HMH Close Reads: Grade 6

HMH Close Reads: Grade 6 guides students through text analysis and reading comprehension exercises using a close read format. The text genres users can select include: Argument, Informational Text, Poetry, Drama, Fiction, Media, and Compare texts. (Please note, users are only able to access the Fiction genre without purchasing the complete set for $5.99). Each genre includes three texts, and users engage the first text as a guided close read. The second and third texts are engaged as independent close reads. When completing the guided close reads, users are first presented with the complete text to read. After reading it, users are to tap the “right” arrow on the bottom of the page, which will take them to the “Reread and Analyze” section. Here, users will be presented a variety of questions to answer that include text annotation prompts, short answer, fill-in-the-blank, ordering, and multiple-choice. As users respond to the questions, they can check their answer or see example of answers. When users engage a text as an independent read, they are first presented the text to read. Next, they complete the “Practice and Apply” section, which presents them with 10 questions they are to answer. The questions reinforce the skills that were taught/reviewed during the Guided Close Read section. After users complete the Independent Close Read practice, they tap the “Submit” button and are then presented with an analysis of their answers.

Please Note: This app is available for multiple grades, and users must make an in-app purchase to access the entire app’s content. Also, if purchased, users will be able to create their own account and classes.

Instructional Ideas

1. For each genre of text in this app, teachers can have students first complete the guided close read and independent close read as a pre-assessment. Next, teachers can view the data reported after students complete the independent close read and use it to inform their teaching of close read, reading comprehension, and text analysis. Finally, teachers can have students take the final independent close read exercise as a post assessment. Afterwards, teachers can compare pre and post close read data to assess students’ growth.
2. Students can first complete the guided close read and first independent close read exercise in this app for a specific genre of texts. At this point, teachers can pause students and discuss any challenges they may have had while completing the close reads. Or, teachers can have students analyze their assessment data from the independent close read. Teachers can then have students write a journal entry where they identify their areas of strength and weakness using the UX Write, Office Offline, or WPS Office app, which can be emailed to the teacher. Teachers can then craft future lessons to support students’ development in the areas they identified as weaknesses and then use the final independent close read exercise to assess student growth and the effectiveness of their instruction.
3. Over a two-month period, teachers can instruct one genre of text from this app per week. On Monday, students can complete the guided reading section as practice. Teachers can then lead students through another guided lesson on Tuesday. On Wednesday, teachers can have students complete the first independent close read in this app and email a screenshot of their results to their teacher. Teachers can then analyze the strengths and weaknesses of their class. On Thursday, teachers can then instruct another lesson about close reads based on their students’ results as analyzed from the screenshots. Finally, on Friday, teachers can have students complete the final independent close read in this app. Afterwards, teachers can have students take a screenshot of their results and email it to them. Teachers can then evaluate the screenshots for student proficiency and growth.
4. After students become familiar with close reads and this app, teachers can have students select a text that interests them. Next, using the UX Write, WPS Office, or Office Offline app, teachers can have students write different types of questions that model the types used by this app. When finished, students can email their questions and text to their teacher, who can post it to a class website for other students to complete.

Screenshots