Seven-year-old Alfonso has two months left in his first grade year. He is active and outgoing, has many friends, and loves to play soccer. Science is his favorite subject. He enjoys learning anything related to space and sloths. He is very curious and particularly likes hands-on academic activities that use manipulatives.
During literacy class instruction, Alfonso can sound out words well, but struggles with reading comprehension including word meanings and finding connections among words in various grade appropriate texts. Alfonso has a particularly hard time connecting what he reads with what he already knows. He often brings up irrelevant information when trying to make these connections.
Alfonso’s teacher, Ms. Seymour, wants to ensure Alfonso masters the vocabulary and comprehension skills that are expected before the end of the year, so she has written the following curricular/academic goals for him:
• Given a grade-appropriate text with new vocabulary, Alfonso will use context clues and other strategies, such as consulting a dictionary, to help determine the meaning of unfamiliar words.
• Given a grade-appropriate text, Alfonso will make connections from text to self to help comprehend the meaning of the text.
Part 1: Lesson Outline
Using the “Reading Comprehension Lesson Outline Template ,” develop a research-based reading lesson outline to help Alphonso reach his vocabulary and reading comprehension goals. Begin by selecting a grade-appropriate children’s book on which to base the lesson.
The lesson plan outline should include the following:
• Three learning objectives aligned to one or more state literacy standard that reflects the literacy goals Alphonso is working to achieve.
• The selected book and a vocabulary activity that introduces five vocabulary words directly from the book.
• A comprehension activity that allows Alfonso to demonstrate his comprehension of the story.
• Two research-based strategies that can be integrated into the vocabulary and comprehension activities to help Alfonso meet his vocabulary and comprehension goals.
• Opportunities for Alfonso to apply these skills to different situations or content areas.
Part 2: Rationale and Specialist Planning
Provide a 500-750 word narrative that includes a rationale for the reading comprehension lesson plan and a plan to work with a reading specialist. In the rationale, explain the following:
• The alignment between Alfonso’s curricular/academic goals, the lesson activities, and the presented research-based strategies.
• How the lesson addresses Alfonso’s specific learning needs as well as his interests.
• At least one learning theory that supports the selected strategies.
Suppose your principal arranged for a reading specialist to help with meeting Alfonso’s developmental needs. In the same narrative as above, describe a structured system you and the specialist could put in place that involves short- and long-term goal setting, as well as data analysis, re-evaluation, and feedback to Alfonso and his family .
