Reading Articles


ELAR-Grade-8 Non-fiction Texts Reading Articles
Students prepare to read and comprehend nonfiction writing. They generate questions and make predictions in advance, so they know what to look for to deepen their understanding of the content. Then they read and correct or confirm those predictions using a structured approach.

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

1:1 Devices
Teacher Pack

The Pack contains associated resources for the learning experience, typically in the form of articles and videos. There is a teacher Pack (with only teacher information) and a student Pack (which contains only student information). As a teacher, you can toggle between both to see everything.

Here are the teacher pack items for Reading Articles:

Preview - Scene 1
Exploros Learnign Experience Scene Navigation


Engage


Overview

In this experience, students prepare to read and comprehend nonfiction writing. They learn how to generate questions in advance, so they know what to look for and to deepen their understanding of the content. They practice making predictions about what they will read, then correct or confirm those predictions using a structured approach.

Objectives

  • Examine the features of a nonfiction text before reading it.
  • Ask questions and make predictions about text before reading it.
  • Ask questions and confirm predictions while reading.

Duration

One class period.

Vocabulary Words Used in the Article

  • archipelago: a group of islands


You know what passive reading is. It’s the kind of reading you do casually, maybe even while you’re also doing something else. Reading texts while watching TV or listening to music, for example. Maybe you’ll remember what you read later, maybe you won’t.

Then there’s active reading. This is the kind of reading where you dedicate your focus and attention to the text, such as an article that has been assigned for a class. In this experience, you will learn a strategy to help you read actively.

Objectives

  • Examine the features of a nonfiction text before reading it.
  • Ask questions and make predictions about text before reading it.
  • Ask questions and confirm predictions while reading


teen boy reading books in the library

When you read actively, you get involved physically and mentally. You set goals when you start to read: “I’m going to make sure I understand what I’m reading, and I’m going to evaluate what I read as I go along.”

To meet those goals, you must prepare to engage with what you read.


How do you prepare to actively read a school assignment?

Post your answer

Students will learn some of the following strategies in this experience:

  • Prepare yourself mentally.
  • Listen to what the teacher says and consider why the teacher assigned this reading.
  • Start with some familiarity with the subject, such as a quick online search.
  • Think about the information available in the title.
  • Skim through the text to get a sense of its subject matter and difficulty level.
  • Review illustrations and standout text elements, such as chapter titles, charts, and graphs.
  • Ask someone who has read the material what to look for.
  • Develop questions to keep in mind while reading.
  • Make predictions about what will be in the material.
  • Prepare to highlight and/or take notes on what you’re reading.


When everyone is ready to continue, unlock the next scene.

End of Preview
The Complete List of Learning Experiences in Non-fiction Texts Unit.
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