How to teach students to “Mark the Text”
One of the recent instructional strategies added to education with the onset of Common Core Standards is for us to teach students to “Mark the Text.” Another name for this strategy is annotating the text.
Most teachers began to do this on their own (for themselves) when they were in college. This allowed us to “get the most” out of our text and to connect it to lectures. But as a student (back in my day) in K-12 we were not allowed to write anything in our textbooks.
Basic strategies to “Mark the Text”
If students have had a brief introduction to this “Marking the text” in primary grades, it will be much quicker for them to catch on to your expectations. My first recommendattion is to use the same symbols and strageies across your grade-level if possible.
Next, create a chart similar to the one below to have posted in the classroom. In addition to the poster, create a 8.5 X 11 sheet with the same information for each student. I suggest you copy this in color and on cardstock (even consider laminating them so they last all year).
Most districts won’t want students to actually write in their textbooks. So there are two or three work-arounds for this. Students can place a clear plastic sheet over the text and mark on it. Or you can Xerox a page or two from them text for them to mark on.
Problems with the first idea is that the plastic sheet can move and get the student confused and frustrated (especially younger students). And you would need A LOT OF SETS of erasable markers so each student could have three colors to use.
So, my recommendation is to use the Xerox method. then students can use any markers or colored pencils.
Step by Step…
If you are teaching this to third or fourth graders, I suggest you teach two symbols at a time until they know them all. Create a specific lesson where they learn those two symbols…”I do, we do, you do.”
The chart below shows a typical key used in upper elementary classrooms. Some schools and grade-level teams may have slightly different “keys” but they are all fairly similar.
Just in case that phrase above is new to you, “I do” means you teach it thoroughly, “we do” is LOTS of guided practice, and “you do” is without teacher help. I suggest they work in partners for the “you do” part.
After teaching the new symbols have at least three to four days of practicing them before introducing the next two (in the same manner).
In case you’d like to read more about controlling behavior during group or partner work, here is an article I wrote about just that subject. You can read it here:
5 Steps to Control Behavior During Group Work, and Keep the Noise Level Down
Teach Younger Students to “Mark the Text”
So I bet some of you are wondering if this is only taught in upper elementary and middle school; and then used extensively in high school. The answer to this is “NO!” It is also taught in Primary grades. Take a look at this anchor chart for a primary classroom below.
The secret with teaching this strategy or method to young children is work on each one of these separately. Only add the next one when the first one is being used regularly by most students for about a month. AND do not teach/use more than three. I highly recomment the three above.
8th grade and above
Once students are in eighth grade and beyond you can use this strategy without having a chart hanging up. Just supply the students with the page of symbols, teach them all at once and allow lots of practice.
easy-peasy!!
Have fun teaching this!!
Until Next Time,
