High Benchmark Reading
Instruction
Regional Coaches’ Meeting
Oregon Reading First
February 19 & 21, 2008
Objectives
1. Recommended criteria for identification of
“high” benchmark students.
2. Identifying appropriate Core program
activities.
3. Identifying appropriate Enrichment
activities.
High benchmark students will benefit from
systematic grade level Core instruction (particularly
explicit vocabulary and comprehension instruction)
in addition to coordinated and well-planned
enrichment reading activities.
Do not remove your
students from the gradelevel core program!!
Recommended Criteria for
Identification of “High”
Benchmark Students
The High Benchmark Student has achieved the following
data goals:
•
met the end-of-year DIBELS benchmark goal for their
grade level.
•
passed grade-level sections of a Phonics Screener.
•
passed all previous Unit/Theme Skills Assessments.
•
consistent high performance throughout their years in
school.
You may also want to consider:
•
parent input supporting a “high” benchmark status.
•
appropriate classroom behavior skills.
Core Program Activities
**High benchmark students will benefit from systematic
grade level Core instruction in these areas.
1. Structural Analyses Lessons and Practice
2. Vocabulary
3. Comprehension (select higher level questions -more convergent, divergent and evaluative
questions)
4. More written responses to anthology comprehension
activities (comprehension questions, summarizing,
graphic organizers and extending story or theme)
Teach students how to use complete
sentences to write responses to
comprehension questions!
• Model how to write written responses, and then EXPECT
them to begin their written responses the way you have
modeled.
– On the overhead, model circling and labeling the “who” and the
“what” in the question and then writing the “who” and the “what” in
the starter for the answer.
– Have the students circle and label the “who” and the “what” in the
work book questions as a guided practice, then copy your starter
and finish the answer themselves.
– Gradually but as soon as possible, hand off this procedure to the
students until they can do it themselves.
Model Written Responses
Why do things in the firehouse
need to be kept in perfect working order?
Things in the firehouse need to be kept in
perfect working order because...
Which moral is most helpful to you? Why?
(Choose a moral) is most helpful to me because...
Teach students how to use complete sentences
to write responses to comprehension
questions!
• Expect all written answers to be “7 UP”. Use at least seven words in
the sentence, begin the sentence with a capital, and end with proper
punctuation. This is just an easy way to remind them that they need
at least 7 words in their answer. This pushes them to use complete
sentences, phrases, adjectives and adverbs.
Teach students how to use complete
sentences to write responses to
comprehension questions!
• Grade the written responses using a point system for both correct
writing and the correctness of the comprehension answer:
Examples:
“Who” and “what”
= 1 point
7 UP sentence
= 1 point
Correct answer
= 1 point
TOTAL 3 points
OR
Correct answer
= 1 point
Added details to the answer
= 1 point
7 UP sentence
= 1 point
Correct spelling
= 1 point
TOTAL 4 points
Teaching Summarization by
Paragraph Shrinking (Fuchs, et al.)
A. Name the who or what the paragraph is about
in a brief phrase.
B. Identify two or three important details about the
topic.
C. “Shrink” the paragraph by stating the main idea
in 10-15 words or less.
Teaching Summarization by
Paragraph Shrinking (Fuchs, et al.)
Who or What? =
______________________________
Important Details:
1. _______________________________________
2. _______________________________________
3. _______________________________________
15 Word (or Less) Summary:
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Use a Story Frame and Then
Translate into a Summary
• The main character in this story is
_______________________.
• The problem in the story is
____________________________________________.
• This is a problem because
____________________________________________.
• The problem is solved when
____________________________________________.
Writing a Summary for
Expository Text
• List -- Make a list of important details.
• Cross-Out -- Cross out any unnecessary or
weak details.
• Connect -- Connect ideas that could go in one
sentence.
• Number -- Number the details in the order that
they will appear in the paragraph.
Group Discussion!!
1. Which of these strategies or approaches will I
share with teachers in my building?
2. What teachers will I share them with?
3. When or How will I share these strategies?
4. What are possible roadblocks and steps
I need to take to make it happen (i.e.
materials, scheduling, etc.)?
Graphic Organizers
High Benchmark students should be introduced to graphic
organizers to support application of comprehension skills
and strategies.
Teachers should provide models and guided practice
opportunities.
Students can use graphic organizers to extend the Core
comprehension skills and strategies to enrichment texts.
Limit the number of graphic organizers that you use!
Here are some examples...
Enrichment and Extension
• Use Core program extension materials (i.e., Houghton
Mifflin’s Challenge Handbook, Above-Leveled Readers,
etc.)
