English Language Parents Workshop 2017

Developing Independent Readers

Objectives

At the end of this workshop, parents will be able to:

1. Have an awareness of some reading comprehension skills at primary level

2. Learn a few practical strategies that will help in the development of reading comprehension skills

Outline

S/N Programme Duration Facilitators

1 Introduction 5 min Mrs Ismael

2 Pre-reading strategies • Prediction or anticipation • Activating prior knowledge

20 min Mdm Rezina Miss Chan S.B

3 Comprehension skills involved during reading • Sequencing • Paraphrasing • Scanning for Specific Information

50 min Mdm Rabi’ah

Mdm Nura

4 Your thoughts, questions & feedback

10 min Mrs Ismael

OUR GOAL Independent Readers

Skills

Attitudes Dispositions

Strategies

Behaviours

Reading Comprehension

• Reading to learn requires active engagement with the text – the need for learners to be equipped with the necessary skills to read

• Comprehension is not just answering questions correctly after reading a text.

• Comprehension begins prior to reading and extends into the discussions they have after they have finished reading.

• Pre-reading strategies - focus on active engagement with the text and encourages thinking through that reading process

Pre-Reading Strategies

Pre-Reading Strategies

Reading Comprehension Skill 1 Prediction or Anticipation

Reading Comprehension Skill 2 Activating Prior Knowledge

• Make connections • Establish a purpose for reading • Build motivation for reading

Activating Prior Knowledge

Ask questions before reading a text/a book/an article:

• What do you know about …?

• What would you like to know more about …?

• Do you have any experiences with …?

Let’s practise!

These jumping spiders are unique

Anticipation or Prediction

• Purpose: to engage learners in deliberation and get ready their minds to engage with the text

Let’s practise!

• What do you think you will be reading about? • What do you think is a “sweeping change”? • Why did the writer use this phrase?

The Straits Times, 20 Jan 2017)

Anticipation or Prediction – Let’s practise!

• Based on the picture, what do you think you are going to read about?

Pre-Reading Strategies

Reading Comprehension Skill 1 Prediction or Anticipation

Reading Comprehension Skill 2 Activating Prior Knowledge

• Make connections • Establish a purpose for reading • Build motivation for reading

Comprehension skills involved During Reading

8 Types of Comprehension Questions

S/n Type Pupils need to: Examples

1 Factual

• pick out these obvious details to answer but are not to lift and to cut out irrelevant parts in a sentence

• What did Ali have for lunch? • Why did Ali run away from his

friend?

2 Inference

• understand the

"hidden" meaning that is suggested rather than told directly

• look out for clues from phrases

which suggest these "hidden" meaning

• Which phrase/sentence tells you

that Mrs Muthu was upset? • Why did Mrs Muthu let the cat

go? • Explain in your own words why

Mrs Muthu let the cat go.

8 Types of Comprehension Questions

S/n Type Pupils need to: Examples

3 Before/ After

• make comparisons and identify a given detail in the statement which changed over time

See below

4 Cause and

Effect

• identify the cause (what made something happen) and effects (what happened as a result of the cause).

See below

8 Types of Comprehension Questions

S/n Type Pupils need to: Examples

5

Vocabulary in context

• Answer about the use of a word or

phrase in the passage.

• Which word/ phrase has the same meaning as...?

• Find the words with opposite meanings to the following words.

• Which two adjectives in paragraph 2 describe Mrs Muthu?

6 Applied Vocabulary

• to analyse and use their own words to describe a situation or a character

• How will you describe the personality of the lion in the passage? (e.g. timid, proud)

8 Types of Comprehension Questions

S/n Type Pupils need to: Examples

7

Sequencing

• state the order of events in the passage Note: An event that appeared in the first paragraph may not have happened first

__3__ Someone came to their rescue. __2__ Gary cried in pain. __1__ Ben called for help.

8

True or False

• identify whether a given statement is T/F • provide evidence to prove why the statement

is true or false

See in the next few slides

Comprehension Skill

Sequencing

What is sequencing?

Sequencing refers to:

• the identification of the components of a story such as the beginning,

middle and end

• putting events or information in a specific order

• the ability to retell the events within a given text in the order in which

they occurred.

Why is sequencing important?

Benefits of this skill

Students will be able to:

• comprehend what they read.

