Literacy and Learning Strategies
The Maine Content Literacy Project (MCLP), a six-year federally-funded project at UMF led by Margaret Arbuckle, developed literacy-rich lessons and units in ELA, math, science, and social studies for grades 3-12.
On this page:
- Thinkquiry Toolkit 1 Literacy Strategies Aligned with Learner Outcomes
- Thinkquiry Toolkit 1 Literacy Strategies Lesson, Unit, and Video Examples
- Link to other Thinkquiry Toolkit 1 Strategies
- More Literacy and Learning Strategy Examples
- Close Analytic Reading Strategies Examples and Information
Thinkquiry Toolkit 1 Literacy Strategies Aligned with Learner Outcomes
Each Thinkquiry Toolkit 1 strategy is aligned with specific learning outcomes.
Thinkquiry Toolkit 1 Literacy Strategies
Templates of the strategies listed below, from Thinkquiry Toolkit 1: Strategies to Improve Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary Development Across the Content Areas (Meltzer & Jackson), can be downloaded from the Thinkquiry Toolkit site. Sign in or create a login account using the Toolkit’s ISBN number. These strategies and examples are especially helpful for teachers of grades 3-12 working to incorporate the Common Core Literacy Anchor Standards in social studies, science, ELA, and math.
Other Thinkquiry Toolkit 1 Strategy Templates
Use this link to download these additional Thinkquiry Toolkit 1 strategy templates from the Thinkquiry Toolkit I site.
- Discussion Web
- Five-Step Problem Solving
- Jigsaw
- KWL Plus
- Partner/Small Group Vocabulary Preview
- Picture This!
- Proposition/Support Outline
- Question the Author (QtA)
- Word Analysis
- Word Sort
Thinkquiry Toolkit 1 Strategy Alignment Matrix — Matching strategies to learner needs (pdf)
More Literacy and Learning Strategies
| Strategy | Strategy Description | Resources and Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Analytic Graphic Organizer | Graphic organizers are templates educators use to define, explain or examine text and/or content. | Middle School Math Lesson Scenario (pdf) |
| Question-Answer Relationship (QAR) | The QAR is a strategy used to consider four types of questions normally used after the reading of a text, including: Right There Questions, Think and Search Questions, Author and You, On My Own. | Elementary Science Lesson Scenario (pdf) |
| Mentor Text | Mentor Texts are used to give students strong examples that students can learn from in any content area; they were first used to show students good examples of writing. | Using Mentor Texts to Improve Student Writing (PDF) – Includes student coding and note taking templates |
| Collaborative Routines - Writing | Collaborative routines are established in the classroom to support a higher degree of comprehension from a text. | Evaluating the Use of Four Collaborative Routines in Writing: Save the Last Word; Give one, Get One; Jigsaw; and Group Summarizing. (pdf) |
Close Analytic Reading Strategies
Close Analytic Reading Strategies: Close reading involves reading a text more than once for multiple purposes. Students are expected to read in order to uncover layers of meaning that lead to deeper comprehension; therefore, the text is thoroughly examined by reading and rereading. When using the following strategies students can be prompted to read at deeper levels. Virtually every standard is activated during the course of every close analytic reading exemplar through the use of text dependent questions and having text-based discussions.
| Strategy | Strategy Description | Resources/Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Text-based Discussion | Text-based discussion is used to bring students back to the text to focus on evidence from the text to make points in the conversation. The purpose is to gain deep understanding of the text. | 1. Nancy Frey and Douglas Fisher describe key aspects of text based discussions. Nancy Frey is also featured in a demonstration video. Watch the Nancy Frey demonstration video. 2. Keeping Students Focused during Text Discussions - HS video. 3. Small Group Text-Based Discussion Protocol (word) or (PDF). 4. Socratic Circles Discussion Protocol (word) or (PDF) 5. Grappling with Complex Informational Text - Video of a fifth grade classroom using close reading strategies. 6. Video of Grade 5 teacher using Text Talk Time |
| Text Dependent Questions | Text-dependent questions need to delve into a text to guide students in the extraction of key ideas. TBQ are open-ended and often have multiple answers that are based on the evidence from the text. | 1. Guide to Creating Great Text-Dependent Questions (PPT) or (PDF) 2. Grappling with Complex Informational Text – Video of a fifth grade classroom using close reading strategies. |
| Finding Evidence in Informational Text | Students must have explicit instruction and practice to find evidence in informational text which involves close reading and learning how to code text as they reread the information. Lessons can include learning the academic words, using diagrams and graphic aids, determining the main idea and summarizing the content of the text. | High School ELA Lesson Video – In this lesson students determine the purpose and the structure of argument in Frederick Douglass’s ‘I hear the mournful wail of millions’. There is an emphasis on analyzing the language choices and citing evidence from the text. To access this video, log in or create an account and search for Grade 10 ELA Informational Text. |
| Text-based answers – writing from sources | Writing from sources is one of the six instructional shifts in the ELA Common Core Standards. It includes an analytical writing tied to literary and information texts, response to texts and writing about texts. Students can be expected to analyze the text, make valid claims, and support the claims with evidence from the texts. | Grappling with Complex Informational Text – Video of a fifth grade classroom using close reading strategies. |
| Text-based Argument Writing | Argument writing relies on logic to convince the audience of the merit and reasonableness of the claims and proofs offered gathered from the texts analyzed. | Text-based Argument Writing Made Explicit (pdf) – Includes actual texts and writing templates. |
More Resources
- Go to Leadership and Coaching to explore tools to implement content literacy.
- Go to Lessons and Units to explore Common Core Aligned lessons and units, download lesson and unit planners, and see guides to support literacy-rich practices.
- Go to Professional Learning Models to see professional learning designs using content literacy resources and tools.