• Select additional reading materials that support the
theme or story from the Core program for that week (i.e.,
if it is a “weather” theme, select appropriate books
relating to weather)
• Select Non-Fiction books to match Fiction topic of
anthology story.
• Use below-level readers from a grade
above that support the comprehension
strategy instruction for the week.
Third Grade Houghton Mifflin
Challenge Book Example
Dogzilla Remembers
Dogzilla had quite a time during her visit to Mousopolis. Now she’s
back in the volcano. Imagine what it would be like to get a letter
from her about her adventure. Here are some things she might tell
you about:
*What did she think when she smelled the barbecue?
*What was it like to visit Mousopolis?
*What does she think of the mice?
*What did she think of the bath?
Write a letter to yourself from Dogzilla. Make sure the letter tells
Dogzilla’s side of the story. You will share your letter with the class.
Scoring:
Paragraph indenting
= 1 point
Paragraph makes sense
= 1 point
Capitals and punctuation
= 1 point
Student Sample: Dogzilla Letter
Third Grade High Benchmark Extension Example from the Houghton Mifflin Challenge Handbook
(Mooberry Elementary, Hillsboro, Oregon)
Grade K and beginning of Grade 1 High Benchmark Plan Example
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Whole
Group
Join Whole Group
for new sounds
practice, word
reading,
comprehension
and vocabulary.
Join Whole Group
for new sounds
practice, word
reading,
comprehension and
vocabulary.
Join Whole Group
for new sounds
practice, word
reading,
comprehension and
vocabulary.
Join Whole Group
for new sounds
practice, word
reading,
comprehension and
vocabulary.
Join Whole Group
for new sounds
practice, word
reading,
comprehension and
vocabulary.
Small Group
and
Independent
Read a book that
follows the
“theme” from the
core program
(could be a belowlevel reader from
the grade above).
Read a book that
follows the “theme”
from the core
program (could be
a below-level
reader from the
grade above).
Complete an
Enrichment
Activity
Read a book that
follows the “theme”
from the core
program (could be
a below-level
reader from the
grade above).
Complete
Graphic
Organizer or
Write a Summary
to support this
week’s
comprehension
strategy/skill
practice using
above book
extension.
Complete Graphic
Organizer or Write
a Summary to
support this week’s
comprehension
strategy/skill
practice using
above book
extension.
Complete an
Enrichment
Activity:
Make sure the
students complete
the Unit/Theme
Skills or the
“Integrated Theme
Skills” assessment at
the end of every
theme -- this should
be completed as a
test!
Students can
read a novel
of their
choice
independently
if they have
all of their
work
completed.
Have them
write a
chapter
summary
after each
chapter in
their spiral
notebook.
Complete Graphic
Organizer or Write
a Summary to
support this week’s
comprehension
strategy/skill
practice using
above book
extension.
Grades 1, 2 and 3 High Benchmark Plan Example
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Whole
Group
Join Whole Group
for multisyllabic
word reading,
comprehension
and vocabulary.
Join Whole Group
for multisyllabic
word reading,
comprehension and
vocabulary.
Join Whole Group
for multisyllabic
word reading,
comprehension and
vocabulary.
Join Whole Group
for multisyllabic
word reading,
comprehension and
vocabulary.
Join Whole Group
for multisyllabic
word reading,
comprehension and
vocabulary.
Small Group
and
Independent
Vocabulary (from
lesson map:
commotion,
released, tire,
pantry, cozy and
hobbled): Fill out
word diagram
using attached
sheet.
Read Anthology
Story: Mrs.
Brown Went to
Town
Answer four
questions about
the story (use the
attached page).
Vocabulary
Practice: Make up
a novel sentence for
each of the
vocabulary words.
Re-read the
Anthology Story:
Mrs. Brown Went to
Town
Think About the
Selection: page 108
-- have the students
write answers to
each of the questions
in their spiral
notebook.
Practice Book
Pages: Predicting
Outcomes, pages 47
and 48
Complete activities
listed on Reading
Response Cards:
Card 9 and Card 10
(write responses in
spiral notebook -- be
ready to share in
group!).
Selection Test:
Have each student
complete the
selection test.
Read AboveLeveled Reader
that goes with this
week.
Complete
Challenge Activity:
My Day at the Farm
(Master CH 1-6).
Make sure to set up a
scoring guide so that
students know
expectations!
Students can
read a novel
of their
choice
independently
if they have
all of their
work
completed.
Have them
write a
chapter
summary
after each
chapter in
their spiral
notebook.
Complete
Vocabulary and
Comprehension
sections that go
with the Leveled
Reader.
Make sure the
students complete
the Unit/Theme
Skills or the
“Integrated Theme
Skills” assessment at
the end of every
theme -- this should
be completed as a
test!
Discussion and Questions??