For my mini lessons, I will focus on using technology to help my special ed. students with their understanding of the importance of good reading fluency and comprehension as well as improve their fluency and comprehension.
Essential Questions:
1) How can reading fluency impact comprehension, and what are some strategies I can use to improve my reading fluency?
2) What are some strategies I can use to help me better understand what I am reading?
3) How can technology help me with reading fluency and comprehension?
4) How can I use technology responsibly and ethically to guide my own learning and understanding and to share with others?
Common Core Standards:
5.RL.10 - Read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poetry at the high end of the grades 4-5 text complexity independently and proficiently
5.RIT.10 - Read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, at the high end of grades 4-5 text complexity independently and proficiently
5.RFIS.4 - Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension (a. Read grade level text with purpose and understanding)
AASL Standards for 21st Century Learners:
4.1.2 Read widely and fluently to make connections with self, the world, and previous reading
4.1.1 Read, view, and listen for pleasure and personal growth
3.4.1 Assess the processes by which learning was achieved in order to revise strategies and learn more effectively in the future
3.1.6 Use information and technology ethically and responsibly
3.1.4 Use technology and other information tools to organize and display knowledge and understanding in ways that others can view, use, and assess
2.2.4 Demonstrate personal productivity by completing products to express learning
1.1.4 Find, evaluate, and select appropriate sources to answer questions
1.1.6 Read, view, and listen for information presented in any format (e.g., textual, visual, media, digital) in order to make inferences and gather meaning
1.1.9 Collaborate with others to broaden and deepen understanding
1.2.2 Demonstrate confi dence and self- direction by making independent choices in the selection of resources and information
1.3.1 Respect copyright/ intellectual property rights of creators and producers
1.3.3 Follow ethical and legal guidelines in gathering and using information
1.4.1 Monitor own information-seeking processes for eff ectiveness and progress, and adapt as necessary
1.4.2 Use interaction with and feedback from teachers and peers to guide own inquiry process
8 Principles of Inquiry-Based Learning:
Authentic - Reading comprehension is a real life skill that students need outside the walls of the classroom for the rest of their lives. Their level of comprehension will impact their lives in many areas - pleasure reading, work related reading, personal/daily living (cooking, laws, etc…), and social interactions/relationships.
Deep Understanding - The use of technology, fluency and reading comprehension strategies, and teacher/peer and self-assessments will help students develop a better understanding of their level of comprehension - strengths/weakness and how to use resources to support and improve weaknesses. Students will be able to better direct their own learning for future questions/inquiry (both personal and required by school/work).
Performances of Understanding - Students will produce fluency examples for self analysis and to be analyzed by peers/teacher. Students will identify vocabulary/background information needs in order to better comprehend text and will seek needed information to support their understanding. Students will demonstrate their understanding of comprehension strategies by creating a website that includes tools/resources that will support the understanding of some type of reading text.
Assessment - Students will self assess and be assessed by the teacher for growth in reading fluency (performance) and use of strategies (application), growth in reading comprehension (performance) and use of strategies (application), and use of technology to support both fluency and comprehension (create a website and application of tools/resources).
Appropriate Use of Technology - The use of technology will engage students by motivating them. Students will be engaged with auditory, visual, and interactive resources. The use of technology will also enhance student learning and understanding. Students will be able to build their own background knowledge and vocabulary and fluency (needed for better comprehension/understanding) by effectively searching for videos, ebooks/text, and interactive sites (brain pop). The use of technology will extend student learning. Students will develop inquiry/research skills so that they will be able to independently search for and use technology to answer/solve questions/problems that they may have.
Connection with Experts - Students will work with the teacher and media specialists to gain a better understanding of how to use technology to support their search for information, reading fluency, and reading comprehension. Students will also connect with experts via resources on the Internet.
Student Success - Students will be given a pre-test (baseline) and post-test for fluency and comprehension. They will also take a pre and post survey about their understanding of fluency and comprehension strategies, copyright/ethical use of information, and researching skills. Success will be measured by individual student growth.
