Mentor Texts: Clarify Understanding

Are you ever watching TV or talking to someone and all of the sudden you say “WAIT WHAT,” because you realize that you do NOT understand what is happening. I feel like it happens to me all the time in different situations, especially when I am trying to understand one of my husband’s software engineer stories! That is because we are constantly monitoring our understanding and clarifying where necessary to make sure we are correctly taking in the information.

This is also a skill that readers need to implement to ensure they understand what they are reading! Clarifying is such a difficult but important skills to teach kids. I LOVE using mentor texts to model as I monitor my understanding and what I do to clarify as I come across words and/ or events that do not make sense.

ENGAGE YOUR STUDENTS IN LEARNING CLARIFYING

Who would your kids rather learn about Clarifying from- you or a Queen? Read about how I use Queen Clarissa The Clarifier to teach my students to clarifying while they are reading to enhance their understanding!

clarifying understanding of text, reading strategy, monitoring understanding, shared reading — Check out my Clarifying resources here!

Clarissa The Clarifier is part of my Comprehension Crew instructional strategy. The Comprehension Crew is a group of characters each representing an essential reading skill. Each character has a profession, song, gesture, and prop that provide a concrete representation of the reading skill. These characters are used to model and reinforce each skill both in real life situations and in text. The character helps students to understand, remember, and intentionally apply skills as they are reading. This teaching format helps you provide intentional, concrete, and meaningful experiences with connection for your students. The reading character helps the skill COMES TO LIFE for the students and make it fun!

While Clarissa reads, she is consistently pausing to reflect on her understanding of the text. If she is unsure of a word or an event in the the story she uses problem solving strategies to clarify her understanding!

Click on the picture above to see this resource pack. The product includes a model lesson to teach clarifying with any text and an abundance of connecting activities! Clarissa can start helping you teach clarifying today!