Resources that show that summarizing etc. is better for comprehension than worksheets?

[Kendall]

I think that summarizing, outlining, retelling, etc. are better methods for improving reading comprehension than worksheets with questions. 

 

If you disagree, explain why. If you agree, do you know of any research or even just articles that explain this? I'm sharing this idea with someone else and would like something other than just my opinion to share:).

 

Thanks,

Kendall 

[EKS]

There is this book that might help: https://www.heinemann.com/products/e00797.aspx

[mathmarm]

I'm not sure that I can help, but I'll be following this conversation.

 

When you say improving comprehension, at what level do you mean?

 

Here is an article that discusses reading comprehension a little more in-depth, based on the type of reading.

 

Now, i think that a worksheet is a tool, that is often misused. A poorly written worksheet is USELESS, of course, but so is a poorly led discussion, a jumbled retelling or a botched outlining, you know?

 

So, when I say worksheet, I am ALWAYS talking about a well-written worksheet.

 

The article that I linked displays a few worksheets/charts, but a teacher could easily use those as references to guide the discussion that she has with the student/class, instead of requiring the students to fill them out.

 

For the upper grades, maybe 3rd-6th,or 4th-8th, I think that the value of a well-constructed worksheet is like having guided notes, but the purpose is undermined if it isn't referenced back to afterwards which DEFINITELY puts an artificial yoke on how useful a worksheet can be.

[serendipitous journey]

I think that summarizing, outlining, retelling, etc. are better methods for improving reading comprehension than worksheets with questions. 

 

If you disagree, explain why. If you agree, do you know of any research or even just articles that explain this? I'm sharing this idea with someone else and would like something other than just my opinion to share:).

 

Thanks,

Kendall 

 

It depends.  My older child did very well at summarizing until he started having trouble, and it turns out he'd been skimming and hadn't learned the habit of careful reading.  We benefited from a couple years of having comp. questions available for his reading so that he learns to read more carefully and retain the information, and will prob. continue to use them as an element of our work. 

 

For my younger, it doesn't seem to be an issue. 

 

I agree that the summarizing, outlining, retelling &c are higher-order skills and generalize better to upper-level work. 

 

Edited November 4, 2017 by serendipitous journey

[kbutton]

It depends.  My older child did very well at summarizing until he started having trouble, and it turns out he'd been skimming and hadn't learned the habit of careful reading.  We benefited from a couple years of having comp. questions available for his reading so that he learns to read more carefully and retain the information, and will prob. continue to use them as an element of our work. 

 

For my younger, it doesn't seem to be an issue. 

 

I agree that the summarizing, outlining, retelling &c are higher-order skills and generalize better to upper-level work. 

 

 

The bolded also helps kids who don't really have a blueprint for what they are supposed to get out of a reading (kids with language issues, ASD, etc.). A lot of times, those kids need the more cut and dry work plus the summarizing, etc.--one piece supporting the other--because those skills don't appear or generalize on their own.