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If you were an elementary education major in the 1990s you learned about Bloom's Taxonomy. While I was not a perfect college student, I do remember this valuable teaching tool and continue to nd it useful today when reading literature with my children. A thorough explanation of Bloom's taxonomy can be found at www.bloomstaxonomy.org. Presenting an example of how I use Bloom's heirarchy of thinking is an even better way for readers to learn how helpful it can be.
Consider already published comprehension questions that offer higher levels of thinking. Do not reinvent the wheel, or in this case the pyramid. However, if you are reading literature that is not coupled with a hierarchy of thinking, then follow the above image. Let's take a look at classic literature; Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Once my oldest and I read a chapter or two of this lovely book, I began to take her through levels of Bloom's taxonomy to focus on her critical thinking. When children know that they are going to explore remembering,
Copyright 2013, Catholic Teacher Daydreams
A fun assessment after answering knowledge questions is to make a movie poster of the book's characters. Blooms Level 2 is Comprehension. I believe that it is only after second grade begins that most children are able to communicate
Copyright 2013, Catholic Teacher Daydreams
Blooms Level 4 is Analysis. As teachers and students explore the higher level thinking of Bloom's taxonomy the thought process is slow and meaningful. We examine information closely, make inferences about what the character is thinking, or guess why the character is completing an action. Keywords used in this level of thinking include analyze, classify, examine, explore, predict, infer, conclude, and assume. I might ask my precocious middle schooler a question from Pride and Prejudice that reads, "What conclusion can you make about Jane Austen's title after reading about Darcy and Elizabeth's relationship? Identify examples of when Darcy exhibited prideful or judging characteristics?" An assignment might be to select events in Pride and Prejudice that were normal during the time period it was written, that would now be considered unusual.
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Blooms Level 6 is Evaluation. This step is not about the teacher evaluating the student. It is the student making judgments about the details in the literature. Grade, review, explain, choose, decide, approve, appraise, agree or disagree are keywords teachers use when asking students to evaluate literature. "What is your opinion of the Bennet family? Explain how you would prove that Darcy is a good man? Decide how you would have written the character of Charlotte." These are examples of evaluation starting blocks. An assignment I give
Copyright 2013, Catholic Teacher Daydreams
Bloom's Taxonomy is an intricate way to analyze your children's involvement in a book. Bloom's Taxonomy is an excellent resource that helps students use higher order thinking and grow closer to the book they are reading.