Analyze that Text! Reading Comprehension and Writing- Elementary/Middle School

Welcome to my reading and writing class! In this class, we will be learning about a topic called "close reading" or also called "text analysis" or "text dependent analysis". Sound like words you may have heard in school? I'm here to help you understand, practice, and master these topics!

Close reading is where we read a passage with a purpose. We will have a set writing prompt to answer after reading each passage, and as we read, we will be doing so with that writing prompt in mind. We'll read the story, then use the story to help us write our essay! Text dependent analysis, or text analysis, happens both during and after reading. When we're done reading the passage, we will answer an essay question about the passage, using the information we read to help us. We'll also include pieces of "evidence" from the story in our essay in the form of quotes from the text. Think about a detective! When a detective solves a crime, they need evidence right? We'll need evidence to support our thinking when we answer our essay questions! 

In this class, we will walk through the steps of reading the passage, then answering the writing prompt in the form of an essay with a short introduction paragraph, 1-2 body paragraphs, and a short conclusion paragraph. We will work as a group to start, and then move towards independent essays. This class is structured as a small group lesson, one per week, for 12 weeks. As an ongoing class, learners may join at any time, and content will repeat every 12 weeks.

WEEK 1: Introduction to the class, begin first passage and whole group writing prompt #1
WEEK 2: Continue/finish whole group writing prompt #1
WEEK 3: Finish whole group writing prompt #1/Begin whole group writing prompt #2
WEEK 4: Continue/finish whole group writing prompt #2
WEEK 5: Finish whole group writing prompt #2

WEEK 6: Begin independent practice prompt #1
WEEK 7:  Continue independent practice prompt #1
WEEK 8: Finish independent practice prompt #1

WEEK 9: Begin independent practice prompt #2
WEEK 10: Continue independent practice prompt #2
WEEK 11: Finish independent practice prompt #2

WEEK 12: Wrap up- whole group practice prompt if time allows or independent practice prompt #3- dependent on student needs!

I truly believe that every student can learn. In my years as a special education teacher, I have assisted many struggling writers. My style is enthusiastic and uplifting. I feel strongly about the importance of positive reinforcement and verbal praise in sessions. I will keep your learner engaged with fun ways to grasp concepts and interact with material. I teach using both verbal and visual models and aids.

This small group class will have constant interaction between learners and myself. Each class will have a similar format structured around text analysis. While we answer essay questions using Google Docs, we will also work on improving vocabulary, grammar, and spelling in our writing. Learners will walk through revising and editing essays to produce a final response. We will be using Google Slides. 

For this on-going class, students should have some basic knowledge of writing complete sentences and answering a writing prompt. However, we will work through all steps from beginning to end.