Using Anticipation Guides to Support Comprehension of Science Informational Text

Identify a content discipline topic

District curriculum maps are organized by discipline and typically divided into several units of study across the school year. Teachers often collect several forms of data throughout each unit. The data collected from these assessments will help identify topics within each unit of study with which students struggle. For example, at the beginning of a science unit on Forces and Motion, a teacher notices through informal questioning that a group of students struggles with many of the key concepts (e.g., forces, push, pull). Data collected through informal questioning are further confirmed after administering a written assessment. The teacher then decides to provide additional instructional support for this group of students by focusing on the key concepts (e.g., forces, push, pull) identified using the AG tool.

Science, guided by the nationally recognized Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), is the content discipline referenced throughout the rest of this article, because it is an area in which students with disabilities often struggle to understand content area concepts (Wagner, Newman, Cameto, & Levine, 2006). If, for example, a third-grade teacher focuses on the topic Forces and Motion, he would begin by examining the NGSS to identify standard(s) that match the topic. An example standard that may correspond with the aforementioned topic includes the following: 3-PS2-B: Objects in contact exert forces on each other (www.nextgenerationscience.org).

Identify literacy goals

Informal and formal assessments will help teachers focus by highlighting the areas with which students struggle. If, for example, curriculum-based measures indicate that students struggle to determine importance in texts, the teacher may develop the following disciplinary literacy goal: Students will orally identify the main idea in a short piece of text that defines and provides examples of forces. Once the instructional goal is identified, the teacher is encouraged to match the goal with the corresponding literacy standard(s). An example of a standard that would be an appropriate match with the aforementioned goal is RI.3.2: Determine the main idea of a text: recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea (www.corestandards.org).

Choose materials

Although traditional textbooks are common, texts such as trade books, magazines, and nonfiction picture books can be more accessible and engaging than textbooks because the organization is typically less complex and they are often accompanied by illustrations to help clarify complex points (Donne, 2011; Ediger, 2002). These texts can help students with LD understand difficult concepts they may encounter in science and are recommended by researchers beyond the scope of using AGs in classrooms (Guthrie et al., 2007; O’Connor et al., 2002). Teachers are encouraged to examine supplemental texts that accompany textbooks and to search their school and local libraries for these kinds of texts. Texts that can be found in school or local libraries that support topics covered in the NGSS third-grade curriculum are provided in Table 1.

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Table 1.

Science Informational Text Resources.

Discipline and Category	Content Standard	Informational Text Title
Science; Forces and Motion	NGSS-3-PS2.1B: Objects in contact exert forces on each other	Forces and Motion: A Question and Answer Book
Science; Forces and Motion	NGSS-3-PS2.1B: Objects in contact exert forces on each other	Give It a Push! Give It a Pull!: A Look at Forces
Science; Earth Systems	NGSS-3-ESS2.2D: Climate describes a range of an area’s typical weather conditions and the extent to which those conditions vary over years	Studying Weather and Climates
Science; Biological Evolution	NGSS-3-LS4.1A: Fossils provide evidence about the types of organisms that lived long ago and also about the nature of their environments	Fossils Tell of Long Ago
Science; Biological Evolution	NGSS-3-LS4-3C: For any particular environment, some kinds of organisms survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all	Would you Survive? Animal and Plant Adaptation
Science; Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems	NGSS-3-LS4-4D: Populations live in a variety of habitats, and change in those habitats affect the organisms living there	The ABCs of Habitats

Continuing the example presented earlier surrounding Forces and Motion, a public library search could yield the following text: Forces and Motion: A Question and Answer Book. The teacher would examine the text to determine instructional fit based on target goals and standards. In addition, other kinds of instructional materials such as balls, benches, and wagons can be used in experiments to bolster students’ understanding of how forces work. An experiment allowing students to pull a wagon with and without another student sitting in the wagon, for example, will help students understand the concept of forces and that some objects require greater force to move them from place to place.

Create statements

When creating statements for the AG, teachers may find it helpful to consider the following three guidelines: (a) choose concepts that activate students’ prior knowledge, (b) choose concepts that highlight the main ideas from the text, and (c) choose concepts that highlight things students may not understand well or that may generate argument or debate (Duffelmeyer, 1994). It will be important for teachers to include statements that are both true and false on the AG to encourage critical thinking about the content.

