| These days, teaching reading is the job of ALL | | | | Here is an example of how to use purpose setting in |
| teachers regardless of the subject area or grade | | | | content area reading... |
| level. The fact is if you want your students to do | | | | 1. Pick a reading passage for the content you want |
| well they MUST be able to comprehend the material | | | | to cover. It can be from the textbook, a novel, a |
| they are reading...whether it is in science class, social | | | | primary source etc. |
| studies, or even math. Teaching reading is no longer | | | | 2. Place students in groups of 4 or 5 and assign each |
| just the job of the language arts teacher. | | | | student a different role depending on the content. |
| However, if you really want to improve reading | | | | For example, a reading passage on the Civil War can |
| comprehension you're going to need a couple of | | | | include roles such as a Union soldier, Confederate |
| "tricks" up your sleeve. | | | | soldier, a mother, father, daughter, slave, plantation |
| One "trick" teachers can use to improve reading | | | | owner, politician etc. |
| comprehension is by using a strategy know as | | | | 3. Make sure students do not tell each other their |
| purpose setting. | | | | role. |
| Purpose setting is just as it sounds...the teacher helps | | | | 4. Read the passage aloud to your students or have |
| the students set a purpose for the reading. Setting a | | | | them read silently to themselves. |
| purpose for reading impacts what students will | | | | 5. During the reading have students write a list of |
| remember and positively effects comprehension. | | | | important points based on their role. |
| One way teachers can improve reading | | | | 6. Finally, have students share their lists and try to |
| comprehension through purpose setting is by giving | | | | guess each other's role. |
| students different roles/perspectives before reading | | | | Watch and see how much the students retain from |
| and then have them write down important points | | | | the reading. Once you do, it is easy to see how |
| from the reading based on those roles. | | | | purpose setting can greatly improve reading |
| It's fun to see the different bits of information the | | | | comprehension. |
| students pick up on based on their role. | | | | |