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Close reading is a strategy for reading complex text . In Part 1 , the focus is how to do a close reading. The focus in Part 2 is how to annotate with iPads. The focal points of this post are the teacher steps in close reading; how to create text dependent questions for informational text in 6th-12th grades; annotating in Diigo; and creating writing activities to go with close reading. Click here to download as PDF Below are the teacher's steps for creating a close reading lesson. However, the student steps are in the poster shown on the right: Teacher Step 1 : Choose the text Choose a short and difficult text to do a close reading on. It should be at the frustration reading level . Some examples to choose from for informational text are short speeches (or excerpts from a speech); research; paragraphs or chapters from biographies, memoirs, or historical accounts to name a few. Teacher Step 2: Planning Plan and do what you expect your students to do. Decide ...

I had some great comments from my last post about student portfolios, Diigo, and blogs. This post is a continuation of that conversation. Traditional Portfolios When I think back to my beginning years in the classroom, I remember my student portfolios were in manilla file folders. Later, they became gorgeous construction paper books. On both accounts, they were linear, and you would view it from left to right, one page after another. Currently, the two sites that stand out in my mind to collect student work in a linear manner are LiveBinders and Google Sites . Those are great options, and I'm sure there are a plethora I haven't even considered. However, I am not always a linear thinker. I like having multiple options. Diigo Portfolios In Diigo , students could bookmark and collaborate regarding their resources, notes, etc. The teacher could view per assignment or per individual. Here's a little video made in Screenr that shows my thinking: Tips for Manage...

I've had several people ask me about how to start blogs and portfolios with their students next year, and what's the best approach. Purpose of Student Portfolio? Portfolios  are collections of student work/artifacts that represent the process and progress of their learning. Typically the stronger artifacts document reflection and feedback. Some of the artifacts in the portfolio are then selected to present to others, such as at a parent-teacher conference. Collecting, reflecting, and selecting to share with others is what makes portfolios extremely valuable. I like the visual that Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano created to show the three steps of curating a digital portfolio. Creative Commons: Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano/Langwitches What Could a Digital Portfolio Look Like? I appreciate Implementing ePortfolios? Questions to Consider , and have used it to funnel my thinking for what the digital portfolio could look like. I'm at a comfort level now where I don't ...