For example, if a teacher chooses to use Forces and Motion: A Question and Answer Book, she would first examine the text for information that could be connected to her students’ prior knowledge. Students will have previously experienced the difference between moving heavy and light objects. Because the text discusses the concept of an object’s weight affecting the amount of force needed to move it, “lighter objects need more force to move them” is an example of a true/false statement that could be used to activate students’ prior knowledge. Next, the teacher examines the text and determines that the primary focus is defining forces as pushing and pulling something. The teacher could, therefore, use “pushing and pulling are forces” as a true/false statement to represent the main idea AG statement. Finally, the text discusses the fact that just because one exerts force on an object does not mean the object will move and provides an example of how sitting on a bench does not cause it to move. The teacher can use the true/false statement “forces always cause things to move” to highlight a possible student misconception.

Consider think-aloud techniques

Thinking aloud involves articulating inner speech and is an effective method for modeling comprehension processes while reading (Alvermann, 1984; Ness, 2014). When planning to use this technique, teachers may consider the many reasons to model thinking aloud while reading. A teacher may want to model how to make a prediction about a piece of text, express a reaction to a portion of text, or make a connection to a section of text (Ness, 2014). For example, before choosing a book, most good readers read the title, examine any available illustrations, read the summary on the back, and examine the number of pages. The thoughts that may accompany these actions include the following: (a) Does this title sound interesting? (b) Do the illustrations seem intriguing? (c) Does the summary make me want to read more? and (d) Will I have time to read a book this long? The think-aloud process would involve articulating these questions aloud while engaging in the aforementioned actions. Table 2 provides a more extensive list of reasons to think-aloud, along with possible think-aloud sentence stems that could accompany the aforementioned trade book.

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Table 2.

Think Aloud Guide.

Reason	Sentence Starter	Sentence Example
Making predictions	I predict . . .	I predict we will read about balls hitting things and setting them in motion.
Making connections (text to text, text to self, text to world)	I remember . . .	I remember pulling the empty wagon but not being able to pull the wagon with someone in it.
Expressing confusion	I’m not sure . . .	I’m not sure why forces don’t always cause things to move.
Asking questions	I wonder why . . .	I wonder why cars don’t break a bridge when they drive on it.
Making reflections	I realize . . .	I realize that forces don’t always cause things to move.
Confirming knowledge	I now know . . .	I now know pushing and pulling are forces.

Introduce topic and text

Teachers are encouraged to begin instruction by introducing the content area topic and accompanying text to students. During this step, teachers may find it helpful to build background knowledge through thinking aloud and questioning. Think-aloud techniques that are typically used while introducing a topic or text include making predictions and formulating questions about the upcoming topic. In addition, teachers can use any images that accompany the text and highlight small portions of the text to support student understanding.

To adapt this step for students with LD in reading, teachers are encouraged to work with small groups of three to five students. This will allow teachers to provide more explicit scaffolds to individual students before reading the text. During the introduction, teachers may also provide students with opportunities to discuss their connections to the topic with each other. This will provide students with extended wait time to organize their thoughts and gain confidence in their ideas before sharing them with the group.

Discuss statements

Once students have some background about the topic, teachers may introduce the AG by describing its purpose and model how to use each section of the AG. Teachers are also encouraged to ask students to respond to each statement and remind them that it is okay to answer questions based on what they think they know about the topic. This portion of the lesson allows the AG to serve as a preassessment tool that measures students’ prior knowledge about the topic, main ideas in the upcoming text, and possible misconceptions about the topic. The information provided might help teachers determine individual student understanding and whether to have the students place particular attention on specific concepts while reading the text.

To adapt this step for students with LD in reading, teachers may choose to project statements using a SMART Board or write statements on large chart paper. This will allow teachers to highlight each statement and minimize confusion that may occur from each student trying to navigate individual AGs. In addition, teachers are encouraged to limit the number of AG statements to three, keep each statement short, and choral read each statement with students. These changes will help focus students’ attention on comprehending each statement. Teachers are also encouraged to allow for oral responses to the AG. This will alleviate any issues students may have with writing fluency or spelling. Finally, because instruction will occur in small groups, when students respond orally teachers will be able to write or type each student’s name or initials next to the true or false options. Teachers will also be able to write a shorthand version of each student’s rationale and identify each rationale using students’ names or initials.

Read text

Teachers are encouraged to read the text and stop at various points throughout the reading to support students through think-aloud techniques. Teachers may also check for understanding through summarizing and questioning. Think-aloud techniques that are typically used while reading text include asking a question to clarify understanding or making inferences about the text. Teachers may enter the lesson with preselected stopping points (e.g., the end of each page or paragraph). However, the data collected while discussing each AG statement may encourage teachers to change some of the decisions they made during planning. This will allow for increased focus on areas of deficit (e.g., main ideas or misconceptions) demonstrated during the discussion conducted before reading.

To adapt this step for students with LD in reading, teachers may read the text aloud or use echo or choral reading to support students. This will allow teachers to minimize any readability issues students may experience.

