<p> Independent Reading-- Inside the Box Instructions</p><p>My Reading Text Elements Word Skills Taxonomy of Thinking</p><p>Reading Strategy Reading Strategy Reading Strategy Reading Strategy</p><p>Materials:</p><p>11x17 paper 1/student</p><p>8 Labels /student</p><p>Introduce the 8 Box</p><p>1. model folding the paper – use mathematical terminology of ‘lines of symmetry’, fractional parts of the whole etc.</p><p>2. Model using a short picture book –(choose one with less text but rich meaning)</p><p>3. Model 2-3 boxes in a session – students complete their box after the teacher has modeled it. </p><p>4. Re-read the book and complete additional boxes on subsequent days.</p><p>NOTE: This is only a SUGGESTION of how it can be used. The design of this 8-box is an excellent tool to use for Differentiated Instruction while maintaining the appearance of all students doing the ‘same’ activity.</p><p>The top four boxes generally address the same topics. box 1 - My reading</p><p>As an alternative to the suggestions provided in the teacher resource, students can make a new cover for the book. This necessitates the knowledge of 'what goes on the cover of a book' besides the obvious - title, author, illustrator...the new picture should contain the main character or tease the subject yet entice the reader to pick it up. This is a great opportunity to teach the media literacy of the cover of a picture book. In the beginning though, just get them to make a new cover.</p><p> box 2 --Text elements </p><p>Fiction--title, setting character plot, </p><p>Non-Fiction-- glossary, index, text structure</p><p>Students use the prompts provided in the teacher resource to demonstrate their understanding and use of textual elements.</p><p> box #3 --Word study</p><p>Review of concepts taught or discovering new words in context.</p><p>1. Find 3 adjectives, write a synonym and draw a picture</p><p>2. Choose 5 words (beginning with the same letter) and alphabetize...</p><p>3. Heighten awareness of ‘overused’ words – How many words can you find to replace the word ‘said’?</p><p> box #4 --Taxonomy Box Use the many prompts to assess Blooms taxonomy of thinking; from knowledge understanding to higher order thinking like evaluation. Open-ended questions are ideal. Students must be clear and concise and support it with evidence in the space allowed.</p><p>Lower Four Boxes are for comprehension strategies such as;</p><p> Connecting</p><p> Inferring  Predicting</p><p> Determining importance</p><p> Questioning</p><p> Visualizing</p><p>Mix up the strategies in any arrangement. Use 2 of the 4 to review previously taught concepts, 1 for current teaching and 1 as a diagnostic of a strategy you have not done yet.</p><p>Adapted from Independent Reading Inside the Box by Lisa Donohue</p>