Embedded Readings ....More on the Concept...
What is an embedded reading?
An embedded reading is a reading in three or more levels. The first reading is at a basic level, easy for any student to read. It is usually a summary of the story/article etc. Each succeeding level adds sentences with additional information. These sentences may also include additional structures or more challenging structures. The final version is the most challenging. However, each version contains the basic version (and subsequent levels) within it. This scaffolding of the story builds success.
We have been discussing these on Ben's blog and several folks have offered their insight and experiences. Michele shares her approach to using student work to generate ideas for the story used in her embedded readings. It is an area where we can each utilize our own strengths and adapt readings for our own students. So the next question is....
What makes embedded readings interesting to students?
A) Comprehensibility/Success
Each level adds new information AND repetitions
C) The structures are combined with student-generated information/ideas/storylines
I think, so far at least, that A and B are required. This allows us to create embedded (or scaffolded) readings for literature (I created one for the story La Noche Boca Arriba) or articles in L2. It is a very helpful step. One of the criticisms of TPRS is that we don't prepare our students to read "real" materials. Embedded readings can be the bridge between 100% comprehensible readings and (used to increase language acquisition) and actual materials that our students will address in testing situations, college-level coursework, and of course, real life.
Option C, however, really allows us to bring the concept of personalization into reading. Like Michele, my first attempt at embedded readings was based on student writings. They loved finding their own ideas in the reading.
I'll try to use the next few days to ramble on a little bit more about embedded readings.
with love,
Laurie
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