Readability vs Reading Ability Carolyn Garner

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ReadabilityvsReading AbilityCarolyn Garner
Funded through the U.S. Department of Education
Technology Innovation Challenge Grant Program
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Agenda

• Understand
• Readability

Become Aware of Strategies for Increasing
Reading Ability
Explore Resources for Reading Strategy
Implementation
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What is Readability?
Merriam Webster able to be read easily
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Science Voyage (Glenco), Grade 6 Chapter 9
Resources
Do you know that you use resources 24 hours a
day? Even when you are asleep, resources are used
to light streetlights and heat your home.
Resources also were used to make your pajamas,
your sheets, and the bed you sleep in. Where do
these resources come from? Look no farther than
the nearest farm or forest for the resources that
provide you with countless products. Where do we
get the resources to meet our energy needs? Coal,
oil, and natural gas provide much of our energy,
but we also harness energy from wind, water, and
the sun. In fact, the greatest source of energy
on Earth is the sun.
Flesch-Kincaid 5.9
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Does your day start like this? You wake up to the
BEEP-BEEP of the alarm clock. You switch on the
light and stumble toward the bathroom. You take a
hot shower, then head back to your bedroom to
dress. You flip on the radio to hear the weather
report so you know what to wear. Your day has
hardly begun and already youve used electricity
at least four times. Have you ever wondered where
your electricity comes from?
Flesch-Kincaid 4.3
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In the United States, electrical power plants are
the main sources of energy for homes and
factories. Energy is the ability to change
things, such as the temperature, speed, or
direction of an object. When energy is used to
change things, energy itself often changes from
one form to another. Wood, for instance, contains
chemical energy. As wood is burned, its chemical
energy is changed into heat and light energy.
Most power plants produce electricity by burning
fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are energy resources
formed from the decaying remains of ancient
plants and animals. Coal, oil, and natural gas
are examples of fossil fuels. Lets take a closer
look at how these important energy resources are
formed.
Flesch-Kincaid 8.9
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The entire section of Resources has 13 passages.

Readability
Below 4.3 5.9 5.9
On 6.4
Above 7.0 9.3 7.4 9.9 8.1 10.7 8.1 11.5
8.9
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The best solution for air pollution is
prevention. Reducing the number of pollutants
released into the air is easier to do than
cleaning up the pollutants already in the air. As
shown in Figure 9-3, new cars are made today that
release fewer harmful gases and use less fuel
than older models. Governments around the world
also are working together to find ways to reduce
the amount of air pollutants that are released
into the atmosphere by factories. Flesch-Kincaid
10.7
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The best solution for air _____ is prevention.
_____ the number of _____ released into the air
is easier to do than cleaning up the _____
already in the air. New cars are made today that
_____ fewer _____ gases and use less fuel than
older models. _____ around the world are working
_____ to find ways to _____ the amount of air
_____ that are _____ into the _____ by _____.
Flesch-Kincaid 5.9
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All too frequently, students are left to their
own devices to figure out what the text means.
Surely, if they read it again, they will
understand. Right?
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Traditional Content Area Reading Pearson and
Gallagher, U of Illinois

• 65 - round robin with low level questions
  interspersed

• 10 - students read on their own, teacher gives
  a dialogue focused on what the teacher views as
  important

• 10 - students read on their own, then the
  teacher paraphrases

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Differentiate Instruction

• Use varied reading strategies in the classroom
  enhances comprehension.

Develop Metacognition

• Teach reading strategies to students assists them
  in becoming independent readers.

Learn to read
leads to
read to learn.
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For maximum benefit, reading strategies must be
implemented

• Before reading

• During reading

• After reading

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Benefits of Before Reading Strategies

• Activate prior knowledge
• Give purpose
• Teach vocabulary, phonics, and phonemic awareness

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Benefits of During Reading Strategies

• Review vocabulary
• Bridge between word recognition and
  comprehension (fluency)
• Teach comprehension skills
• Develop higher order thinking skills

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Benefits of After Reading Strategies

• Review vocabulary
• Check comprehension

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Are you thinking . . .
Reading strategies???? How can I learn more?
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Just Read Nowwww.justreadnow.com
This site offers teachers a variety of reading
strategies that include models and examples.
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Just Read Now
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Beacons Online Courseshttp//courses.beaconlearn
ingcenter.com/
Beacon offers online courses for professional
develop.

• Before reading strategies
• During reading strategies
• After reading strategies

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Beacon Online Courses
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Beacons Professional Development Workshops
Face-to-face 4 day workshop Mind Your
BusinessDifferentiate Reading
Instruction Contact Beacon Learning Center for
information on scheduling a workshop.
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Beacon Learning Center www.beaconlearningcenter.co
m
The mission of Beacon Learning Center is to
provide educators throughout the nation with
standards-based resources and professional
development, thus enabling them to identify,
design, and implement quality education.
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Funding Source

• 2000-2005
• Technology Innovation Challenge Grant
• U.S. Department of Education

• 1998-99
• Goals 2000

• 1997-2000
• Technology Literacy Challenge Fund

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Beacon Learning Centers Goal Improve Student
Achievement
Quality Curriculum Resources for Student
Teacher Use
Innovative Staff Development to Encourage Change
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Remember
Teaching students reading strategies helps to
bridge the gap between text readability and
students reading ability.
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Questions?
But first . . . Door prizes!
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ReadabilityvsReading Ability
Funded through the U.S. Department of Education
Technology Innovation Challenge Grant Program
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Additional Handouts and/or Copy of the PowerPoint
http//www.beaconlc.org/beaconstaff/presentations.
htm.