Notice & Note
Kylene Beers and Robert E Probst
21 min
7 Key Points
4.5 RateWhat's inside?
Explore practical strategies to enhance your reading comprehension skills, enabling you to delve deeper into any text and extract more meaning from it.
You'll learn
1. Spotting key moments in a story.2. Making notes that lead to deeper thoughts.3. Getting students to really dig into a text.4. Helping students find and explore themes.5. Making reading and analysis fun for students.6. Using reading to boost critical thinking.Key points
01Why is close reading important?
Ever found yourself lost in a maze of words, unable to decipher the true meaning of a text? You're not alone. This is where the concept of close reading comes into play, a strategy that can turn the tables and make you the master of any text, no matter how complex. Close reading is like being a detective. It's about diving deep into the text, scrutinizing every word, every sentence, and every paragraph. It's not just about understanding what the author is saying, but also why they're saying it, how they're saying it, and what it means in the larger context. Unlike skimming or speed reading, close reading is slow, deliberate, and thoughtful. It's about engaging with the text on a deeper level and uncovering layers of meaning that might not be immediately apparent. Now, why is close reading so important? Well, in today's information-saturated world, we're constantly bombarded with complex texts - from news articles and research papers to legal documents and literary works. Close reading equips us with the skills to navigate these texts, to understand them, and to critically analyze them. It fosters critical thinking and analytical skills, enabling us to not just consume information, but to question it, evaluate it, and make informed judgments about it. Let's take an example from "Notice & Note: Strategies for Close Reading". The authors present a poem and guide us through a close reading of it. They start by identifying significant details - words or phrases that seem important or that stand out. They then interpret the language and structure of the poem, looking at how the words are used and how the poem is organized. Finally, they make inferences, drawing conclusions based on the details and interpretations. The result? A deeper understanding of the poem, its themes, and its messages. Teaching close reading, as the authors of "Notice & Note" suggest, involves teaching these strategies - identifying significant details, interpreting language and structure, and making inferences. It's about giving students the tools to dissect a text, to question it, to engage with it, and to make sense of it. And when these strategies are applied in practice, they can transform students into confident and competent readers. The impact of close reading extends beyond the classroom. It's a skill that can be applied in all areas of life, from reading a contract or a medical report to understanding a political speech or a piece of art. It fosters a habit of questioning, of not taking things at face value, of thinking critically and analytically. And these are skills that are invaluable in today's complex and fast-paced world. So, why is close reading important? Because it empowers us. It gives us the skills to navigate complex texts, to understand them, to critically analyze them, and to make informed judgments about them. It transforms us from passive consumers of information into active and critical thinkers. And that, in a nutshell, is the power of close reading.
02Understanding the Six Signposts of Close Reading
Reading a book is like embarking on a journey. You traverse through the landscape of the story, meet characters, and experience events. But, just like on a real journey, you might miss out on the richness of the experience if you don't pay attention to the signposts along the way. These signposts in reading are subtle hints or moments in the text that can guide us to a deeper understanding of the story. Let's take a closer look at these signposts, as outlined in "Notice & Note: Strategies for Close Reading" by Kylene Beers and Robert E Probst. First up, we have Contrasts and Contradictions. This signpost pops up when a character acts in a way that's contrary to our expectations or their usual behavior. For instance, in Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird", the character of Atticus Finch, a white lawyer, defending a black man in a racially charged trial is a stark contrast and contradiction to the societal norms of the time. This signpost nudges us to question why the character is acting this way, leading us to a deeper understanding of the character and the story. Next, we have Aha Moments. These are moments of sudden realization or understanding for a character. An example can be found in Lois Lowry's "The Giver", when Jonas realizes the true nature of the "release" procedure in his society. These moments are crucial as they often lead to a change in the character's actions or beliefs. The third signpost is Tough Questions. These are questions that characters ask themselves when they're grappling with a difficult decision or situation. In Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games", Katniss Everdeen often asks herself tough questions about survival, morality, and love. These questions can give us insight into the character's internal struggles and dilemmas. The fourth signpost is Words of the Wiser. This is when an older or wiser character offers advice or insight to the main character. In J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series, Dumbledore often provides Harry with words of wisdom. These moments can reveal important life lessons and themes in the story. The fifth signpost is Again and Again. This refers to words, phrases, or situations that keep popping up in the story. In Markus Zusak's "The Book Thief", the phrase "I am haunted by humans" appears repeatedly, emphasizing the narrator Death's fascination and horror at human behavior. These repetitions can signal a significant theme or idea in the story. The final signpost is Memory Moment. This is when the narrative is interrupted by a memory or flashback. In Kathryn Stockett's "The Help", Aibileen often recalls memories of her deceased son, which reveal her motivations and deepen our understanding of her character. Recognizing these signposts can greatly enhance our understanding and interpretation of a text. They help us connect with the characters and the story on a deeper level, making our reading journey more enriching and insightful. So, the next time you embark on a reading journey, keep an eye out for these six signposts. They'll guide you to a richer and more insightful reading experience.
Continue reading with LeapAhead app
Full summary is waiting for you in the app
03How to Teach Signposts to Students: A Practical Guide
04Understanding Signposts in Nonfiction Texts
05Assessing Students' Close Reading Skills: Strategies and Tools
06"Promoting Close Reading in the Classroom: A Guide for Teachers"
07Conclusion
About Kylene Beers and Robert E Probst
Kylene Beers is an American educator and author, known for her work in literacy. Robert E. Probst is an author and professor emeritus of English Education at Georgia State University. Both are renowned for their contributions to literacy education and strategies for close reading.