Close Reading in Elementary Classrooms

This white paper explores the practice of close reading, a method of critically analyzing texts through multiple readings to uncover explicit and implicit meanings. It emphasizes key elements such as identifying the reader's purpose, understanding the author's intent, developing schema, and recognizing systems of thought within disciplines. Schema theory highlights the importance of prior knowledge in text comprehension, with text-dependent questions encouraging rereading to build mental models. The paper also discusses the unique challenges posed by informational texts in various disciplines, such as science, social studies, and mathematics, which require specialized strategies for vocabulary and conceptual understanding. While close reading is traditionally applied at secondary and college levels, the paper notes a lack of specific research on its effectiveness for elementary students. Suggestions for adapting close reading to younger learners include focusing on purpose-driven reading and selecting appropriate vocabulary for instruction.