Computer and projector, Mobile devices for students
Activity Description
Source: Readworks (License: Protected by Copyright (c) [i.e. screenshot])
In this activity, students are assigned a reading passage and shown the different tools they can use during the reading. They are then introduced to a Question Set and asked to complete the activity. When the students finish the activity, it is projected so they can see the article and as a class, responses are reviewed.
Readworks is a free, non-profit site focused on improving teacher effectiveness and student achievement in reading comprehension by providing free standards-aligned content, curriculum, and tools based on the highest quality cognitive scientific research on how to learn to read.
Preparation
1.Sign up for a ReadWorks teacher’s account
2.Create a class and enroll students.
3.Select a passage
4.Create your own student account so you can experience ReadWorks as a student. This will also give you a student account to display when showing students.
Teacher Tips
Start with highly engaging topics
Model annotation and rereading
Encourage collaborative discussion
Allow extra support during the first uses of the platform
Use ELL supports when appropriate
More Ways
There are so many options to choose from the ReadWorks curriculum. If you are teaching ESL, be sure to take a look at the ELL Collection. ABE teachers will want to take a look at the Article-A-Day selections and ASE teachers the Paired Text; although, all text options are appropriate for all levels.
Program Areas
ABE: Adult Basic Education
ASE: High School Equivalency Preparation
Levels
All Levels
View Lesson Plan
Warm-up
Engagement
Activity: Activating Prior Knowledge
Think–Pair–Share
The teacher introduces the topic of the selected passage.
Students discuss:
What do you already know about this topic?
Why might this topic be important?
Have you experienced something related to this topic?
Prediction Activity
Students predict:
What the article will discuss
What vocabulary may they encounter
The teacher records predictions on the board.
Introduction
Introduce ReadWorks:
A free nonprofit educational website
Provides standards-aligned reading passages
Includes comprehension questions and reading supports
Explain:
Students will read digitally
They will use tools to support understanding
Responses will be discussed collaboratively
Vocabulary Preview Word Meaning Passage A reading selection Comprehension Understanding what is read Evidence Information from the text that supports an answer Annotation Notes added while reading Response An answer to a question
Presentation
Teacher Demonstration
Teacher models:
Logging into ReadWorks
Opening the assigned passage
Using digital reading tools
Accessing the Question Set
Modeling Reading Strategies
Teacher demonstrates:
Highlighting key details
Identifying unfamiliar vocabulary
Rereading difficult sections
Using context clues
Finding evidence in the text
Interactive Teacher Modeling
The teacher reads a paragraph aloud and thinks aloud:
“This detail is important because…”
“I can infer that…”
“The author wants readers to understand…”
Practice
Engagement
Independent Reading Activity
Students:
Read the assigned passage
Use ReadWorks tools during reading
Complete the Question Set
Collaborative Discussion Students work with partners to:
Compare answers
Explain evidence
Discuss difficult vocabulary
Co-Use Strategy
Students must explain:
Why did they select an answer
Which sentence in the article supports their thinking
Teacher Support
Teacher circulates to:
Assist struggling readers
Clarify directions
Support vocabulary development
Encourage use of text evidence
Evaluation
Whole-Class Review
The teacher projects the article and questions.
As a class:
Review answers
Discuss evidence from the text
Analyze writing responses
The teacher addresses misconceptions and models strong evidence-based answers.
Application
Extension
Reflection Activity
Students respond verbally or in writing:
Which reading strategy helped you most?
What was challenging?
How can these reading skills help in everyday life?
Sentence Frames
“One strategy that helped me was…”
“I understood the article because…”
View Subjects
Language Arts - Reading
Analysis
Comprehension
Inference and Interpretation
Synthesis and Generalization
Reading
Consumer Skills
Critical Thinking/Decision Making
Employability
Government
Health
Learning to Learn
Vocabulary
Reasoning Through Language Arts
Literary Texts (Fiction, Poetry, Drama)
Nonfiction Texts
View Standards
Writing
CCR Anchor 2 - Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
Speaking and Listening
CCR Anchor 1 - Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
CCR Anchor 2 - Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
CCR Anchor 3 - Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric.
CCR Anchor 4 - Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
CCR Anchor 5 - Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding of presentations.
CCR Anchor 6 - Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and communicative tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.
Language
CCR Anchor 6 - Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when encountering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.
View Tags
reading, language arts, read, Readworks, article a day, differenciated reading
View Creative Commons License
CC BY-SA:This license allows reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, so long as attribution is given to the creator. The license allows for commercial use. If you remix, adapt, or build upon the material, you must license the modified material under identical terms.
View Conditions
https://www.readworks.org/terms
View AI Reference
AI was used to rewrite this activity in the WIPPEA format
