Hard Textbook Language
Mr. B's concern:
Textbooks seem really difficult for students...
"I find the social studies textbooks to be really difficult for my students. We read aloud as a whole group, but mostly I do all the reading and the students follow along. They seem lost when I try to engage them in activities that depend on using the text."
Why is this happening?
Social studies textbooks are known to be conceptually dense and use complex language, often at a reading level higher than middle school grades. Avoiding the text is not an option because if teachers always use videos or lectures, students do not develop essential disciplinary literacy skills. Studies show that with appropriate supports and guidance, middle school students and ELs can engage with text and develop content knowledge.
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Addressing Mr. B's concern:
How might teachers workshop this dilemma?
Mr. B describes the scenario in more detail to his colleagues:
- Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.
- Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
- Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Ideas offered by colleagues:
Lorem 1
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Lorem 2
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Lorem 3
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Which teacher move would you try?
A Coach's Comments:
Teachers can prepare students for reading by
foregrounding content, introducing the topic, pre-teaching key vocabulary terms, and posing a
central question(or questions) that will be addressed in a unit or lesson. Conduct the initial reading of a passage as a whole-class activity, breaking it into chunks and helping students to unpack complex ideas. Following the initial reading, select an excerpt of the text for a paired reading activity. In the
paired reading activity, partners take turns reading, provide peer support, engage with vocabulary words, discuss content, and find text evidence to support ideas or arguments. After the reading, the pairs complete an activity that involves discussion and a written response.
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