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What Tools are available in Integrated Reading?
For success in the 21st century, students must interact with texts that are complex and challenging, that spur readers to develop habits of close and careful analysis.
We provide tools to assist students with building meaning and to ensure that they are able to analyze and synthesize information in the text, cite evidence, and defend their answers.
Step-by-Step Guidance
Student Tools
The tools are located in a menu along the left side of the screen.
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Dictionary: Students can use the dictionary tool to view definitions of words and for the pronunciation of individual words. This offers students the opportunity to build meaning and understanding of new words introduced within the text. |
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Highlighter: Students have access to a highlighter tool with multiple colors. Students can use it to highlight important points in the text or to practice specific skills such as identifying key ideas and details. They can also use the highlighter tool to identify story elements such as setting, characters, problem, and solution – a different color can be used for each element. |
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Sticky Note: Students can use this tool to record and save ideas or to show evidence for answers. They can type their thoughts about the text and pin them in different locations throughout the text, referring back to the note at a later time. Since many new assessments require students to answer multiple-choice questions and then enter text to explain their choice, they can use the sticky note to defend their answer and pin it to their choice. |
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Help: The help button provides video instructions on how to use each tool. |
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Audio: By default, Classworks enables the audio feature to allow all students to hear the passage read aloud. This tool can be used to model the correct fluency for each passage as well as help struggling readers understand and comprehend each passage. Teachers have the option to disable audio for students through the Edit User menu for each student. See below for directions on how to disable the audio. |
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Undo: This tool allows students to reverse the deletion of a note or any of the erase all functions (see below). |
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Erase: Students can choose to erase all highlights, all notes, or erase all markings within the passage. This tool is especially helpful when using a passage for repeated readings to clear prior annotations. |
Teacher Tools
Teacher resource pages are available for each passage. These pages include tools to support the teacher in helping students reach high levels of reading achievement.
Multiple choice items: Each multiple choice item includes rationales for each distractor. Teachers can use the rationales to gain insight into students' thinking and misconceptions as a guide for instruction. For example, if a student is consistently identifying a supporting detail as a main idea, the teacher can use that information to plan for individualized instruction. Teachers can also use the rationales to teach students how to eliminate answer choices.
Open-Ended items: Teachers are given a list of possible responses for the questions. Working with the class, the teacher may want to use possible responses to build exemplars for both drawn and written responses. This sets expectations for students and builds self-evaluation skills.
Launch Content
This screen is accessed by clicking on the name of the activity within an Integrated Reading unit within the Teacher Module.
1. From the Create Tab, click Instruction, then click on the arrow to the left of Integrated Reading and again to the left of the desired grade level.
2. Click on the Name of the Lesson to launch the activity page.
3. Teacher Resources will be available below the activity Start button:
- Offline Activities: Clicking this button launches a PDF with the passage and the questions for printing. These can be beneficial for students who do not have a computer or internet access to complete activities for homework or during class, if needed.
- Teacher Page: This button launches the teacher page, which contains all the teacher tools and resources.