Read and Think Comprehension Pack – Distance Learning

Description

I created this resource to help my students monitor their reading comprehension. I wanted to create a way for them to respond to their books and texts in a way that is developmentally appropriate for beginning readers and writers. After teaching each read and think symbol through a class read-aloud and practicing during small-group sessions, my students now draw the symbols and jot down their thinking about the text during independent reading. The templates provided help to scaffold their understanding of when and how to stop and jot about what they are reading. This resource will help readers think, respond, and monitor their understanding while they read. If you have wanted your students to start responding to what they read on their own during independent, whole-group, or small-group reading but have not been sure where to start, this resource is for YOU!

How Do the Read and Think Symbols Work?

Each read and think symbol represents a comprehension focus for your readers. The posters provide visual reminders for students to stop and jot down their thoughts as they read their books. Students will respond to the books they read by:

•making predictions (I predict…)

•asking questions (I wonder…)

•noticing details in the illustrations or photographs (I notice…)

•identifying character feelings and emotions (___ feels…)

•thinking about the lesson of the story (The lesson is…)

•making connections to their own lives and other books they’ve read (This part makes me think…)

Each poster includes a simple symbol that students can draw in their reading notebooks, on sticky notes, or on the included response sheets to identify the type of thinking they will be jotting down and writing responses to. The posters also contain sentence stems to help students start their thoughts as they write (or draw). I recommend hanging these posters in your whole-class meeting area where you hold read-aloud lessons and by your small-group reading area.

How Do I Introduce Each Read and Think Comprehension Symbol?

In order to introduce each read and think symbol to my students, I modeled how to stop and jot during a read-aloud to the class. Before reading the book, I introduced the read and think poster and symbol and explained its purpose for our reading. After I model how to stop and jot a couple of times during the read-aloud, I invite my students to join me in practicing with each read and think symbol. You can use any book you would like as you introduce and teach each of the read and think posters. For your convenience, I have included a model lesson for each read and think symbol. I used the following books for my model lessons, but remember, you can use any read-aloud books you would like:

• I Predict: Elmer by David McKee
• I Wonder: Grandfather Twilight by Barbara Berger
• I Notice: This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
• __ Feels: Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel
• The Lesson Is: Aesop’s Fables
• Making Connections: Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts

What Is Included In This Resource?

• Read and Think ideas for use, benefits, and in-action photographs
• Read and Think posters (color and ink-friendly)
• Read and Think Model Introduction Lessons with Teacher Talk and Think-Alouds
• Read and Think bookmarks
• Read and Think response sheets – unlined, lined, and open-ended
• Read and Think sticky note printables – unlined, lined, and open-ended
• Directions for printing on sticky notes and a sticky note template
• Links to optional books that I used to introduce each Read and Think symbol

When Can I Use This Resource In My Classroom?

If your students participate in independent reading, small-group reading, whole-group read-aloud lessons, or partner reading, this resource is for you! Your students will learn how to read, stop, think, and jot as they respond to the books they read and dig deeper into their comprehension and understanding. It is ideal in a reading workshop structure, during guided reading groups, and during independent reading for conferring and conferences.

Who Can Use This Resource?

Any grade would benefit from this comprehension resource. For kindergarten, the unlined response sheets and sticky notes allow students to draw their thinking and understanding of the book. Older students can use the Read and Think symbols in reading notebooks, reading journals, and on blank sticky notes as they monitor their reading comprehension and understanding.

Why Should Students Respond To Text As They Read?

Stopping, thinking, and responding to text provides the following literacy benefits:

• Improved comprehension
• Increased self-monitoring skills during independent reading
• Promotes retention and collaborative discussion about the text
• Improved ability to check for understanding
• Boosts critical thinking skills
• Strengthens written response skills and reflection
• Helps students apply learned strategies to their reading lives

Can I See More Of This Resource Before Purchasing It?

I would love for you to check out all that this resource has to offer by downloading the FREE Preview File at the top of this page. Inside of the preview file, you’ll find real photographs, directions, explanations, examples, suggestions for use, pictures of the various templates that are included, and much more!

Thank you SO much for checking out this reading comprehension resource. I think you will find this resource to be invaluable to your growing readers. If you have any questions prior to purchasing, please feel free to send me a QA or email me at christina@missdecarbo.com

Christina DeCarbo-Wagers
Miss DeCarbo, Inc.
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All Rights Reserved