Teachers College
Columbia University
Raising the Level of Close-Reading
Twitter: @MaryEhrenworth
mary@readingandwritingproject.com
www.readingandwritingproject.com
Raising the Level of Close Reading &
Argument

 Creating Shared Beliefs and Vision
 Honing Methods to Increase Agency and Transference
 Studying Text Complexity
 Deepening Engagement With Writing About Reading
 Working on Evidence-based Argument Across the
Curriculum
Common Core Close Reading

 Say back what the text says and suggests (standard
1)
 Determine central ideas, themes, morals, lessons
(standard 2)
 Connect parts of the text (standard 3)
Common Core Close Reading

 Analyze figurative language, symbolism, metaphor
(standard 4)
 Analyze structural choices (standard 5)
 Discern perspective and point of view (standard 6)
Common Core Close Reading

 Compare and contrast multiple versions or different
media (standard 7)
 Analyze overall argument (standard 8)
 Compare and contrast how texts develop similar
themes/ideas (standard 9)
Instructional Read Aloud

 ‘Interrupted reading’ (Donna Santman, Shades of
Meaning)
 Partner discussion (Lucy Calkins, The Art of Teaching
Reading)
 Prompting, practice, feedback, practice (John Hattie,
Visible Learning for Teachers)
 Deepening reading practices (Robert Scholes, Protocols of
Reading, Lehman & Roberts, Falling in Love With Close
Reading)