Reading Closely in K-2: Guidelines for Getting Started 1. Rely on high-quality picture books that you read aloud. 2. Teach an initial close reading lesson to build content knowledge. 3. Teach close reading follow-up lessons to build skills. 4. Assess close reading appropriately with formative assessments. 5. Teach close reading using units so students can make connections between texts. 6. Teach close reading using learning pathways that show students how to learn. Teaching and Assessing Students' Comprehension The Twelve Skills in Focus How the Assessments Are Embedded Across Books and Units How the Assessments Are Embedded in Weekly Instruction During Reading Success: It's in the Cards After Reading Success: Framing Students' Thinking How to Evaluate Students' Written Responses Rubric for Evaluating Reader Response Frames Standards: Putting the Assessment Tools to Work The Reproducibles: Active Reader Cards and Reader Response Frames Student-Friendly Forms for Teaching and Assessing the Standards The Units and Lessons Learning Pathway: How to Study a Character Trait Unit Focus: Why Is It Important to Show Kindness to Others? Fable to Begin the Unit: The Wind and the Sun Close Reading Lessons for Melissa Parkington's Beautiful, Beautiful Hair Close Reading Lessons for Mama Panya's Pancakes: A Village Tale From Kenya Close Reading Lessons for Each Kindness Close Reading Lessons for Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla Learning Pathway: How to Study an Animal Unit Focus: How Are Animals the Same? How Are Animals Different? Fable to Begin the Unit: The Hare and the Tortoise Close Reading Lessons for Panda Kindergarten Close Reading Lessons for Antarctic Antics: A Book of Penguin Poems Close Reading Lessons for Surprising Sharks Close Reading Lessons for Turtle, Turtle, Watch Out! Learning Pathway: How to Study a Person Unit Focus: How Can You Make a Difference-Even if You're a Kid? Fable to Begin the Unit: The Lion and the Mouse Close Reading Lessons for Blizzard Close Reading Lessons for The Wednesday Surprise Close Reading Lessons for Rosie Revere, Engineer Close Reading Lessons for The Story of Ruby Bridges Learning Pathway: How to Study a Place Unit Focus: What Is Special About This Place? Fable to Begin the Unit: The Lion and the Dolphin Close Reading Lessons for Antarctica Close Reading Lessons for Fernando's Gift Close Reading Lessons for Creatures of the Desert World Close Reading Lessons for America the Beautiful: Together We Stand Learning Pathway: How to Study a Theme Unit Focus: Why Is It Important to Make Good Choices? Fable to Begin the Unit: The Two Frogs Close Reading Lessons for Fireflies Close Reading Lessons for Those Shoes Close Reading Lessons for Maddi's Fridge Close Reading Lessons for The Empty Pot References
20 close reading, standards-based lessons and 80 follow-up comprehension skill lessons expertly scaffold young readers. The lessons include day-to-day how to's, formative assessment, and performance criteria.
A former classroom teacher and professor of reading, Nancy Boyles is a literacy consultant, who provides workshops, model lessons, and curriculum support to districts and organizations nationally, regionally, and locally. Over the course of her career she has received numerous awards , including New England Reading Association's Outstanding Literacy Leader Award and Connecticut Reading Association's Celebrate Literacy Award for exemplary service.