• understand the text better.

• organize the text that they are reading.

• recognize how a plot unfolds from beginning to middle to end.

Let’s look at an example of a sequencing question for

comprehension

One day, Julie saw her friend, Lisa doing something unusual.

Julie asked, “What are you doing, Lisa? Why are there so many leaves on your desk?”

“I’m going to press them for my scrapbook,” replied Lisa.

“Why do you need to press them? Won’t they become rotten?” Julie asked, obviously interested in what Lisa was doing.

Lisa explained that the leaves would not be rotten if they were completely dried after they were pressed. She went on to explain that she would put the leaves in between some heavy books to press them till they were flattened. Then she would put them out to dry. After which she would stick them in her scrapbook using sticky tape. Julie listened attentively to Lisa’s explanation.

She picked up one of the dried colourful leaves and examined it. She wondered where Lisa got her colourful leaves from, Lisa answered,

“I picked them up from my garden. I will usually wait until they fall to the ground. I don’t pluck them as that may damage the plant.”

Julie smiled. She could not wait to start her own leaf collection too!

Write 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the blanks below to indicate the order in which the events occurred in the story. [2m]

______________ Lisa explained to Julie how to paste the leaves in the scrapbook.

______________ Julie was very excited to start collecting leaves.

______________ Lisa talked about where and how she collected her leaves.

______________ Julie caught Lisa doing something unusual.

Success Criteria

• I can sort the events that occurred in the story in sequential order

Number them 1, 2, 3 and 4

Things that happen

Correct order

Write 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the blanks below to indicate the order in which the events occurred in the story. [2m]

______________ Lisa explained to Julie how to paste the leaves in the scrapbook.

______________ Julie was very excited to start collecting leaves.

______________ Lisa talked about where and how she collected her leaves.

______________ Julie caught Lisa doing something unusual.

Here are the steps to take when answering sequencing question

Step 1: Scan the text for details / information / words / phrases used in

the question.

Step 2: Highlight or box the sentence(s) that contains the details /

information / words / phrases used in the question.

Step 3: Write numbers 1, 2, 3 or 4 at the side of each sentence to

indicate its correct order.

Look for signal words – first, then, next & finally

Write 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the blanks below to indicate the order in which the events occurred in the story. [2m]

______________ Lisa explained to Julie how to paste the leaves in the scrapbook.

______________ Julie was very excited to start collecting leaves.

______________ Lisa talked about where and how she collected her leaves.

______________ Julie caught Lisa doing something unusual.

Step 1: Scan the text for phrases used in the question. Step 2: Highlight sentence(s) that contains the phrases used for all the questions. Step 3: Then write numbers 1, 2, 3 or 4 in correct order.

Write 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the blanks below to indicate the order in which the events occurred in the story. [2m]

______________ Lisa explained to Julie how to paste the leaves in the scrapbook.

______________ Julie was very excited to start collecting leaves.

______________ Lisa talked about where and how she collected her leaves.

______________ Julie caught Lisa doing something unusual.

One day, Julie saw her friend, Lisa doing something unusual.

Julie asked, “What are you doing, Lisa? Why are there so many leaves on your desk?”

“I’m going to press them for my scrapbook,” replied Lisa.

“Why do you need to press them? Won’t they become rotten?” Julie asked, obviously interested in what Lisa was doing.

Lisa explained that the leaves would not be rotten if they were completely dried after they were pressed. She went on to explain that she would put the leaves in between some heavy books to press them till they were flattened. Then she would put them out to dry. After which she would stick them in her scrapbook using sticky tape. Julie listened attentively to Lisa’s explanation.

She picked up one of the dried colourful leaves and examined it. She wondered where Lisa got her colourful leaves from, Lisa answered,

“I picked them up from my garden. I will usually wait until they fall to the ground. I don’t pluck them as that may damage the plant.”

Julie smiled. She could not wait to start her own leaf collection too!

1

3

4

2

8 Types of Comprehension Questions

S/n Type Pupils need to: Examples

7

Sequencing

• state the order of events in the passage Note: An event that appeared in the first paragraph may not have happened first

__3__ Someone came to their rescue. __2__ Gary cried in pain. __1__ Ben called for help.

8

True or False

• identify whether a given statement is T/F • provide evidence to prove why the statement

is true or false

See in the next few slides

1

Based on the story, state whether each statement in the table below is true or false,

then give a reason why you think so. [2m]

True / False

Reason

(i)

The donkey, dog, cat and rooster

became friends because they

aspired to be musicians.

