How to Teach Text Structure in 6th Grade: Move Beyond Naming the Structure

1. How to Teach Text Structure in 6th Grade: Move Beyond Naming the Structure
1. On This Page
2. What Sixth Graders Are Actually Expected to Do
3. Signal Words Are Clues, Not Proof
4. The Five Common Informational Text Structures
5. What Students Need to Understand—not Just Memorize
6. Choose the Lesson Path That Fits Your Time
7. A Low-Prep Video Launch for the Beginning of the Unit
1. Before Watching
2. During the Video
3. After the Video: The Important Bridge
8. Beginning Partner Practice: Name It, Prove It, Connect It
1. Partner Roles
2. Ready-to-Use Partner Cards
3. Partner Card Answer Key
9. Ready-to-Teach Mini-Lesson: What Job Does This Paragraph Do?
1. Learning Target
2. Step 1: Set the Purpose
3. Step 2: Read the Passage
1. Student Passage: When the Schoolyard Becomes Too Hot
4. Step 3: Identify the Overall Structure
5. Step 4: Model the Paragraph’s Job
6. Step 5: Guide Students Through a Second Paragraph
7. Step 6: Use an Exit Ticket
10. A Simple Two-Point Check
11. Scaffolds for Students Who Need More Support
1. Provide a Paragraph Job Bank
2. Use a Two-Part Sentence Frame
3. Let Students Explain Before They Write
4. Reduce the Visual Load
5. Keep the Text Available
12. Extensions for Students Ready for More
13. Four Short Text-Structure Stations for Beginning the Skill
1. Station 1: Video Review and Structure Match
2. Station 2: Signal Word—Clue or Trap?
3. Station 3: Give Each Paragraph a Job
4. Station 4: Rebuild the Author’s Plan
5. How to Manage the Stations Without Creating More Work
14. Common Text-Structure Mistakes—and What to Do Next
1. Mistake 1: Students hunt for one signal word
2. Mistake 2: Students summarize instead of analyzing
3. Mistake 3: Students give a purpose that could fit any paragraph
4. Mistake 4: Students believe every article has only one structure
15. A Five-Minute Small-Group Reteach
16. Helping a Sixth Grader at Home
17. Frequently Asked Questions About Teaching Text Structure in Sixth Grade
1. Should I teach all five structures at once?
2. Do students still need to learn signal words?
3. What is the difference between summarizing and analyzing structure?
4. Can headings help students identify structure?
5. How do I know when the skill is secure?
18. The Most Important Shift
19. Keep Building the Reading Skill
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How to Teach Text Structure in 6th Grade: Move Beyond Naming the Structure

  • Debra Shepherd

  • 26 minute read

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