Document Cameras & Projectors: Cool Use #7 “Active Reading”

ACTIVE READING    —————————————————————

CONTENT AREA: ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS, READING

GRADE LEVELS: MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL

Reading strategies such as underlining and taking notes in the margin help students

process texts for high-stakes reading tests. However, students are frequently issued reading

textbooks that they are not allowed to write in, vastly limiting the opportunities to practice

active reading strategies. A document camera can make active reading possible for

any text!

MATERIALS

- Document camera

- Projector

- Text selected for analysis

- Whiteboard or large sheet of paper that students can write on

PROCEDURE

BEFORE

1. Choose the text to analyze in class. 

DURING

2. Project the text selected for active reading analysis using the  document camera.

3. Direct students to decide, either cooperatively in small groups or individually, what is

the main idea of the chosen selection.

4. On their own paper, students should write which key words and phrases they would

underline, and what notes they would take in the margin.

5. Choose students to write directly over the projected image which text they have

marked and what notes they would write in the margin.

Help Students Prep for Reading Tests

6. Discuss accuracy as a class.

AFTER

7. Using a document camera, project a text selection that students have not seen

before. As bell work, review, or assessment, have students write on their own paper

which key words and phrases they would underline, and what notes they would take

in the margin.

ADAPTATIONS

- For practice reading poetry, assign students to bring in a copy of appropriate song

lyrics. Project the image of the lyrics and discuss poetry conventions such as

figurative language, meter, and rhyme scheme together as a class.

- Use a document camera to project any text that is being read or referenced

during instructional time. This will help all students, especially students with learning

disabilities or English Language Learners, keep up with the lesson. This will vastly

reduce the number of students who will “get lost” during group reading.