Yes, we can teach Reading Comprehension. Actually, we must. The big question is HOW? In these posts I will not deal with theoretical aspects and principles regarding Higher-order and Lower-order Thinking Skills – Hots and Lots. I prefer to focus on practical tips illustrated by examples that can be quickly adapted to the class situation.…
טיפים למורים – הבנת הנקרא
Lesson Plan – Focus on Reading Comprehension
Today we will introduce a basic lesson plan focusing on Reading Comprehension. Remember, the lesson should focus on Reading Comprehension, but not consist of Reading Comprehension only. Every lesson should combine 2 or 3 of the following domains: Oral Activities, Writing Activities, Reading and Grammar. After all, We are teaching English, not Writing, Reading or Grammar.…
Following Instructions
If we want students to improve their Reading Comprehension skills, we must teach them the importance of following instructions. Students often ignore instructions or skip part of them. They should be taught to follow instructions carefully. The following exercise is a classic exercise on the need to follow instructions carefully. Hand out the following exercise:…
Reading Comprehension – Finding the main ideas
Finding the main ideas in a text, a paragraph, a sentence is the key to Reading Comprehension. How do we do that? Hand out a text (three/four paragraphs). The subject of the text should be relevant to your students’ interests. The paragraphs should be relatively short. The sentences should be about 1-2 lines long. What…
Teaching Reading Comprehension in Heterogeneous Classes
Teaching Reading Comprehension in heterogeneous classes may prove problematic. It is a serious challenge. Every lesson requires careful planning. The objective is to find a common denominator for all the students and still meet the needs of all or at least most of them, i.e. find a way to enrich the advanced students and enhance…
Oral Activities to promote Reading Comprehension
How can we promote Reading Comprehension? Can Oral Activities help? Can Cartoons stimulate discussion leading to deeper comprehension? Oral Activities and Cartoons can be very useful in the class situation. Reading Comprehension should not be taught by giving hundreds of texts for students to read and answer questions at home or in class. If students…
More Oral Activities to promote Reading Comprehension
How can we make students talk in the English class? Should we use more cartoons to stimulate conversation and promote Reading Comprehension? I think we should. The question is: How? We spoke about violence in my last post. Since violence is, unfortunately, a very relevant subject, let’s continue. As I have already said, I believe that Oral…
Group Activities to enhance Reading Comprehension
Can we use Group Activities to enhance Reading Comprehension? Yes. We can and we should. How can we do that? Let’s divide the class into groups of 4 – 6 students. The group has to become a cooperative learning group. Each student in the group must assume responsibility and participate actively in the group’s work.…
Reading and Integrating two Texts
Can we work on two texts in the same lesson? Can Reading and Integrating two Texts enhance Reading Comprehension? How can we do that? Let’s divide the class into groups of 4 – 6 students. Half of the groups will be given one text and the other half will get the other text. Both texts…
Reading and Writing – Introduction
Can we combine Reading and Writing? Can the combination of Reading and Writing improve students’ abilities in both domains? We will try to answer this question and work on this idea using group activities. How can we do that? Let’s divide the class into groups of 4 – 6 students. All the groups will be…
Finding the main idea – Advanced level
Is it always easy to find the main idea of a text? How can we do it? The main idea of a text must appear in every paragraph. A paragraph that does not contain a certain aspect of the main idea or some information closely related to the main idea does not belong to the…
Integrating two texts – Advanced level
Is it possible to integrate two texts? Yes, as long as they deal with different aspects of the same subject or at least, as long as we can find what they have in common. How can we do it? Let’s start with the first text. Text No.1* Students often complain about great pressure at school.…
Analyzing and Comparing two texts
Last week we dealt with Integration of two texts. This time we will work on Analyzing and Comparing two texts. How can we do that? We need to find what the texts have in common. What is the common denominator? and then, In what way do the texts differ? Let’s start with…
Comprehension – Relevant and Irrelevant Information
We have been working on analysis and integration of texts for a couple of weeks. This time we will focus on relevant and irrelevant information. How can we do that? We have to read the text carefully, find the main ideas and then discard any information that is irrelevant. If we can do that, it…
Oral Activities and Reading Comprehension
Oral Activities, based on prior knowledge, will facilitate comprehension of a Reading Comprehension Passage. We will start with a cartoon. What is the appeal of cartoons? The cartoon will encourage students to talk. Capturing the attention of and engaging pupils during lessons is at times challenging and frustrating. Cartoons are an excellent teaching tool. Pupils…
Reading Comprehension as a process
Reading Comprehension is a process. Different people see different things in a text. Even the same person may sometimes see different things in a text after reading it for the second or third time. A text is like a picture – it is subject to personal interpretation. In the next posts I will bring different…