Revisit statements

Teachers are encouraged to explain to students that this is the time to consider whether they would like to stay with their original thinking about each statement or make changes. Teachers are encouraged to revisit each AG statement and allow students to consider their original thoughts about each statement. Similar to Step 2, discussing each AG statement, students will respond orally and teachers will identify individual responses using student names or initials. This portion of the lesson allows the AG to serve as a postassessment tool to measure what students have learned about the topic. It also helps teachers determine whether students need reteaching and review. For example, if students struggled with misconceptions before the discussion and continued to struggle with the same misconceptions after the discussion, then teachers would strongly consider reteaching and reviewing those concepts.

To adapt this step for students with LD in reading, teachers may support students through modeling and thinking aloud as students make connections to the text and consider whether to keep their original responses or make changes.

Introduce topic and text

The special education teacher introduces the topic Forces and Motion by asking students questions such as “What do you know about forces and motion?” and “What do you think about when I say forces can set things in motion?” These questions may help students make connections to terms or things they have already experienced. The teacher then introduces the book, Forces and Motion: A Question and Answer Book, in an effort to build students’ background knowledge about the topic. The teacher highlights the cover image of a bowling ball hitting bowling pins and the image in the first chapter of a baseball player using his bat to hit a baseball. Questions such as “How do you think the cover picture illustrates forces and motion?” and “What is the force and what is being set in motion in this picture?” will help students make connections between their previous experiences and the upcoming topic. Throughout the discussion, the teacher provides students with opportunities to think about their answers through extended wait time and think-pair-share activities before asking students to share their thoughts with the small group.

Discuss statements

The special education teacher introduces the AG to students by showing them the three-statement list and explaining that its purpose is to support understanding of the upcoming text before and after reading. The teacher has written the statements on large chart paper. The teacher focuses on the before reading column and encourages students to think about whether they believe each statement is true or false and to consider why they have that belief. To further support student understanding of the AG, the teacher models for students by reading aloud a statement written on a sentence strip. It states, “A bowling ball hitting pins and causing them to scatter is an example of force causing motion.” After reading the statement, the teacher orally indicates that the statement is true and engages in the following think aloud supporting the reason for her decision: “I think it’s the force of the bowling ball hitting the pins that sets them in motion and causes them to scatter.”

The teacher explains to students that they will engage in the same activity. After the teacher reads each statement, students will orally state whether they believe the statement to be true or false. Each student will then provide a reason for his or her response. The teacher reassures students that it is okay to use what they think they know about the topic as a reason for their response. In an example, the teacher reads the following AG statement aloud: “Lighter objects need more force to move them.” The teacher asks each student to orally state whether the statement is true or false. The teacher writes each student’s initials next to true or false for the corresponding statement. Each student is then asked to provide a reason. The teacher writes each reason in the reason section for the corresponding statement and identifies each answer using student initials. Throughout Step 2, the teacher works to ensure that each student has been provided with enough time to consider their responses. A completed sample AG for Forces and Motion is provided in Figure 1.

Read text

The special educator reads the text aloud to students. The text has several brief chapters, but the teacher only reads the first two chapters, which includes the first four pages of the text. The teacher stops at designated points throughout the text to check for student understanding, think aloud, and engage in activities. In an example, when the teacher gets to the portion of the text that states, “Forces don’t always cause motion. Sometimes forces are in balance and objects stay still,” the teacher stops and models thinking aloud by stating, “The book says that when forces are in balance objects stay still. I think that means when things are in balance they are even or equal.” The teacher then questions students by asking, “What do you picture in your mind when you hear the author talk about balance?” The teacher then goes on to engage in an activity that involves each student sitting on the classroom bench. The teacher reminds students that when they sit on the bench they exert force on the bench but the bench is not set into motion by breaking. Therefore, there is a balance between the bench and each student.

Revisit statements

After reading, the special education teacher returns to each AG statement and focuses on the after reading column. The teacher is now interested in whether or not students would like to keep their original responses or make changes. Students continue to provide oral responses. The teacher continues to use initials to note true or false answers and to identify each student’s reason for their thinking. Whether students change their responses or keep them the same, they are expected to support each response using evidence from the text. In an example, when a student changes his mind from true to false regarding the following statement: “Forces always cause things to move,” he refers to the portion of the text that discusses how forces don’t always cause motion.

As a culminating activity, the teacher also engages in additional post questioning and discussion to help solidify student understanding of the content. Questions such as, “What was the reading mainly about?” and “What is one thing you learned from today’s reading?” serve to bolster the AG and focus on the reading’s main ideas. A template summarizing this lesson is provided in Figure 2.

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Figure 2.

Forces and motion instructional template.