Detail Detective
Learners answer three questions by highlighting the exact phrase that supports each answer.
Worked classroom example
English
Find the detail that shows where a character is, what they notice and how they react.
Use this example to make the language move visible. Select subject content appropriate to the class’s age and prior knowledge.
Teaching sequence
- Prepare literal questions that target different parts of one short text.
- Learners read once, then revisit the relevant sentence for each question.
- Partners compare answers and underline the evidence that confirms each one.
Materials and purpose
a paragraph and three focused questions
Returning to precise wording strengthens comprehension and evidence use.
Try it in your next lesson
Prepare
Use a paragraph and three focused questions. Choose a second example that checks the same language move without repeating the original answer.
Classroom task
Learners answer three questions by highlighting the exact phrase that supports each answer.
Check independent transfer
Partners compare answers and underline the evidence that confirms each one.
Collect a response on fresh content. Note what was achieved without the model, partner or teacher prompt, then choose one next teaching step.
Teacher language
Teacher language
Which words in the text make that answer certain?
“What does the source actually say, and what are you inferring?”
“What cannot be concluded from this evidence alone?”
Respond to the learner
Identify one successful meaning or language choice. Ask about one gap, allow thinking time, then invite a revision. Check the revised move again on a fresh example.
Adjust support and challenge
Offer a brief model, useful vocabulary and partner rehearsal where needed. Keep the subject goal; reduce one prompt on fresh content and record what was independent.
Teaching this skill → · Age and language support →
More support
Chunk the source, gloss essential terms and model one evidence selection. Keep the question’s reasoning demand. Allow familiar-language notes or another response mode when checking subject understanding.
Greater independence
Change the content, evidence or audience. Remove the completed model and ask learners to explain a choice. Increase subject complexity only when it fits the curriculum and prior knowledge.
Choose the next step
If subject meaning is insecure, reteach the concept. If the concept is understood but the English is unclear, model one useful language relationship and invite a fresh response.