have the ability to set each students initial reading level, which ensures each student starts with text that is appropriate for them!

As the student progresses through the program, Read Theory adapts the student's reading level. Meaning....if a student scores 90% or higher on a quiz, their reading level goes up and passages get harder.  If a student scores 70-89% on a quiz, their level remains the same, thus passages remain the same.  The level will decrease if the student scores 69% or less, consequently passages will decrease in difficulty.

A student's reading level progression graph. This student started out at a third grade reading level and has progressed to the sixth grade! :)  Yay!
The program basically runs itself!  YES!!!!

Oh..... and teachers receive TONS of valuable data!!!  DOUBLE YES!!!!

Read Theory  gives you two types of data: whole class and individual.  All results are based on mastery of common core skills.

 
This is a whole class snapshot of reading level progressions.  Each blue bar represents a student.  Three data points are reported: initial reading level, current reading level and average reading level. 

Picture is another whole class snapshot on common core standards.  If the class average rises above 80% the bars turn green, if an average falls below 70% the bars turn red. 
For individual student data, Read Theory provides the teacher with a detailed record on each passage and quiz a student has taken.

If you click on the the blue quiz number on the right side of the screen (see picture below), you are able to read the exact passage and questions the student was given.  It also provides the teacher with the how the student answered each question, (i.e. whether they got a question right or wrong.)

Talk about awesome data---and great information for student-teacher conferences!!



Another helpful piece of data is the individual report on how students are progressing in terms of common core skill mastery.
 



So obviously the teacher gets lots of feedback.....BUT....what about the students?!?!

Don't worry---they get tons of feed back too.  AND--it is instant!

While taking a quiz, if a student answers a question incorrectly.... Read Theory helps them discover why....




See this website is pretty great, isn't' it! AND...its for older kids!  WAAAHOOO!

Now....I must admit that not all of my students are motivated (insert big gasp).....so I try to sweeten the pot a little by having a simple little contest.  And it is simple. Very simple!  

I have a little spot on my marker board that says "Leaders." 

Fancy, huh?!?



Every two weeks, the top three leaders get a prize.  Sometimes they get a mini-pop, a bag of popcorn or even 10 minutes of free-time.   

This simple little contest really motivates my kiddos.....not only does it motivate them to read more passages in order to take more quizzes, but it also motivates them to do well.  If a student does well, Read Theory awards bonus points. 

Keeping track of the leaders is super easy, because Read Theory does that for me.  All I have to do is look up how may points each of my students has scored in the last two weeks.....and update my board! 

I hope you get a chance to check out the website......let me know if you have any questions!

Katie

January 3, 2015

Paragraph Frames--Extended Version! (and a freebie)

I so excited to share my newest TPT product! 



This little gem is called Extended Paragraph Frames.....and here it is in all it's glory! ha!


These Extended Paragraph Frames are actually a jazzed up version of one of my more popular products-- Paragraph Writing Frames (text structure edition) and Paragraph Writing Frames (summarizing edition),



If you haven't heard about paragraph frames (sometimes they are also referred to as framed paragraphs)...you are missing out! Allow me to explain......

Paragraph Frames are perfect to support students who have difficulty writing strong paragraphs.  Framed paragraphs guide students (in any subject) by providing them with a sentence outline and transitional phrases.  Students simply have to fill in the blanks with their own thoughts!!  There is a great little article on paragraph frames on Reading Rockets....check it out by clicking here.   Below is an example of what a writing frame would look like...


I highly recommend using paragraph frames for the struggling or beginning writer!  They are super simple to use and can go with any text in any subject area--simply print off a frame and have a student fill in the blanks.  Once the student has completed the frame, he or she can transfer the frame to a piece of notebook paper---and voila....a strong paragraph!!  I have my paragraph frames laminated and hanging in my room.....and kids just grab them when they are ready to write!

Recently I have started pushing my students to further develop their writing.  They have the basics down, but I wanted them to cite textual evidence, offer insight and provide details.  I knew what I wanted---yet my struggling babies still needed some support.  Then one day I had a buyer request for me to  make a "more advanced version" of my frameser!!

And that little suggestion solved all my problems......I an push my students and make a happy buyer! GENIUS!  I have experienced so much success with basic paragraph frames---so I knew this would work!  Thus the Extended Paragraph Frames were born!

Click here to download an extended paragraph frame freebie! (or click picture!)


Just in case you were wondering how extended paragraph frames are different than regular paragraph frames......well....here ya go!


Extended paragraph frames will:
  • lengthen students sentences
  • demonstrate how to cite textual evidence
  • provide students with a way to be more descriptive
  • encourage students to ad their own insight, understanding and opinions
I hope you all enjoy the freebie....and happy writing!


