Framing our Reading: Part 1 (Engagement)

	Text Citation or Link	Rationale for Choosing	Text Frame(s)	Strategies Used and Resource
Engagement Example	How many gold atoms make gold metal?	This article combines math, biology, chemistry, and engineering to show how new discoveries can revolutionize technology.  This article explores nanometer-sized pieces of gold and their electronic changes.  This can help make new discoveries in bioimaging and sensing.	Concept/definition  Compare/contrast	Connection Stems (McLaughlin)

The Connection Stem Strategy provides a way to help students make connections with their prior knowledge and the texts.  Students can associate the current reading with other readings as well.  The basis of this reading comprehension strategy is to make connections so that students can reflect on their reading.   Connection Stems can be used for narrative and informative text and be used at any time during the reading (pre-reading, post-reading, or during).

Students read the text and make connections to the real world, their own life, or other text using Connection Stems, or a phrase to begin a connection.  McLaughlin suggests the following Connection Stems:

-          -That reminds me of…

-          -I remember when…

-          -I have a connection…

-          -An experience I have had that was similar to that…

-          -I felt like that person when…

-          -If I were that person, I would…

Students will individually think of Connection Stems with the article being read and write them down.  After reading and reflecting, they could share it with their neighbors.  You can also specify the type of connections that you would like the students to focus on: text-self, text-text, or text-world.

While reading the gold atoms article, I focused on my own Connection Stems.  “I have a connection with observing electronic properties because I studied electrical engineering in college.”  “I remember when we studied molecule and atom behavior in material science and how it affects electronics.”  “Using this in short-term energy storage reminds me of an article we read in my renewable energy class about how difficult it can be to store power.”  While my own Connection Stems are mainly related to my experience with Electrical Engineering, students will be able to create their own connection stems to their current and past classes, as well as past knowledge from outside of school.

Works Cited:

Akatemia, Suomen (Academy of Finland). (2015, April 10).  How many gold atoms make gold metal? ScienceDaily.  Retrieved April 12, 2015 from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150410083516.htm

McLaughlin, M., (2015).  Content Area Reading:  Teaching and Learning for College and Career Readiness. Boston:  Pearson.

Buehl, D., (2014) Classroom Strategies for Interactive Learning, 4^th ed. International Reading Association.