Lesson plan of Reading and Text Comprehension

Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Develop reading skills: The main objective is for students to improve their reading skills in English, allowing them to comprehend more complex texts. This will be achieved through reading practice of different text types, including articles, news, stories, and poems.

2. Enhance vocabulary comprehension: Students will be encouraged to identify and understand the meaning of unfamiliar words through context. This will help expand students’ vocabulary and improve their text comprehension ability.

3. Develop inferencing skills: Students will learn to make inferences based on what they read. They will be encouraged to identify clues in the text and use their prior knowledge to understand the overall meaning of the text.

Secondary Objectives

• Encourage independent reading: In addition to classroom reading, students will be encouraged to read at home, either assigned materials or materials of their interest. Independent reading is an effective way to improve vocabulary and reading comprehension.

• Promote discussion based on reading: Students will be encouraged to discuss what they have read, expressing their opinions and making connections to their own experiences and knowledge. This will not only improve their speaking skills but also deepen their understanding of the text.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Review of previous content: The teacher will start the class by reviewing with students vocabulary and grammar structures covered in previous classes that will be useful for the comprehension of the texts to be worked on. This will include a review of verb tenses, idioms, and vocabulary related to different topics.

2. Problem situations: The teacher will present to students two situations that illustrate the importance of reading and understanding textos in English. The first situation could be the reading of an instruction manual to assemble a toy or electronic device. The second situation could be the reading of a news article or a work email in English. The teacher will ask the students what challenges they imagine they may face in each situation and how effective reading could help them overcome those challenges.

3. Contextualization: The teacher will explain how reading and understanding texts in English is an essential skill not only for language learning but also for many other areas, such as science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEM) and for everyday life in an increasingly globalized world.

4. Introduction to the topic: The teacher will introduce the topic of the class – reading and text comprehension – in a way that sparks students’ interest. This can include presenting curiosities about the origin of writing, the importance of reading in modern society, and the impact of technology on how we read and comprehend texts. The teacher can also share some personal stories or anecdotes related to reading and understanding texts in English.

5. Captivating students’ attention: To capture students’ attention, the teacher can start the class with a playful activity, such as a word game or puzzle that involves reading and understanding texts in English. This can be followed by the presentation of a short video, song, or poem in English, which will be used as reading materials during the class.

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

1. Activity 1: Board Game "Reading Adventure" (10 - 12 minutes)

   • Description: The teacher will propose a board game where students, in groups of up to 5 people, will walk a path full of reading challenges. The board will be divided into squares of different colors, each representing a type of text (news, stories, articles, etc.), and each square will have an associated reading challenge.

   • Preparation: The teacher will prepare the board, challenge cards, and tokens for each group in advance. The challenges will be designed to review and deepen students’ reading and comprehension skills.

   • Execution: Each group will roll a dice to advance on the board and, when landing on a square, will have to read the text on the card and answer comprehension questions. The teacher will circulate around the room, monitoring groups’ progress, clarifying doubts, and providing feedback.

   • Objective: The objective of the game is for students to practice reading different types of texts and develop their comprehension skills. Additionally, the healthy competition between groups can increase students’ motivation.

2. Activity 2: "Mystery Reading" (10 - 12 minutes)

   • Description: In this activity, students will be challenged to read an excerpt from a mystery book in English and guess the ending of the story. The teacher will divide the class into small groups and provide each group with a copy of the book and a list of possible endings.

   • Preparation: The teacher will choose a mystery book that is appropriate for the students’ age and level of English. The excerpt to be read will be selected in advance and the list of possible endings will be prepared.

   • Execution: Each group will read the excerpt from the book together and will discuss what happened and what could happen next. They will then choose the ending that they consider most likely and explain their reasons. In the end, the teacher will reveal the true ending of the story and will discuss the groups’ different interpretations.

   • Objective: The objective of this activity is to encourage students to read actively and make inferences based on what they read. Additionally, group discussion will allow students to share their ideas and develop their speaking skills.