More about Reading Comprehension as a process
In my last post we discussed Reading Comprehension as a process. The following is the second text presenting a new aspect of our general theme: Culture, Customs and Manners. The objective is to enrich the students’ information and knowledge of the topic since prior knowledge certainly facilitates comprehension of a text. Introducing Text No. 2…
Reading Comprehension as a process-Step 3
Two weeks ago I published my first post on Reading Comprehension as a process. Last week I published my second post on this topic. The following is my last post centering around the general theme: Culture, Customs and Manners. The rationale behind the unit is to present various texts focusing on different aspects of…
Improving Reading Comprehension
What else can we do to improve Reading Comprehension? Following many teachers’ requests, I have decided to bring a few more examples on Reading Comprehension as a process. The objective is: Improving Reading Comprehension. I will bring two texts dealing with different aspects of a certain subject. From text to text we will accumulate information…
Improving Reading Comprehension – Step 2
In my last post we discussed Improving Reading Comprehension. The following is the second text presenting a new aspect of our general theme: Communication Devices. The objective is to enrich the students’ information and knowledge of the topic since prior knowledge certainly facilitates comprehension of a text. Introducing Text No. 2 (link to Text No.…
Graphic Organizers to improve Reading Comprehension
Today we will discuss the use of Graphic Organizers to improve Reading Comprehension. What are Graphic Organizers? Graphic Organizers are simple visual tools that allow students to break down stories and nonfiction texts. They also help kids keep track of thoughts as they read. Who are Graphic Organizers mainly intended for? Every reader will benefit…
More Graphic Organizers to improve Reading Comprehension
Last week we discussed the use of Graphic Organizers to improve Reading Comprehension. Our subject today is Utopia. I will introduce two texts and we will use a graphic organizer to organize the information the texts offer. Introducing Text No.1 Let’s start with an Oral Activity. Look at the following cartoon. Click on the link…
Reading and Writing – Intermediate Level
Can we combine Reading and Writing? Can the combination of Reading and Writing improve students’ abilities in both domains? We have already talked about this issue in the post called Reading and Writing – Introduction. We will now approach the issue from a different angle. The text will provide information on a certain subject and…
More about Reading and Writing
We have already discussed the importance of combining Reading and Writing. We know that this combination can improve students’ abilities in both domains. In my last post I introduced a short text on learning languages. The text provided information on the subject and based on that, students had to deal with Writing Activities. We will…
Oral Activities leading to Reading and Writing
Today we will discuss Oral Activities leading to Reading and Writing. We will try to combine Oral Activities, Reading and Writing. We will start with Oral Activities. Look at the following cartoon. (Click on soldier 1) soldier 1 Describe the scene and the idea behind it. Do you approve? Is the cartoon realistic, authentic, exaggerated…
More Oral Activities leading to Reading and Writing
Today we will discuss more Oral Activities leading to Reading and Writing. We will again try to combine Oral Activities, Reading and Writing. We will start with Oral Activities. Look at the following cartoon. Click on the following link: Smoking Can you find a suitable title, saying or caption for this cartoon? Describe the cartoon…
Combining Oral, Reading and Writing Activities
Our aim is to combine different activities from different domains. All the activities have to center around the same theme and lead to the Reading Comprehension text. We will start with Oral Activities. Look at the following cartoon. Click on the following link: Beauty Can you find a suitable title, saying or caption for…
More Oral, Reading and Writing Activities
As I wrote in my last post, my aim is to combine different activities from different domains. All the activities have to center around the same theme and lead to the Reading Comprehension text. This time, our theme is: Pets. We will start with Oral Activities. Look at the following cartoon. Click on the following…
The Generation Gap – Part 1
We are now moving to a more advanced level. In the next posts we will focus on a certain subject and design various activities around that subject in order to enrich the students’ Vocabulary and enhance Reading Comprehension and Writing Proficiency. So what’s new about it? Haven’t we been doing that all along (about 30…
The Generation Gap – Part 2
We are now moving to The Generation Gap – Part 2. Last week we started a Reading Unit focusing on the Generation Gap. In the first text we introduced the theme and now we are going to deal with another aspect of the general theme. What is the subject of our new text? Teenagers…
Aliyah-A unique kind of Immigration-Part 1
The general subject of the unit that we are starting today is Aliyah – A unique kind of Immigration. Today, we will talk about one of the aspects of Aliyah. Look at the following cartoon: Aliya1 Let’s talk about it. Describe the characters you see in the cartoon. Where, do you think, they come from?…
Aliyah-A unique kind of Immigration-Part 2
