1. Collaborative Close Reading Daphne Loads June 2013

2. I hope you will: understand what I mean by Collaborative Close Reading (CCR) experience CCR be aware of the scholarly background to CCR consider the relevance of CCR to your own teaching

3. Tell All The Truth Tell all the truth but tell it slant Success in circuit lies Too bright for our infirm delight The truth’s superb surprise As lightning to the children eased With explanation kind, The truth must dazzle gradually Or every man be blind. Emily Dickinson

4. Collaborative Close Reading is… what happens when a group of individuals discuss their differing responses to a short text, paying careful attention to ambiguities and questions, word by word.

5. Collaborative Close reading offers… the possibility of immediate, deep engagement with both academic and non- academic writings in order to gain insight into our teaching.

6. Assumptions A wide range of texts can teach us something about teaching How we read is as important as what we read No background reading is assumed Relevance to practice may be indirect, delayed or elusive

7. Background close reading is an ancient scholarly practice collaborative dimension adds richness and provides safeguards strong tradition of drawing on the arts and humanities in professional development

8. What strikes you as surprising or significant about this word/line/text? What questions does it raise for you? What ambiguities are you aware of? How can you relate this to something you already understand about your teaching? Is there a new idea here that you can use in your thinking about teaching?

9. What relevance does this have for you and your teaching?