I chose this article to read with my students because it goes supports the goals of the Brave Unit that I just started with my students. The unit begins with the question, What is Brave? and then we explore the concept of what it means to be brave by reading about people who have shown bravery throughout history.
So, is this text good enough for close reading? I like this checklist provided in Diana and Betsy Sisson's book, Close Reading in Elementary School: Bringing Readers and Texts Together.
- Will it be challenging for my students?
- Will it require re-reading for complete understanding?
- Does the text need to be chunked in order for students to grasp the meaning?
- Will classroom discussion ensure that students understand?
- Does it merit the time necessary to complete a close reading lesson?
I can say yes to all, so on with the close reading.
Here is a link to the lesson and supporting documents.
I will post how it went in my classroom! Let me know if you try it and how it went for you.
