The following literacy strategies, which have been implemented by Davidson County Schools, are integrated into the Reeds Elementary School media curriculum, along with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.

 

  • INTERACTIVE JOURNAL

Silent journal conversations within a small group.  Ends with reflective thought.

  • ALPHABOX

Add words and phrases to the alphabox about a topic.  Use in retells and in writing.

  • I WONDER
    Students verbalize their own wonderings throughout the story. (Before,     during, and after the reading) "I wonder..." 

  • WEAVE A WEB

Toss a ball of yarn  to students in a circle to create a web.  Each student states a fact, summarizes with a key word, or retells a sequence of events.


  • FIX-UP STRATEGIES

Students use comprehension and decoding skills as they read a variety of texts.  Examples: picture clues, skip word, find a chunk, get mouth ready, reread, ask a question, or make a connection.


  • TEST- STYLE QUESTIONS

Students create own test questions and  answers related to the reading.  Helps students understand the genre of testing and the nature of questions that are designed to measure understanding.


  • TWO-WORD STRATEGY

Read a selection.  Jot two words from your reflective thinking and discuss why you chose these two words. 

 

  • LITERARY EQUATION

Cinderella + Stepmother = a stressed out cleaning lady
Read selection.  Think about literary events.  Write an equation to synthesize story.

  
  • INFORMATION EQUATION

Fly + Web = Spider's Dinner
Read selection.  Think about informational facts.  Write an equation using key words.


  • CODING STRATEGY
* I already knew this 

!   Wow! Interesting

+ New Information

??   I don't understand. I have questions.

Use codes written on slim sticky notes to mark places in text.  Share text you coded with a partner and explain.

  • THE IMPORTANT BOOK
Focus on an important idea in a topic sentence, add details, and then restate main idea.  The important thing about today was ____. 

 

  • I REMEMBER

Pause frequently for partner talk.  Mini-retells should occur frequently through the text. 

  • SAY SOMETHING

Connect, extend, think…Have a reaction!  What would you say if I told you______?  (turn to partner and "say something")  Ask why.

  • SKETCH TO STRETCH

Visualize and draw.  Pause frequently to sketch and extend thinking.  Interpret and understand.

  • KEY WORD

Select a small number of key words to jot on stickies.  Use them to summarize.  Answer questions.

  • VERY IMPORTANT POINTS (VIP)

Slim strips of stickies to mark VERY important ideas.

  • READ COVER REMEMBER RETELL

Use your hand to cover portions of text, retell then continue.