10 Ways to Get Students to Read (and Actually Think)
10 WAYS TO GET STUDENTS TO READ (AND ACTUALLY BIG I DEA: Simple, low-prep activities that turn reading into active learning. WRITE & QUIZ A PARTNER Get students to write one question per section of text after reading, and then have them use those questions to quiz a partner. STOP & SUMMARIZE Pause every few paragraphs so students can write a one-sentence summary. HIGHLIGHT WITH A PURPOSE After providing a guiding question, ask students to highlight all the evidence that helps to answer it. GO FISH Post a series of claims. While they're reading, students identify the corresponding evidence that would support each claim. (Bonus: Include a claim that doesn't have supporting evidence: Go Fish.) SPARK SOCIAL REACTIONS Have students annotate the reading using a thumbs up, heart, thumbs down, or question mark. Guiding questions:"What makes sense?" "What part did you really like or find interesting?" "What part did you dislike?" "What questions do you have?" LOOK INTO A CRYSTAL BALL Before reading, prompt students to make a prediction about the text based solely on the title and author. After they read, ask them if their prediction was accurate or not and have them explain why. FIND THE GIST After they read, get each student to write the most important idea in 5-10 words, and then call on a sample of students to share. CONNECT FOUR Tell students to find four pieces of evidence that connect to four things they've already learned. TURN HEADS Tip for students:Turn every header into a question and answer it after reading that section. TEST THAT CLAIM Model claim testing by highlighting where the author is using authority, evidence, logic, or intuition. Then, get students to try it. Go Deeper From reading routines to built-in supports, the OER Project Reading Guide has it all-it's like your teacher friend who's got the goods. Go ahead: Steal them as is or make them your own . • OER PROJECT