In my last post, I started the subject: Aliyah – A unique kind of Immigration. In this post, we will deal with another aspect of the general theme of the unit. Our subject today is Culture Shock. Let’s talk about it. What is Culture Shock? Give examples of different traditions – customs (food, clothes, music, weddings,…
Aliyah-A unique kind of Immigration – Part 3
This is my third and last post on Aliyah – A unique kind of Immigration. The first post dealt with the definition and special meaning of the term Aliyah. The second post dealt with Culture Shock. Our post today deals with the first steps of newcomers – olim – in their new country. Let’s talk…
Beauty, Money and other trifles – Part 1
The general subject of the unit that we are starting today is Beauty, Money and other trifles. Let’s talk about it. Give examples of cosmetic products. Explain the purpose / use of each. Name various brands, firms. How do you decide what brand to choose? Why do so many girls / women buy cosmetics? Helpful…
Beauty, Money and other trifles – Part 2
In my last post I introduced the first aspect of the general subject of this unit: Beauty, Money and other trifles. Today we will discuss another aspect: Credit Cards. Let’s talk about it. What are credit cards? What are the advantages of credit cards? What are the risks involved? How could the risks be reduced?…
Voluntary Activities – Part 1
The general subject of the unit that we are starting today is Voluntary Activities. Let’s talk about it. What is a voluntary organization? Mention names of well known voluntary organizations. How does a voluntary organization finance its work? What is more important: to donate money or devote time and effort? What kind of work can…
Voluntary Activities – Part 2
In my last post I introduced the first aspect of the general subject of this unit: Voluntary Activities. Today we will discuss another aspect: Voluntary Organizations in the field of Education. Let’s talk about it. Do you know any Voluntary Organizations in the field of Education? Can you mention any? Can you describe them? Why…
A Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body – Part 1
The general subject of the unit that we are starting today is A Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body. Let’s talk about it. A Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body What is the meaning of this saying? What does it suggest? Do you agree? Can you justify your answer? Can you bring examples from your…
A Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body – Part 2
In my last post I introduced the first aspect of the general subject of this unit: A Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body – The Maccabiah. Today we will discuss another aspect: Sport Addiction. Let’s talk about it. Can people be addicted to sports? Explain. What is the difference between active and passive sportsmen? Are you…
Coexistence
The general subject of the unit that we are starting today is Coexistence. In order to communicate effectively, people need a common language. Can you explain this sentence? Do you agree? Can you justify your answer? Why is it so important to know foreign languages? Is it important in Israel? Why? What is the most…
Work and Leisure – Part 1
The general subject of the unit that we are starting today is: Work and Leisure. Let’s talk about it. “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread”. Explain the quotation above. Where is the quotation taken from? What is the attitude to work in the verse? What is the attitude of most…
Work and Leisure – Part 2
In my last post I introduced the first aspect of the general subject of this unit: Work and Leisure Today we will discuss another aspect: Employment and Education Let’s talk about it. Have you ever looked for a job? Was it a difficult experience? The first step may be looking through the ads in the paper.…
The Media – Part 1 – The Radio
The general subject of the unit that we are starting today is: The Media. .This unit will comprise three parts Today we will focus on the Radio. Let’s talk about it. Has the popularity of the radio gone down since television entered our homes? Do you listen to the radio very often? On what occasions?…
The Media – Part 2 – The Press
The following is the second post on the Media. In my last post I introduced the first aspect of the general subject of this unit: The Radio Today we will discuss another aspect: The Press Let’s talk about it. Do you read a newspaper regularly? Which one? Justify your choice. What are the differences…
The Media – Part 3 – The Future of Newspapers
The following is the third post on the Media. In the first post of this unit, I introduced the first aspect of the general subject of this unit: The Radio. In the second post of this unit I introduced the second aspect of the general subject of this unit: The Press. Today we will discuss another…
Reading – Part 1 – Let’s Read Faster!
The general subject of the unit that we are starting today is: Reading. This unit will comprise three parts. Today we will focus on the first aspect of this subject. We will discuss why we read and how we read. Let’s talk about it. A page a day keeps ignorance away. Explain the statement above.…
Reading – Part 2 – Reading for Pleasure
The following is the second post on Reading. In my last post I introduced the first aspect of the general subject of this unit: Reading Today we will discuss another aspect: Reading for Pleasure Talking about it. What are book-fairs? Do you usually attend the yearly Hebrew book-fair? Why? What kind of books do you…
Reading – Part 3 – Book Clubs
The following is the third post on Reading. In the first post of this unit, I introduced the first aspect of the general subject of the unit: Reading. In the second post of this unit, I introduced the second aspect of the general subject of the unit: Reading for Pleasure. Today we will discuss another aspect:…