Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program
Close Reading in the Classroom
Close reading is key to the analysis and interpretation of literature. A close reading of the title and the epigraph of “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” offers readers an opportunity to examine how even single words or names can...
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Lectura Treinta y Uno: un rey
Spanish language learners read about a king and his labyrinth. Designed for intermediate Spanish speakers, this two-page document tests the reading comprehension of your kids. After the two paragraphs, they complete eight comprehension...
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Lectura Venticuatro: el canario verde
Written primarily in the past and imperfect tenses, this two-page document provides intermediate Spanish language learners practice reading text and answering questions. Two full paragraphs precede seven multiple-choice questions. The...
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Le Lion
What do you know about lions? Intermediate and advanced French readers are presented with a page-long text. After completing the reading, they work on the activities that follow. The activities focus on vocabulary development, reading...
French Teacher
La Biodiversite
What is biodiversity, and how has it been impacted? Advanced French readers learn about the changes in species around the world and what the United Nations decided to do about it. After reading the page-long text, your readers complete...
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Reading Comprehension Strategy: Using Background Knowledge
The value of this presentation is that it not only defines background knowledge but includes exercises that show readers how to activate and use what they already know about a topic to make text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to-world...
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Santé
How is your health? Intermediate Francophones read a two-paragraph text about healthy eating and the problems associated with those who do not make healthy choices. Two exercises follow the reading passage: the first is a short...
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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck: Chapter 1 Reading Check
Good worksheets pinpoint key events and get readers thinking about the choices writers make when crafting a story. Here's a good worksheet. Designed to be used with the first chapter of Of Mice and Men, consider having your pupils...
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Locavores
Who are les locavores? Introduce your French class to the benefits of eating local with this reading passage and the activities that accompany it. Pupils focus on developing their vocabulary, entering into a discussion with a peer, and...
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Une première voiture volante
You might see a flying car before your lifetime ends! Assess your intermediate and advanced French classes with this resource, discussing the plans for a flying car. Two brief activities follow: the first develops new vocabulary, and the...
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Twelve Wild Ducks (Norway)
How exciting! To break an evil spell that was cast on her 12 older brothers, a princess must face frightening trials and dangers. Youngsters build literacy and comprehension skills as they read a fun fairy tale from Norway. After reading...
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Wali Dad (India)
Wali Dâd tries to give away his valuables, yet greater and still greater gifts keep coming back to him in return. This is the moral learners will come to understand as they read a fun fairy tale from India. They read the passage and then...
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The Sons of Sultan Bey (Libya)
Imagine you could increase reading comprehension and social media skills at the same time. Learners can read and then respond to the tale "The Sons of Sultan Bey." Their comments are guided by comprehension-style questions and can be...
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QAR: Question Answer Relationships with an example from Canyons by Gary Paulsen
As you're reading Gary Paulsen's tale of self discovery and adventure, Canyons, bring this questioning strategy into your classroom. The QAR questioning strategy is meant to encourage a deeper analysis of the text, as some questions are...
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Dracula: Directed Reading Thinking Activity (DRTA)
“There are often dangers from snow and wolves and night.” Bram Stoker’s “Dracula’s Guest,” which may or may not have been the first chapter of the original Dracula manuscript, is the focus of a Directed Reading Thinking Activity (DRTA).
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The Power of Retelling: Developmental Steps to Building Comprehension
Empower your readers by modeling for them the steps for retelling a story. Designed as a teacher resource, Dr. Cummins argues that shifting responsibility for retelling to the learners increases their comprehension. The procedure is...
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Making A Valentine Box
Use this comprehension worksheet to have your learners read a short story about how to make a Valentine box. After reading, they answer seven muliple choice questions about the procedure. Then, they get to actually make the box. A nice,...
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17 - Cells
The first of three pages in this handout provides a brief history of our understanding of the cell. It also differentiates between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The second is a collection of true and false, multiple choice, and short...
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Structure and Function of the Cell/Introduction to the Cell
So, this is not technically a worksheet, but rather a chapter of reading material, pictures, and diagrams introducing young biologists to the cell. Cell theory, diversity, size, and shape are described. The internal organization and...
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Beauty or the Beast
Does the FDA really intend to protect public health? Spark a debate in your chemistry or health class by using this article, titled "Beauty or the Beast." It questions the safety of cosmetics and toiletry products, govenment regulations,...
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What Science Suggests About 'Weather Weirding'
Here is an activity that you can use to help upper elementary or middle schoolers to meet Common Core literacy standards for science and technology. Youngsters read the article on extreme weather patterns, "Weather Runs Hot and Cold, So...
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The Blues in the Arkansas Delta
Oh I love the blues! Here is a wonderful four page reading passage that focuses on the Delta Blues. It covers topics such as, the music's cultural influences, origin, form, terminology, and significance. A great way to integrate...
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America: The Story of Us Episode 6: The Heartland
I love handouts that include reading passages and discussion questions.Here you will find two pages. Page one provides an informational reading passage and six discussion questions. Page two provides a three paragraph primary-source...
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The Atlanta Testing Scandal
What happens when a school is caught tampering with state test scores? Learners find out about the Atlanta Testing Scandal as they read a New York Times article. After they read, they test their comprehension by answering seven who,...