Module Six

Focal Areas

Reading in the Content Areas

While you may be familiar with reading in the content areas, the following refresher should be helpful. Content area reading refers to the specific skills and strategies students need to effectively read and comprehend textbooks, articles, and other materials in different academic subject areas, such as science, history, mathematics, and literature. The key aspects of content area reading include:

• Vocabulary Development: Learning the specialized vocabulary, technical terms, and domain-specific language used in each subject area. This helps students better understand the content.

• Text Structure and Organizational Patterns: Recognizing the unique structures and organizational patterns (e.g., cause-effect, compare-contrast, problem-solution) common in different types of informational texts.

• Comprehension Strategies: Employing active reading strategies like previewing, making connections, questioning, visualizing, summarizing, and identifying main ideas to better understand the content.

• Critical Thinking and Analysis: Developing the ability to critically evaluate the information, draw inferences, and apply the content to new situations.

• Study and Learning Techniques: Using effective study methods, note-taking, and learning strategies tailored to the demands of each subject area.

The goal of content area reading is to equip students with the necessary skills to navigate the unique challenges of academic texts in different disciplines, allowing them to learn the subject matter more effectively. By mastering these skills, students can become independent and strategic learners across the curriculum.

• View the Reading in the Content Prezi at https://prezi.com/l_wfbg0lvdhm/reading-in-the-content-area/ 

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Specific Content Fields for Reading & Technology Integration

• Reading in Math: Lots of ideas at http://davidwees.com/content/ways-use-technology-math-class/ 

• Reading in Social Studies: 

  • Reading Quest: Making Sense in Social Studies at http://www.readingquest.org/ 

• Various resources at http://www.4aplus.com/engaging-web-2-0-resources-for-social-studies 

• Reading in Science: https://www.naeyc.org/resources/blog/technology-support-science-learning and this Edutopia article

Tackling Vocabulary Issues in Content Reading w/Technology

Vocabulary, as stated in this article, lies at the heart of learning content. The article says that "teachers need to give their students time to read widely, intentionally select words worthy of instruction, model their own word solving strategies, and provide students with opportunities to engage in collaborative conversations" (Fisher & Frey, 2014, para. 1). Regardless of the grade level, students benefit from vocabulary instruction, especially instructin that makes use of technology. In "10 Ways to Use Technology to Build Vocabulary" the authors share various ideas for creating eVoc (electronic vocabulary) strategies. Check out other digital tools below. 

• Use the Web 2.0 tools below to aide in teaching vocabulary:

  • • WordItOut: https://worditout.com/word-cloud/create 

    • Tagxedo: http://www.tagxedo.com/ 

    • Lexipedia: http://www.lexipedia.com/ 

    • Snappy Words: http://www.snappywords.com/ 

    • Visit 24 of the Best Digital Tools to Build Vocabulary

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Viewing & Visually Representing via Digital Tools 

• What is critical viewing? See https://www.researchgate.net/publication/306080494_Critical_Viewing 

• How are Viewing and Visually Representing similar? Different? Visit the Viewing/Visually Representing Prezi 

• View the Prezi discussing the Viewing & Visually Representing strands 

• Need ideas for digital tools that can be used in the viewing strand? See Apps and Tools for the Literacy Curriculum Viewing Strand 

  • Question: Why do we need to teach kids about the Viewing and Visually Representing strands?

Digital tools for Viewing & Visually Representing

• Animoto at https://animoto.com 

  • • Animoto example: https://animoto.com/play/ThcCyUuiw6ep1FAUmPuM0w 

• Mindomo at https://www.mindomo.com 

  • • Mindomo example: https://www.mindomo.com/mindmap/f57b9bca9afc4bd8b44cf94ffa0e4cff

• Photofunia at https://photofunia.com 

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