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Motivation and engagement are crucial factors in improving reading comprehension. My 8th grade social studies students love hands-on projects and competing with each other, but struggle with applying that skill set to reading. I spent the first part of the summer thinking and researching how I can leverage the strengths of my students to improve their close reading skills. I recently created an original "Historical Mystery Room" activity that utilizes historical reading skills (from Stanford's "Reading Like a Historian). Students analyze primary documents in order to solve puzzles in an "escape room" environment. Students are divided up into six teams and are assigned a primary document to analyze. The essential ideas/concepts of each primary document are the clues that are necessary to open the "puzzle box" that each group has. This playful, but intellectually engaging environment, gives students a concrete purpose and direction while reading historical documents. I tested this activity this summer with 24 teachers from across the country while volunteering at the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute. Based on observations and teacher feedback, I discovered that I needed more puzzles and other hands-on resources to make this an effective and repeatable activity. To ensure that students delve wholeheartedly into reading (as opposed to just asking their friends from other classes what the puzzle answers are), I need some puzzle variety between my six classes. Your partnership in helping improve our students close reading skills by purchasing puzzles, locks and locking boxes, batteries, backlights, and other related supplies is greatly appreciated!

About my class

Motivation and engagement are crucial factors in improving reading comprehension. My 8th grade social studies students love hands-on projects and competing with each other, but struggle with applying that skill set to reading. I spent the first part of the summer thinking and researching how I can leverage the strengths of my students to improve their close reading skills. I recently created an original "Historical Mystery Room" activity that utilizes historical reading skills (from Stanford's "Reading Like a Historian). Students analyze primary documents in order to solve puzzles in an "escape room" environment. Students are divided up into six teams and are assigned a primary document to analyze. The essential ideas/concepts of each primary document are the clues that are necessary to open the "puzzle box" that each group has. This playful, but intellectually engaging environment, gives students a concrete purpose and direction while reading historical documents. I tested this activity this summer with 24 teachers from across the country while volunteering at the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute. Based on observations and teacher feedback, I discovered that I needed more puzzles and other hands-on resources to make this an effective and repeatable activity. To ensure that students delve wholeheartedly into reading (as opposed to just asking their friends from other classes what the puzzle answers are), I need some puzzle variety between my six classes. Your partnership in helping improve our students close reading skills by purchasing puzzles, locks and locking boxes, batteries, backlights, and other related supplies is greatly appreciated!

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About my class

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