Reading Strategies RELOADED: 9 BOLD ideas to Innovate Reading in your Classroom

Below are 9 ideas for 3 different reading strategies to help innovate reading in your classrooms!

Strategy 1: Read Cover Retell Repeat

Strategy number one is a simple chant “Read, Cover, Retell, Repeat”.  It offers student collaboration and sharing of the text that is being studied.  However, could we make this more engaging for our students?  Could we add some more intrinsic motivating factors that would provide for deeper learning and comprehension of the text?  Here are 3 ideas that could take RCRR to the next level.

1. Read, Cover, RECORD, Repeat-

What if the student’s words were not simply lost in the translation of the partner’s conversation? What if the meaning of the article being studied wasn’t sloughed off like old skin, but the words were immortalized online for the student to refer back to? What if the teacher could review the student's thoughts as a formative assessment?

Using FlipGrid, students could record videos of their RETELLING into a single grid for the specific article. After their second read, students then record into the same or different grid providing two videos of their thoughts.

There are a few advantages to this.

 First, students can watch each other’s understanding of what is being read.  Student A is no longer limited to the half-asleep musings of Student Q simply because they lost the randomized seating chart lottery.  

Second, Teachers can use these videos to assess their students reading comprehension.  Instead of passively observing via proximity in a loud classroom of 26-32 students, the teacher can focus individually on students who he/she might be concerned about.  

Third (but not finally), responses can be shared with the entire class, giving students positive feedback and more motivation to give quality answers for the recognition.  Additionally, teachers could integrate peer reviews within FlipGrid using the “likes” function.

2. Read {Next}, Type {Next}, Read Again {Next}, Type Again-

Video can take longer in class, plus, student's typing abilities are always a digital skill that can be worked on.  Using a Google Form, articles and excerpts could be organized in such a way that the students read on the first screen and then click to the next screen to type out their “retell”.  This would then repeat itself on different pages.  Ultimately, the student has had two opportunities to type out their “retell” of the reading while still being able to participate in the exercise.  Responses can be sent to the students so they can review for future assessments.

3. Read, Record, Read, Record, Listen, Compare-

What if students used the voice recording function on their phones to have self-reflection?  They are able to read and cover their reading, record themselves twice followed by reflecting on the differences, or similarities of their understanding. Having a voice recording of their thoughts can help students take a deeper look at their reading comprehension. Using a mobile device with a built-in voice recorder, students will be able to create a record of their thoughts on the given title.

Strategy 2: Read Sketch Reread Resketch

1. Read, Sketch, ReRead, ReSketch, SHARE-

Who is the audience of the sketch being drawn? Will you as the teacher be the only one? What motivation does your student, in a like centered, social media-driven world have?  Giving students the opportunity to share their creations outside of your classroom is a skill that can have huge benefits in their learning. One option is if the teacher opened up their google classroom and had students take pictures of their sketches and post them for the class to comment on.  Another idea is to have a classroom Instagram account where kids can post their sketches to share with other classmates (and students beyond your school walls).  Finally, teachers could create a virtual bulletin board using Padlet to let students showcase their sketches beyond the classroom. The Padlet then grows into an excellent class study tool of student-created images.

2. Read, Sketchnote on a Chromebook, Re-Read, Finish the Sketch

This idea is very simply replacing the paper with the Chromebooks.  Depending on what is available in your classroom, you might have a touchscreen Chromebook.  Students can use programs like Google Keep to sketch on a mobile device or touch-based computer and share the image through Canvas or Google Classroom to present and Share what they have created.

3. Read, Google Draw, ReRead, Google Draw, Share!

One final option for this strategy is allowing students to create digital collages or posters using Google Drawing.  Allowing students to mix and match different online images to create one collage that shows understanding of the reading through deeper thinking.

Strategy #3: 3 Questions

The three questions we use are:

1. What surprises me?
2. What did the author think I already knew?
3. What challenged, changed or confirmed what I already knew?

With this option, my question is what happens to the answers that are being inspired by these questions?  Collaboration is key and students sharing with their partners is a skill that needs to be developed, but after the thought is shared, is it remembered?

1. FlipGrid your answers  

Students could take their answers to these questions and share their thoughts using FlipGrid.  This way, they can refer back to their though and dive deeper into their thoughts on an additional exercise.

2. Podcast

Students could use the voice recorder on their device (or school device) to create a short podcast recording of their answers.  They could create it to tell a story, be a news report, offer more detailed opinions, etc. (This also looks good for data collection of reading comprehension)

3. Author Chat

Students create a video or podcast and take on the persona of the author.  They answer the questions from a first-person perspective.  For example, “After reading my article, you should be surprised about x, y, and z.  Before reading my work you need to have a grasp on _________ and ___________ to truly experience the full impact of the event.”  Students can get creative with the author’s persona and answers, adding their own creative spin to what these answers could be.

Student Choice

Ultimately, the most effective way that these strategies can be utilized is through Student Choice.  Some might choose to draw, others record, others write.  Each of your students is a unique learner that has passions beyond your TEKS.  If we can tap into their passions and connect the students to the learning required in your classroom on a deeper level, greater mastery will be possible.