Reading Class - Chunking Strategy

I love this picture above.  Learning at it’s finest!  These were my favorite moments as a teacher and reading specialist.

It captures the essence of where the most profound learning and joy occur, both in the classroom and in my private reading practice. It's a moment when real discussions unfold across the entire day, whether they are learning about science, social studies, math…and more—not the kind found in worksheets, teacher led stuff,  or scripted curriculum, but authentic, meaningful conversations being had by those learning.

However, learning isn’t always like this, beautiful and easy.  There are times when reading and understanding seem at odds with each other. 

One way is this…readers can get so focused on letter sounds and reading speed that they lose the essence of comprehension.

But here's the good news: this can be an easy fix. It's a strategy that becomes a habit, growing stronger as the reader's skills improve. Sometimes, we need to slow down to go faster.

CHUNKING (funny name, I know)

I've created a video where I demonstrate chunking, a technique that ensures understanding before moving forward. I adapted this approach from Lucy Calkins, a renowned educator and author known for her work in literacy education. Her strategies are widely used and respected in the field. I've refined and adapted her method over time through experience, making it more effective for my students.

Here's how it works:

• Read a small chunk: A chunk can be a paragraph. If the paragraph is long, try reading half.
• Check for understanding: After reading, ask yourself, "Who is here? What's going on?" If you can answer, continue; if not, go back and reread. You've only read a small portion, so now you should have some comprehension.
• Repeat: Continue reading in small chunks and checking for understanding.
• Don't move forward if you can't answer: If you can't answer "Who is here? What is going on?" after reading a chunk, backtrack and reread.

There are times we need to take notes about what we read, using mind maps such as webs and summaries, and chunking is a good strategy to use to even make that happen.

In all my years of teaching, I've tried various techniques like mind maps, which, while engaging and fun, didn't have the same impact as chunking. Chunking is simple, fast, and by far the most preferred strategy among my students.

Give it a try and let me know how it works for you!