Mini Lesson Based on the Running Record

Since this child has excellent phonetic skills and can read fluently but lacks comprehension, here is a lesson plan to address this. A child can do the action of reading all day but if there is no comprehension the essential act of reading isn’t being accomplished. To build reading comprehension we are going to use the method of “think aloud” where the student expresses what they think the author is trying to say in the story.

Introduction:

Put the word “think aloud” on the board and discuss with the students what they think it means. Take apart the term and define it clearly.

Model:

Put up the poem KIND WORDS by Henry W. Longfellow

 Kind hearts are the gardens; (I think the author is saying that a kind heart is as nice as a garden)

Kind thoughts are the roots, (Just like the roots keep the plant alive, nice thoughts keep a nice heart like that)

Kind words are the flowers, (kind words are like flowers in the garden, look small but they’re beautiful)

Kind deeds are the fruits. (fruits are something that you can use just like deeds, kind deeds are nice and beautiful like fruits)

Take care of the gardens, (we have to take care of our gardens and make sure our hearts are nice and kind)

And keep them from weeds. (weeds make gardens ugly and kill flowers…) Here ask the class what they think the weeds represent and discuss how not nice words and actions can ruin a heart just like weeds ruin a garden

 Fill, fill them with flowers, (make sure to say nice words)

Kind words and kind deeds. (and do good deeds)

Group Activity:

After modeling how to think aloud have the children go to their groups and get a new poem. Have them read it line by line and discuss what they think the author is trying to say.

Independent Activity:

Give each child a short text. The format of the paper should be one in which the text is divided into small segments with room underneath each segment. Have the child read each segment and underneath they can write or draw what they think the author is saying. Another option they can have is acting out what the author is saying.