(ii) The robbers ran away from the

house because it was haunted.

Answering True/ False Questions with Reasons

1. to identify if a given statement is entirely true or if there is a false detail given

2. to provide evidence to prove why the statement is true or false with reference to passage

3. to provide the reason which has to be paraphrased from an original sentence(s) in the passage to justify if the statement is true or false

What are the main comprehension skills

required to answer the True/False questions with reason?

1

Based on the story, state whether each statement in the table below is true or false, then

give a reason why you think so. [1m]

True / False

Reason

(i)

The donkey, dog, cat and

rooster became friends

because they aspired to be

musicians.

Skill 1:

Scanning for specific

information

Skill 1:

Scanning for specific

information

Skill 2:

Paraphrasing

Bear in mind that if 0 marks will be awarded if the sentence is lifted from passage.

To lift is to copy a sentence from the passage from the first word to the full stop.

Success Criteria

1. I can scan the text to look for specific information.

2. I can rewrite the sentence(s) from the text in my own words.

Sample Text for EL Parent’s Workshop Taken from P4 SA1 2016

Long ago, a donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster became friends as their owners were cruel and tortured them. They comforted one another but one day they decided to run away to become musicians. They set out one morning, down the road that led to the town of Bremen. By evening, they reached a cold dark forest and sat down to rest. “Where shall we sleep?” groaned the tired donkey. “I’ll find a warm place,” said the cat and off she went. She came running back soon after. “There’s a house nearby,” she said. “Let’s go and see it,” said the donkey.

1

Based on the story, state whether each statement in the table below is true or false, then

give a reason why you think so. [1m]

True / False

Reason

(i)

The donkey, dog, cat and

rooster became friends

because they aspired to be

musicians.

Scanning for Specific Information

1. To scan through the text is to read through the passage quickly.

2. Ask yourself questions such as

• Which paragraph can I refer to to get the answer?

• Which sentence(s) justify that the statement is T/F?

• Which sentence(s) shall I pick out to justify my answer as the reason?

Let’s try this out!

Long ago, a donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster became friends as their owners were cruel and tortured them. They comforted one another but one day they decided to run away to become musicians.

They set out one morning, down the road that led to the town of Bremen. By evening, they reached a cold dark forest and sat down to rest.

“Where shall we sleep?” groaned the tired donkey.

“I’ll find a warm place,” said the cat and off she went. She came running back soon after.

“There’s a house nearby,” she said. “Let’s go and see it,” said the donkey.

Ask yourself : Which paragraph can I refer to to get the answer?

Statement:

The donkey, dog, cat and rooster became

friends because they aspired to be

musicians.

Zoom into Paragraph 1 and scan for specific information.

Which sentence(s) justify that the statement is T/F?

What was the reason that they became friends?

Is the statement true or false? 1. Were they friends because they aspired to be musicians?

2. Were they friends because their owners were cruel and tortured them?

3. Were they friends because they wanted to comfort one another?

Which sentence(s) shall I pick out?

1

Based on the story, state whether each statement in the table below is true or false, then

give a reason why you think so. [1m]

True / False

Reason

(i)

The donkey, dog, cat and

rooster became friends

because they aspired to be

musicians.

True

False

2. They comforted one another but

one day they decided to run

away to become musicians.

1. Long ago, a donkey, a dog, a

cat and a rooster became

friends as their owners were

cruel and tortured them.

OR

1

Based on the story, state whether each statement in the table below is true or false, then

give a reason why you think so. [1m]

True / False

Reason

(i)

The donkey, dog, cat and

rooster became friends

because they aspired to be

musicians.

False

1. Long ago, a donkey, a dog, a

cat and a rooster became

friends as their owners were

cruel and tortured them.

0 mark awarded

The answer has been

lifted from the passage

and does not address

the question.

What is Lifting?

• All answers MUST come from the comprehension passage BUT

• Not allowed to copy from the beginning of a sentence to the end (the capital letter of the sentence all the way to the full stop).

