Have you used paired texts in reading instruction? Paired texts are made up of two articles that are paired based on a common topic, theme, or literary element. Every paired text set comes with custom question sets that support students in drawing important connections between the two texts. Readworks.org provides a good explanation with examples of how to use paired texts. Other sites reinforce this practice by adding writing activities matched to paired texts. An example would be to add a writing prompt related to the texts. What do you think?
- Have you used paired texts? Give us some examples so that we can learn from you!
- What Web resources do you recommend for implementing the practice?
Comments
Hello,
I also like to use Newsela.com and CommonLit.org, both offer text sets on a variety of topics.
Hi Susan, Leecy and all, Reading two or more texts on a related topics is valuable since these texts recycle important content and deepen learners' understanding of essential concepts. Thanks for posting info on where to find text sets on Newsela.com and CommonLit.org, Susan.
Newsela also offers texts that deal with controversial issues. For instance, arguments on both sides of celebrating Columbus Day -- which would make for an interesting lesson next week.
Other pro/con texts can be found at the pro.con.org site. Some members might be interested to check out this post that featured how to address College and Career ELA Anchor 9: "Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take."
I like to offer texts in a variety of forms, too, e.g., infographics, photographs, artifacts, and audio and video files. For example, when teaching about the heath effects of heat in a health career class, I used an OSHA infograph on this topic as well as an online video "How to Prevent Heatstroke."
It would be great to see some additional examples of resources and lessons that engage students with paired texts as well as with these different kinds of texts. What examples can you offer, members?
Cheers, Susan Finn Miller
Moderator, Teaching & Learning CoP