tam highlighting strategies
TRANSCRIPT
Highlighting Strategies
OWTS PD Tamara Connors
WHY HIGHLIGHTING IS HELPFUL?
• As a student performs the physical act of highlighting a word or selection, it sends a "wake-up and pay attention" message to the brain. The kinesthetic movement is helpful for learners.
• Highlighting tells the brain "THIS IS IMPORTANT.”• Brain research tells us that adding color to printed
material increases the odds that the information will be stored in long-term memory and more readily recalled.
• When you explain the WHY of using highlighting, it encourages students to use this method more willingly.
Additionally, highlighting… improves reading comprehension.helps students organize what’s
important. helps teachers see quickly see if
students have identified the main points correctly.
can be used with technology like E books and documents.
can be tailored for different skill levels.
Highlighting helps both visual and tactile students remember what they are reading
and will aid in studying the text independently.
For visual learners, the highlighted portions of text will stick in their heads better as a visual reminder of the important facts in the text.
For tactile learners, the physical act of highlighting helps them to remember the important facts.
Visual and Tactile Learners
What are different ways to use
highlighting?
Types of Highlighters
Highlighting for the Main Idea
Tests:
• Highlight the directions. • highlight what to do AND the key
requirements.• After an exam, have students find the right
answer to items missed and highlight it in the text or notes.
Highlighting Vocabulary• Highlight key vocabulary and its
definitions or explanations.• Highlight words they are unsure of in
their textbooks, they don’t know cues readers to go back later and decipher the meaning of the selection if they are unable to use context clues to figure out the word .
• (Note --there are highlighters that are erasable or highlighting tape/markers which won't harm textbooks.)
Highlighting E Books & Text Documents
• When using an eBook, teachers should ask students to:
1.Read through the selection first. 2.Reread and select a portion of the text that
the student wishes to highlight by highlighting or changing the font of the text.
3.Summarize what they read by using the highlighted text to write a summary paragraph.
Fact vs. Opinion
• Students can visually see bias by highlighting:
– facts in one color– opinions in another– emotionally charged words with a third
Strategy Steps:
1.Discuss the purpose of the activity or what they will be highlighting. (i.e., focus on vocabulary, main ideas, proper nouns, facts, opinions, etc.).
2.Then model the procedure to ensure that students understand how to selectively highlight.
3.Give students time and means to practice the technique and reinforce successful performance.
4.Monitor and support students as they work.
What ways can you think of to use highlighters?