3. Activity 3: "Reading and Acting" (10 - 12 minutes)

   • Description: In this activity, students will read a short script from a scene of a play in English and then act it out for the class. The teacher will divide the class into groups and provide each group with a script and some props to help with the performance.

   • Preparation: The teacher will choose a script from a play that is appropriate for the students’ age and level of English. The scripts will be short and simple, with clear dialogues and familiar vocabulary.

   • Execution: Each group will read the script together, will discuss the meaning of the words and phrases they do not know, and will practice pronunciation. They will then act out the scene for the class, using props and voice intonation to make the performance more engaging.

   • Objective: The objective of this activity is to make reading more fun and engaging, while allowing students to practice text comprehension and speaking skills.

Feedback (3 - 5 minutes)

1. Group Discussion:

   • The teacher will conduct a group discussion, where each team will have the opportunity to share their solutions or conclusions from the activities carried out. Each group will have a maximum of 3 minutes to present.
   • During the presentation, the teacher will encourage the other students to ask questions or make comments, thus promoting interaction and exchange of ideas among students.
   • The teacher will take notes of the main contributions of each group for future reference.

2. Connection with the Theory:

   • After the presentations, the teacher will briefly review the theoretical concepts discussed at the beginning of the lesson and how they were applied in the practical activities.
   • The teacher will highlight how the reading and comprehension exercises helped students improve their reading skills, expand their vocabulary, and develop inferencing skills.

3. Individual Reflection:

   • The teacher will suggest that students take a minute for individual reflection. During this time, students can think about what they learnt in class, which concepts they still have doubts about, and how they can apply what they learnt in real situations.
   • The teacher can ask some questions to guide the reflection, such as: "What was the most important concept you learnt today?" and "Which questions have not yet been answered?"

4. Teacher's Feedback:

   • After the individual reflection, the teacher will ask for feedback from students about the lesson. This can be done through a group discussion, where students can share what they liked the most about the class, what they found most challenging, and what suggestions they have to improve future lessons.
   • The teacher will take notes of the students’ feedback and will use this information to adjust and improve their future lessons.

5. Class Closure:

   • To conclude the lesson, the teacher will summarize the main points discussed, reinforcing the key concepts and the importance of reading and understanding texts in English.
   • The teacher can also provide students with some suggestions for complementary reading, such as books, magazines, or websites in English, so that they can continue to practice and improve their reading skills outside the classroom.
   • Finally, the teacher will thank students for their participation and effort, and will encourage them to keep practicing and studying English.

Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Summary of the Content:

   • The teacher will give a brief summary of the main content covered in the lesson, recalling the key theoretical concepts on reading and understanding text in English.
   • The teacher will highlight the reading and vocabulary comprehension and inferencing skills that were exercised during the practical activities.
   • The teacher will also mention the resources and strategies discussed to help students improve their reading skills, such as active reading, identification of keywords, and using context to understand the meaning of words.

2. Connection between Theory and Practice:

   • The teacher will explain how the lesson connected theory, through the review of reading concepts and strategies, with practice, through the playful and interactive activities.
   • The teacher will emphasize that practice is essential for deepening the understanding of theoretical concepts and for developing effective reading and comprehension skills.

3. Extra Materials:

   • The teacher will suggest some extra materials to the students, in order to complement what was learnt in class. This can include books, articles, websites and English reading apps.
   • The teacher can also provide students with a list of keywords or expressions that are commonly found in English texts and that can be useful for the understanding and interpretation of the texts.

4. Relevance of the Subject:

   • The teacher will highlight the importance of reading and understanding text in English for the students' daily lives, whether for study, work or leisure.
   • The teacher will emphasize that the ability to read effectively in English not only improves students' academic and professional opportunities, but also enriches their understanding of the world and of different cultures.

5. Class Closure:

   • To conclude, the teacher will thank the students for their participation and effort during the class.
   • The teacher will encourage students to keep practicing and developing their reading and text comprehension skills in English, either through independent reading, reading-based discussion, or other practice activities.
   • The teacher will encourage students to bring any questions or difficulties they may have to the next classes, ensuring that they feel supported and motivated in their English language learning.