To assist teachers in understanding and employing the Common Core instructional emphasis on Close Reading in the classroom, this primer addresses the following key questions:
1) What is Close Reading of text, and what are its essential attributes? How, and for what purposes, should teachers employ this strategy?
2) What is the role of background knowledge in the development of reading comprehension, and when should teachers activate and/or provide background knowledge?
3) What should teachers and district leaders consider about Close Reading as they prepare to implement it in practice?
