Clozed+Content


 * Strategy Name:** Clozed Content


 * Strategy Description:** This strategy uses a cloze activity to introduce key vocabulary for content area texts.


 * Description/Name of the class in which you would use this strategy:** First grade reading, or guided reading groups


 * Rationale:** Rather than handing over vocabulary and definitions to the students, they have to use the context of the book to decide what those words are. It requires a bit more thinking and decoding, relying heavily on the context of the text.


 * Procedure:**
 * Copy or type the text of the content area book. Cover, leave out, or cut out the vocabulary words.
 * Read the text to the students, asking for them to predict what they think the words will be.
 * If needed, after the first round of guesses, give them the first letter of the word and take another round of guesses.
 * Discuss what clues in the text helped them guess.
 * Trigger and/or assess background knowledge throughout the discussion.


 * Diverse Learners:**
 * This lesson will work for your readers that rely on context, and will challenge the ones that don't. It forces them to use the text to decipher the heavy content words.


 * Potential Issues:**
 * Students may not have the background knowledge necessary to decode the vocabulary.
 * Students' comprehension may not be as high if they get too wrapped up in individually decoding and don't connect the entire text together as a whole.


 * Implementation Suggestions:**
 * Be sure to consistently review the content of the text.
 * You may want to review the vocabulary words initially, and then do the cloze activity, helping with students that have limited background knowledge.


 * Resources:**
 * Col, Jeananda. 2004 . Ant Anatomy and Life Cycle: A cloze activity. April 15, 2009, from http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/insects/ant/cloze/.
 * Goodman, Y.M., Watson, D.J., Burke, C.L., 1996. //Reading Strategies: Focus on comprehension.// Katonah, NY: Richard C. Own Publishers, Inc.