November 20, 2013

Website Wednesday--Newsela

Happy Hump Day Y'all!!

Today I had a SUPER day---not just because we are over the midweek hump---but because I was able to attend (for free!!) a reading conference.  Not only was it for free (how often do teachers get to go to free conferences---ummm....hello...never) but it was really, really good!!

It was kind of a last minute deal--but I last week I received an email with a "complimentary ticket" for a Really Great Reading presentation on helping adolescent readers decode.  This type of conference was right. up. my. alley!  If you have time you should check out the website, because they have some awesome free resources for teachers.


I promise to blog more about some of the things I learned today--but it will have to be later, so all of my thinking can soak in.

I do want to share another great website.

Its called:  Newsela


Newsela is a wonderful website to supplement your current ELA classroom.  This is a FREE website where students have the ability to read current events that are written at a variety of reading levels.


There is truly something for every student---as students get to pick from seven different categories of non fiction text (War & Peace, Science, Kids, Money, Arts, Law, and Health).  Additionally, there are comprehension quizzes students can take after they are finished reading a particular text.  Not all articles, have quiz...but the vast majority do.

And if I haven't already convinced you to check this site out---there is a place where teachers can track their students progress and see the scores students are getting on their quizzes.  This makes grading a snap!!

Another helpful tool for teachers is this little symbol:

Newsela, puts that in the corner of an article to let teachers know what Reading Anchor Standard their student will be working on while reading the article. Thank you Newsela!

Check it out---it is worth your time!!

~Katie

P.S. I must admit--I didn't find this site.  My district's Director of Learning did---and she passed it on to us. I love how she passes on great websites to us!! :)

November 4, 2013

Thieves---Close Reading Strategy

Happy Monday everyone!  It was sure nice being able to turn back those clocks this weekend to get an extra hour of sleep! I do love my beauty rest.....



Last week during one of my small groups I tried out a strategy for previewing text...and I loved it!  The strategy is called T.H.I.E.V.E.S and was posted (free) to TPT by Andrea McEvoy!  It is an awesome resource to use to get your students ready for a close reading of text.  I so wish I could claim this as my own.....because it is seriously great!


One the first side the acronym T.H.I.E.V.E.S shows students how they should preview informational text by using THIEVES.  Students preview the title, headings, introduction, first sentences, visuals, vocabulary and the end of the text.  By looking closesly at theses components of  the passage....students are getting a feel for what the text will be about.



On the back side of the paper, students write what they have found while previewing the text.  

I am telling you this form was great!!  I absolutely loved it....and it was FREE!  Thank you Andrea McEvoy!

July 16, 2013

Summer School (Text Structure Edition)

I (and the students) are still plugging away at summer school.  We have two weeks left, including this week, and then I get a small break before **actual** school starts up.  EEK....did I just type the words "actual school"......

Last week I began my blog series (I guess you can call it that) over interactive notebooks, where I showcased our word work section.  This week I am going to feature another component of our interactive notebooks---the text structure page!!

We all know how important informational text is with common core, so this year I planned my summer school instruction around non-fiction text.  To gain a deeper understanding of non-fiction text, the students studied  (and are currently studying) text structure.  The first week we read articles about description, this week we will read sequence and cause and effect; next week will bring compare and contrast and problem solution. 

As an introductory activity to text structure, my students used a foldable from Lovin Lit, which is pictured below.  This foldable is AMAZING...and is  currently on sale for $1.00 on TPT.  Great deal if you ask me!!  We used the text structure posters included in the TPT purchase to review the 5 types, and then cut, sorted and pasted our foldables into our notebooks.  Check out the pics below!



I love that these foldables name the 5 different text structure types, provide a kid-friendly definition AND a text map of each type.  The text map is perhaps my favorite part, because after we finish reading a story the students and I refer back to this foldable and discuss what text type was featured.  When we come to a consensus....we know which map we can use to better understand the text.  LOVE IT!

Again--I wish I could claim this foldable as my own---but Lovin' Lit made it...so click the pictures above to go to her TPT site.  Thanks Lovin' Lit!!

Katie

May 1, 2013

Website Wednesday

Happy Wednesday everyone!  :)  On this fabulous day I am sharing multiple websites....which is exciting, right?!?! Throughout this year I have been on a never-ending and exhaustive hunt for informational text.  We all know Common Core demands more informational text be placed in the hands of our kiddos....which will be a struggle at our school.  In all honesty, we really don't have a ton of non-fiction text. For so long our school district has read novels, short stories or literature......but not anymore!!  Check out the graphic below for an idea of how text should be balanced.
Once I knew what was expected.....the hunt for informational text began (and still continues)!!!  I must admit one of the instructional coaches in our district compiled this list of websites....but I had to share with my fellow bloggies because the list was so great!



Happy reading!
Katie