Domain 1 Planning and Preparation 

1a. Demonstrating Knowledge of Content and Pedagogy (Growth)

           These are my  annotations for a close reading on an Oliver Twist excerpt I read with my Pre-AP English and AP World History block classes. Close reading is a vital component of English pedagogy. It allows students to learn and practice terminology to discuss literature and models how evidence from a text develops analysis. These are skills students then transfer to their independent reading. We read this excerpt in our Industrial Revolution unit. We discussed the details I highlighted, rather than the details that stood out to them. In order for close reading skills to transfer to students' independent reading lives, they must be involved in the process.  One approach is to pick a lens to read the text through. This can be time period, setting, relationships etc. Then together, the class gathers details according to that lens. The class looks at those details and asks “What details fit together?” and “Why do they fit together?”. Students will be able to discern patterns from those details, and those patterns can be used for text analysis. With my close readings since this lesson, I have modeled these steps, and led activities that asked students to try them out on their own. I am continuing my growth in this area with application and reflection.