PIP Proposal

Bailey Olsen
Building Comprehension Skills in the Social Studies Classroom

Inquiry Question: How can student reading comprehension skills improve through
effective instructional techniques and activities?
This is an important question as reading comprehension skills are a key factor in
student success in social studies, but teaching these skills in the social studies
classroom can often be overlooked.
Prior Research:
There have been a few prominent studies done on this topic. Researchers have placed
their focus on concept building, incorporating multiple texts into social studies classes,
and team-based learning approaches. One study used a pop-up electronic dictionary for
all tests and text reading, and another focused on a “self-questioning” strategy that
involved students turning headings and subheadings from their class textbook into
questions prior to reading, and answering the questions after. These studies have
generally seen an improvement in reading comprehension skills through these practices,
which indicates that reading comprehension skills can be improved through effective
teaching practices.
Strategies:
Literature - Implementing picture books into lessons will be a large focus. Reading
aloud to students provides great opportunities to model proper questioning and reading
strategies.
Current Events - News articles are another way I will allow my students to build
comprehension skills. Current events are not only part of the social studies curriculum,
but they are an engaging way to get students reading and understanding the world
around them.
Daily Comprehension Activities - I will put a larger focus on reading comprehension
throughout my daily lesson plans in order to build these skills more effectively.
Timeline:
o Weekly comprehension-based activities
o One picture book per week, or one novel per unit
o Monthly current event articles
o Half-way comprehension test – Nov. 10th
o Comprehension skills re-test – Dec. 3rd

Projected Outcomes:
o Overall increase in reading comprehension scores
o Enhance student learning in social studies

Project Findings: My findings will be shared with my school through a short

presentation at a scheduled staff meeting towards the end of my internship.
 PIP Proposal
Bailey Olsen
Description of Project

The Westwind School Division has a goal this year to get every student reading at their
appropriate grade level. Initially, I thought that this was a goal that did not concern me
as a social studies teacher. In the first few weeks of school, each student went through
a series of 1-on-1 reading assessments with the ELA team. After the testing was
complete, I contacted the grade 7 ELA teacher to take a look at our students’ scores.
The reading comprehension scores stood out to me immediately as an issue that I knew
I could help with.

My project will address the reading comprehension skills of the grade 7 students at the
Cardston Jr. High School. If my students cannot comprehend the materials that we
explore in class, how can I expect them to provide me with thoughtful answers to the
questions I provide? I knew right away that this need was important to address.

In order to address the comprehension needs of my students, I am implementing

multiple different comprehension-based activities throughout the semester. These
activities include picture book read-a-louds, current event inquiries, public speaking,
and more. Each week we will have a minimum of one activity designed specifically to
increase reading comprehension skills, and our daily conversations and activities will
also have a comprehension focus.