Activity Description
Title: Fiction - - Explicit Detail to Support Inferences
This ACTIVITY has a set of teaching-learning strategies proven to increase student mastery of these two critical Reading-Literary standards (and three skills): (a) use explicit detail to support inferences; (b) determine the theme of the poem, prose, or play - - including how characters respond in prose or drama, and how the speaker in a poem reflects on the topic; and (c) summarize the text, including the text details and theme. Both standards are always included on high-stakes tests! Students continue to use a simple Template to identify literary elements. Sample texts include prose, drama, and poetry. From Grade 4 on, the standards require students to draw viable inferences, supported by text details. In this activity, students learn to “Arrow In” - - placing an inference in the text margin, and drawing an arrow back to the text, circling the detail(s) that support(s) it. Additionally, they write how the main character responds and how the speaker of the poem reflects on the topic. [ At Grades K-5, each Activity attaches student-sized texts, templates, and test items to quickly print. ]
Enabling Skills: (1) identify the elements of a fiction text (topic, plot events, character(s), setting details, and challenging vocabulary); (2) make viable inferences; and (3) summarize (vs retell) a text.
Direct Instruction: Suggested teaching strategies are given that model for students what they need to do to begin their journey toward mastery. These strategies include independently using a Template to record text details; learning to make viable inferences from text detail - - and vice versa; and explaining how a character responds to the challenges faced (or a poet reflects on the topic of the verse. Several texts (prose, drama, and poetry) are provided for students to practice and construct meaning for themselves.
Quick-Writes: Standards-based writing prompts are provided that require students to document that they have internalized the core ideas of the standard(s) and can show independent mastery. These include “take-aways” from a text, analysis of character (and poet) response, and writing objective summaries.
High-Stakes Look-Alike Assessments: At Grades 3-8, the Activities include two tests - - one for practice - - followed by classroom analysis of errors made - - and the second test to determine mastery. The test items are constructed to look exactly like those items students will encounter on their High-Stakes Tests
CUSTOMER: Thanks for considering this Activity as part of your approach to your state’s ELA standards. If you have any comments as to how it worked - - or didn’t! - - we’d welcome them! See the contact information to send us feedback. - - the EdFOCUS Team
This teaching activity comes with one hour of online instruction and guidance from a trained EdFOCUS professional. You will be contacted shortly after purchase with more details.