Reading Groups in Secondary Content Classrooms
Incorporating Multilingual Learners
Reading groups can bring students of a variety of multilingual and cultural backgrounds into community. The advantages supported by research show cognitive improvement, better classroom relationships, and a deeper understanding of diverse viewpoints.
The first step in organizing reading groups is to assess students’ reading levels and model what should happen in the groups. Keep in mind that students who have background knowledge of the content will understand at a higher reading level and vice versa.
Assess Participants: Ask the English Language Development specialist in your school what the WIDA reading level is for the students in your classes. If they don’t have that data, you can use a simple CLOZE test. Here’s a video that explains how to do it if you are new to the process: VIDEO on CLOZE assessments.
Group Participants: After assessing their reading levels, group participants into groups of 3-4. The reading levels should include students at slightly different reading levels and, hopefully, a variety of language backgrounds. Sometimes it is helpful to put two MLs of the same language background in the same group with two others who speak English as their dominant language so they have support.
Select Appropriate Readings: Choose reading materials that are appropriate for each group's reading level. This could be an article or section of text. It’s a great way to help them understand content through reading that they couldn’t do on their own.
Set Clear Goals: Establish clear goals for each reading group. Let them know what 2-3 ideas they should be getting from the assigned reading.
Interactive Discussion: Ask students to read aloud, with each taking turns. Encourage them to give each of their classmates time to sound out the words and only help after a bit of wait time. Teach them to create a supportive and non-judgmental environment where participants feel comfortable asking questions, sharing their thoughts, and making mistakes.
Task: Make sure that each group has a task that they need to complete at the end of the group reading sessions. It could be to complete a graphic organizer, create a poster with specific points, or share a short presentation. The goal is flexibility within a structure so they stay on task. Example from: SplashLearn
Reading groups for multilevel readers can be challenging, but they are also incredibly rewarding. By tailoring your approach to the needs of each group, you can help individuals of all reading levels improve their skills and develop a lifelong love for reading and connecting with those who may be different than them.
How have you organized reading groups for Multilingual Learners?
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