Ethical/Citizenship - Students will learn about copyright laws and using technology responsibly and ethically.
Essential Questions:
1) How can reading fluency impact comprehension, and what are some strategies I can use to improve my reading fluency?
2) What are some strategies I can use to help me better understand what I am reading?
3) How can technology help me with reading fluency and comprehension?
4) How can I use technology responsibly and ethically to guide my own learning and understanding and to share with others?
Common Core Standards:
5.RL.10 - Read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poetry at the high end of the grades 4-5 text complexity independently and proficiently
5.RIT.10 - Read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, at the high end of grades 4-5 text complexity independently and proficiently
5.RFIS.4 - Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension (a. Read grade level text with purpose and understanding)
AASL Standards for 21st Century Learners:
4.1.2 Read widely and fluently to make connections with self, the world, and previous reading
4.1.1 Read, view, and listen for pleasure and personal growth
3.4.1 Assess the processes by which learning was achieved in order to revise strategies and learn more effectively in the future
3.1.6 Use information and technology ethically and responsibly
3.1.4 Use technology and other information tools to organize and display knowledge and understanding in ways that others can view, use, and assess
2.2.4 Demonstrate personal productivity by completing products to express learning
1.1.4 Find, evaluate, and select appropriate sources to answer questions
1.1.6 Read, view, and listen for information presented in any format (e.g., textual, visual, media, digital) in order to make inferences and gather meaning
1.1.9 Collaborate with others to broaden and deepen understanding
1.2.2 Demonstrate confi dence and self- direction by making independent choices in the selection of resources and information
1.3.1 Respect copyright/ intellectual property rights of creators and producers
1.3.3 Follow ethical and legal guidelines in gathering and using information
1.4.1 Monitor own information-seeking processes for eff ectiveness and progress, and adapt as necessary
1.4.2 Use interaction with and feedback from teachers and peers to guide own inquiry process
8 Principles of Inquiry-Based Learning:
Authentic - Reading comprehension is a real life skill that students need outside the walls of the classroom for the rest of their lives. Their level of comprehension will impact their lives in many areas - pleasure reading, work related reading, personal/daily living (cooking, laws, etc…), and social interactions/relationships.
Deep Understanding - The use of technology, fluency and reading comprehension strategies, and teacher/peer and self-assessments will help students develop a better understanding of their level of comprehension - strengths/weakness and how to use resources to support and improve weaknesses. Students will be able to better direct their own learning for future questions/inquiry (both personal and required by school/work).
Performances of Understanding - Students will produce fluency examples for self analysis and to be analyzed by peers/teacher. Students will identify vocabulary/background information needs in order to better comprehend text and will seek needed information to support their understanding. Students will demonstrate their understanding of comprehension strategies by creating a website that includes tools/resources that will support the understanding of some type of reading text.
Assessment - Students will self assess and be assessed by the teacher for growth in reading fluency (performance) and use of strategies (application), growth in reading comprehension (performance) and use of strategies (application), and use of technology to support both fluency and comprehension (create a website and application of tools/resources).
Appropriate Use of Technology - The use of technology will engage students by motivating them. Students will be engaged with auditory, visual, and interactive resources. The use of technology will also enhance student learning and understanding. Students will be able to build their own background knowledge and vocabulary and fluency (needed for better comprehension/understanding) by effectively searching for videos, ebooks/text, and interactive sites (brain pop). The use of technology will extend student learning. Students will develop inquiry/research skills so that they will be able to independently search for and use technology to answer/solve questions/problems that they may have.
Connection with Experts - Students will work with the teacher and media specialists to gain a better understanding of how to use technology to support their search for information, reading fluency, and reading comprehension. Students will also connect with experts via resources on the Internet.
Student Success - Students will be given a pre-test (baseline) and post-test for fluency and comprehension. They will also take a pre and post survey about their understanding of fluency and comprehension strategies, copyright/ethical use of information, and researching skills. Success will be measured by individual student growth.
Ethical/Citizenship - Students will learn about copyright laws and using technology responsibly and ethically.