I have created a selection of texts at Level 2 for the Partner Reading/Paragraph Shrinking activity.
Each text will come with a PDF with the reading passage on one side and the summary, vocabulary, and comprehension questions on the back. The students would only get the passage, not the rest of the information.
It will also come with a graphic organiser and an audio file to differentiate the activity. I am sending home a copy of the text in their home reading books. Some of the files have QR codes that can be printed and sent home to those students who need the audio files.
The same text is used over two days and is also used for writing.
On day one, the students are introduced to the vocabulary, discuss in pairs what the words mean, and put them into a sentence.
Each student has a copy of the text, which is read aloud in unison. Usually, the teacher reads a sentence which is repeated. This helps build fluency, self-confidence, and motivation, allowing all students to succeed.
The students then have a copy of each graphic organizer with the vocabulary words already written down. They brainstorm new vocabulary words they want to use in their writing and write them down carefully on the word wall provided on the graphic organizer. They then use the organiser to plan what they want to write in each sentence.
Finally, they copy a sentence written on the board that relates to the text. I use one of the main ideas. With my students, the emphasis is on always having a capital letter at the beginning and a full stop at the end. Other skills can be emphasised, such as each sentence having a naming part (subject) and a telling/doing part (predicate).
On day two, the vocabulary is reviewed, and then the students partner-read and discuss the main idea for each paragraph. There are a maximum of three main ideas. At writing time, they use their graphic organiser and write about the topic or story.
The text files were made using Diffit AI. The sound files were made with Speechify Studio Pro.