You might want to consider updating your browser.
This site looks better and operates more smoothly on newer browsers that support current standards.

The Textmapping Project
A resource for teachers improving reading comprehension skills instruction


A short Introduction to
Using Scrolls and Textmapping
to Teach Reading Comprehension Skills and Course Content

R. David Middlebrook | The Textmapping Project | .

What to Expect in this Workshop

Important Definitions

Case Exercise: Magazine Article

Allotted Time: 10 minutes

Text Recommendation: Something substantive, comprising 6-10 pages, from a monthly magazine - leaning towards text-heavy but with a few good illustrations - or a weekly magazine that fits this description (i.e., not one of the popular newsweeklies).

Type of Lesson: Instructor demonstration of a pre-reading process.

Instructional Goal: This exercise focuses on preparing an individual to read and understand a short article. By the end of the exercise each participant will be able to:

Steps

Case Exercise: Textbook Chapter

Allotted Time: 20 minutes

Text Recommendation: Either a textbook with rich typography and plenty of ancillary materials such as questions, side bars, and a review section, or (regardless of the above criteria) a textbook that everyone in the workshop is currently using in class. Note that the instructions below are generic - that the textbook you select may lack some of the features discussed, and/or may have other features not discussed. Handle these instances in a way that makes sense to you.

Type of Lesson: Collaborative survey/pre-reading of the chapter.

Instructional Goal: This exercise covers a number of pre-reading strategies intended to prepare an individual to read and understand a textbook chapter. By the end of this exercise each participant will be able to:

General Instructions

The instructor will model the activity. Then five volunteers will map the chapter while the other participants skim the chapter, write comments on sticky notes, and post them on the scroll. The comments may be of two kinds:

Steps

Case Exercise: Short Fiction Novel

Allotted Time: 40 minutes

Text Recommendation: Sarah, Plain and Tall by Sarah MacLachlan; (1985) HarperCollins, NY; ISBN 0-06-440205-3. This is a children's novel (fifth grade reading level), but it serves well for teachers at all levels as an introduction to using Textmapping with fiction. If you choose a different novel, be sure to adjust the number of volunteers (see the General Instructions, below) to accomodate the number of chapters in the novel.

Type of Lesson: Collaborative survey/pre-reading of the novel.

Instructional Goal: This exercise covers a number of pre-reading strategies intended to prepare an individual to read and think critically about a novel. By the end of this lesson each participant will be able to:

General Instructions

Nine volunteers (one for each chapter) will map the novel while the other participants skim the novel, write comments on sticky notes, and post them on the scroll. The comments may be of two kinds:

Steps

Case Exercise: Newspaper Article

Allotted Time: 10 minutes

Text Recommendation: An article from a good daily newspaper. Choose either a long and detailed article, or a substantial, well-written, and intellectually challenging opinion piece.

Type of Lesson: Individual/independent survey/pre-reading of the article.

Instructional Goal: Each participant will be prepared to read and understand the article. Specifically, by the end of this lesson each participant will be able to:

General Instructions

Each participant will pre-read and map his/her own copy of the article. Then the class will discuss the article and the exercise.

Questions and Discussion

Allotted Time: 10 minutes.

Ask questions, share observations, and complete the workshop evaluation forms.


The instructional goal of this workshop was to expose you to a new way of seeing, working with, and thinking about text. It is likely that you will leave this session with many unanswered questions. We hope that you will visit The Textmapping Project web site, and that you will feel free to contact us with your questions. We would like you to find success with scrolls and Textmapping.

We encourage you to conduct training in your district on how to use scrolls and Textmapping. Visit our website for printer-ready training resources [http://www.textmapping.org/teacherTraining.html] and information about workshops [http://www.textmapping.org/workshops.html].


Did you find this information useful?
|

Down arrow used as visual cue to call attention to the text that follows. small print Down arrow used as visual cue to call attention to the text that follows.

Unless otherwise noted, the content on this web page is © 2004-2007 R. David Middlebrook, and may be freely used for non-commercial purposes under the terms of the CCPL.spacer between topicsUse of the information on this web page constitutes acceptance of the terms of the CCPL and agreement to adhere to the Guidelines for Using Our Content. For more information, see our copyright page.spacer between topicsWe hope that you share our concerns about plagiarism [http://www.ilstu.edu/%7Eddhesse/wpa/positions/WPAplagiarism.pdf]. Please provide proper attribution.spacer between topics. Please support this site.

Read our Privacy Policy.spacer between topics"The Textmapping Workshops" are a service mark of The Textmapping Project.spacer between topicsThe Textmapping Project is a member of the Gateway to Educational Materials (GEM) Consortium.spacer between topicsFree JavaScripts provided by The JavaScript Source.

Questions? Comments?: .

Please help us improve the accessibility of this site.

| Is this valid HTML 4.01?  Find out! | Is the style sheet valid CSS?  Find out! | Read the Level Triple-A accessibility guidelines. | Does this page qualify for the Level Triple-A accessibility rating?  Find out! | Read about the Any Browser campaign. | Creative Commons alternatives to standard copyright |

Why are these logos important?


Copyright © 2004-2007 R. David Middlebrook
Terms of Use: http://www.textmapping.org/copyright.html