• it suggests a lack of understanding

4 Ways to Avoid Lifting

1. Remove irrelevant details

2. Replace the nouns with pronouns

3. Replace a word with another that is similar in meaning

4. Rearrange the sentence structure

1. Remove unnecessary details

• The phrase ‘long ago’ is not important in answering the question.

• Other common unnecessary details include phrases that describe the time, degree, or manner (e.g. very, extremely, as usual, In the blink of an eye etc.). `

Lifting

Long ago, a donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster became friends as their owners

were cruel and tortured them.

Paraphrased

Long ago, A donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster became friends as their owners

were cruel and tortured them.

2. Replace the nouns with a pronoun

• In this case, pronoun ‘They’ can be used as it directly refers to the animals.

• Students must introduce the names of the subject and object clearly first before replacing any nouns that come later in the sentence with any pronouns.

• If the answer become unclear after you replaced the noun, use other ways to paraphrase.

Lifting

Long ago, a donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster became friends as their owners

were cruel and tortured them.

Paraphrased

(A donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster)

They became friends as their owners were cruel and tortured them.

3. Replace a word with another that is similar in meaning

• The tense must be the maintained.

• The word must be similar in meaning and used appropriately in the sentence.

• The meaning of the word replaced must not alter the meaning of the answer.

• Tortured ignored (inaccurate ; meaning altered)

Lifting

Long ago, a donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster became friends as their owners

were cruel and tortured them.

Paraphrased

A donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster became friends as their owners were mean

and mistreated them.

4. Rearrange the sentence structure

• required to rearrange the structure of the original sentence.

• Use conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) to join sentences / ideas

• Consider other ways to paraphrase if this is a challenge

Lifting

Long ago, a donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster became friends as their owners

were cruel and tortured them. They comforted one another but one day they

decided to run away to become musicians.

Paraphrased

• Their owners were cruel and tortured them so the animals became friends as

they comforted one another.

• As their owners were mean and tortured them, the animals became friends to

comfort one another.

1

Based on the story, state whether each statement in the table below is true or false, then

give a reason why you think so. [1m]

True / False

Reason

(i)

The donkey, dog, cat and

rooster became friends

because they aspired to be

musicians.

False

The animals became friends to

comfort one another as their

owners were mean and tortured

them.

1 mark awarded

The answer has been

paraphrased accurately.

Hands-on Activity

Sample Text for EL Parent’s Workshop Taken from P4 SA1 2016

The four friends settled down to sleep in the robber’s house. In the meantime, the chief robber was very angry. He wanted to know who had entered their house and made the terrible noise. He sent one of his men back to the house to find out.

When the robber arrived, he tiptoed in. Everything was pitch black. The robber tried to light a fire using a pair of glowing coals. But they were the cat’s eyes! She meowed and scratched him. At the same time, the donkey kicked the robber and the dog bit his leg. The rooster crowed loudly too.

The robber thought the house was of ghosts and he ran away never to come back. Nor did any of the other robbers. As for the musicians, they stayed on happily in the house from that day on.

1

Based on the story, state whether each statement in the table below is true or false,

then give a reason why you think so. [1m]

True / False

Reason

(ii) The robbers ran away from the

house because it was haunted.

Ask yourself questions such as • Which paragraph can I refer to to get the answer? • Which sentence(s) justify that the statement is T/F? • Which sentence(s) shall I pick out to justify my answer as the reason?

Statement:

The robbers ran away from the house because it was haunted.

Scan for specific details

Sample Text for EL Parent’s Workshop Taken from P4 SA1 2016

Last Paragraph, First Sentence

The robber thought the house was of ghosts and he ran away never to come back. Nor did any of the other robbers. As for the musicians, they stayed on happily in the house from that day on.

1

Based on the story, state whether each statement in the table below is true or false,

then give a reason why you think so. [1m]

True / False

Reason

(ii) The robbers ran away from the

house because it was haunted.

True

1. The robber thought the house was of ghosts and all the robbers he ran away never to return come back.

The answer has been

paraphrased accurately.

Use T.A.P.S. to avoid Careless Mistakes for Comprehension Open-Ended Questions

• Tense

• Answer

• Punctuation

• Spelling

Question and Answer Session

Thank you!

Have a great weekend!

Next Session – PAL Room (2nd Floor) 10.30am

Tea break 10am – 10.25am