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Unit 5: Assessing and Reflecting on Reciprocal Teaching

From KNILT

Learning Objectives

After this unit, the learner:

  • Demonstrate familiarity with effective assessment techniques to evaluate students' comprehension progress and the application of reciprocal teaching strategies.
  • Can create a rubric or assessment tool to evaluate the effectiveness of reciprocal teaching in their classroom.
  • Reflects on their personal growth in reciprocal teaching and sets goals for continued improvement.

Measuring Comprehension

The assessment strategies you use to measure students' comprehension and use of reciprocal teaching strategies may differ depending on the phase of reciprocal teaching. Some examples of assessment strategies that you can use are:

  • Listen to students' responses, focusing on whether they use the four strategies effectively and correctly.
  • Listen to students' responses during turn-and-talk or table group discussions, noticing if they are using the strategies effectively. If students are not using a strategy effectively, you can assist them in their discussion, even modeling again through a think- aloud. If multiple groups struggle, they may be pulled for a small group to demonstrate the skill, or it can be the focus of a class discussion.
  • Create a written assessment or worksheet for students to use during their discussions. Depending on the students' needs, worksheets can be more or less scaffolded, providing sentence starters or open-ended. These should be used only sometimes, as the basis of reciprocal teaching is rooted in discussion, but they can be used every few weeks. Some examples can be found on AdLit (http s://www.adlit.org/sites/default/files/2021-07/reciprocal_teaching-handout.pdf), Reading Rockets (ht tps://www.readingrockets.org/sites/default/files/migrated/content/pdfs/reciprocalteaching_workshe et.pdf), or William & Mary School of Education (https://education.wm.edu/centers/ttac/documents/ newsletters/reciprocalteachingarticle/reciprocalteachingstrategiesworksheet.doc).
  • Ask students to identify the four different strategies used in reciprocal teaching and have students define the strategy.
  • Assess students' use of the strategies using a checklist. Some examples are from the William & Mary School of Education (https://education.wm.edu/centers/ttac/documents/newsletters/reciproca lteachingarticle/reciprocalteachingchecklist.pdf) and this WordPress file. (https://albertston.wordpr ess.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/reciprocal-teaching-strategies-at-work-oczkus.pdf)
  • Use a rubric to determine how well each student is using the strategies. Some examples can be found at CALI Reads (https://calireads.org/bridge-content/reciprocalteaching/clarifying/Reciprocal_ Teaching_Rubric.pdf), Rob Danin (https://www.robdanin.com/sites/robdanin.com/files/resources/rt _rubric.pdf), or on TPT (https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Literature-Circle-Reciproca l-Reading-Bookmarks-Posters-Rubrics-BOOK-CLUB-3126650).

Create Your Own Assessment Tool

Using the resources above as examples, create an assessment tool that fits the needs of your students and your classroom. When you are done, share your resource on Padlet (https://padlet.com/hkknapp 2/reciprocal-teaching-assessment-tools-3nzwb6y13p8ozm11).

Make sure you look at the resources that others have created.

Reflect on Your Growth & Next Steps

Use the questions below to guide your reflection on reciprocal teaching.

  1. How much did you know about reciprocal teaching before completing this mini-course?
  2. How do you feel about reciprocal teaching? What parts of it do you particularly like? Dislike? Why? What did/do you enjoy about reciprocal teaching?
  3. What questions do you still have about reciprocal teaching?
  4. What are your next steps with reciprocal teaching? Which of those steps will come easiest? Where will the terrain become rocky? What can you do now to navigate the road ahead with the most success?

Additional Resources

Here are some more professional resources that can help you further your knowledge of reciprocal teaching.

  1. Webinar on ASCD: Reciprocal Teaching: New Insights and Tools for Boosting Reading Comprehension (https://ascd.org/webinars/reciprocal-teaching-new-insights-and-tools-for-boosting -reading-comprehension)
  2. Reciprocal Teaching at Work K-12: Powerful Strategies and Lessons for Improving Reading Comprehension (3rd Edition) by Lori D. Oczkus (https://www.amazon.com/Reciprocal-Teaching-W ork-Strategies-Comprehension/dp/1416625992/ref=pd_lpo_d_sccl_1/146-1111609-7869541?pd_r d_w=ayxFe&content-id=amzn1.sym.4c8c52db-06f8-4e42-8e56-912796f2ea6c&pf_rd_p=4c8c52d b-06f8-4e42-8e56-912796f2ea6c&pf_rd_r=JF9HQMR3BA0VRCGKBQBW&pd_rd_wg=RCWh4&p d_rd_r=cbe31ec9-fe31-41d6-8490-02973f90e492&pd_rd_i=1416625992&psc=1)
  3. Lori Oczkus' Website (https://www.lorioczkus.com/)
  4. Rob Danin's Website (https://www.robdanin.com/resources/reciprocal-teaching-reading-strategies. html)
  5. CALI Reads (https://calireads.org/literacy-modules/#ReciprocalTeaching)

Places to find information text to use:

  1. Newsela
  2. ReadWorks
  3. BrainPop
  4. National Geographic Kids
  5. Epic!
  6. Common Lit

References

Baker, J., & Emerson, L. M. (2014). Reciprocal teaching: A reading comprehension package. William & Mary School of Education, Teaching and Technology Assistance Center. Retrieved December 7, 2024, from

https://education.wm.edu/centers/ttac/resources/articles/teachtechnique/reciprocalteaching/


Oczkus, L. D. (2018). Reciprocal teaching at work: Powerful strategies and lessons for improving reading comprehension (3rd ed.). ASCD.

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