RACE Writing Strategy and Paired Passages Bundle

Print and Digital! With free optional student instructional video lessons! This bundle includes two RACE(S) resources at a discounted price: RACE(S) Writing Strategy for Text Dependent Questions and Paired Passages Using the RACE(S) Writing Strategy! Please see the descriptions of each product below and the preview for a good look at the whole package!

Purchasing this bundle will enable you to download the traditional PDF version of each resource to be printed as well as have access to a digital version to be used with Google Classroom™ or any LMS (through TpT's digital tool, Easel)! I have already prepared a student digital version of each resource for your convenience (deleted answer keys, added instructions and text boxes for student answers, etc.). But you can also make your own changes (in terms of text boxes, instructions, etc., but note the content of the pages is not editable). For more information about how TpT's digital tool Easel works, please click here! Also check out the preview above for a glimpse of this digital version!

1. RACE(S) Writing Strategy for Answering Text Dependent Questions 2nd-3rd Grade

This resource will help your students gradually learn HOW to use the RACE or RACES strategy for written responses to text dependent questions. The RACE(S) strategy is an acronym (Restate question, Answer the question, Cite text evidence, Explain the evidence, and optional Sum it up) that helps students structure their response to a question in a thoughtful, organized way that draws from the text.

This resource includes a list of steps for teaching the strategy effectively. Go right down the list, using the materials included! Posters are included to help students remember and apply the strategy, and small cards identical to the posters are included too for individual student use if desired. This resource includes both fiction and nonfiction reading passages with a text-dependent question. As you proceed, you gradually build the strategy (starting with just RA, then RAC, then RACE, then optional RACES).

Written answer samples at each stage are also included to examine as a class. These writing samples include both good examples as models and not-as-good samples to critique. All the reading passage pages have two options for writing lines: handwriting lines and regular lines so that you can choose which suits your students best. Also included are blank lined pages (for each stage) with a space for you to write your own question relevant to a text of your choice. Answer keys are included for all pages (to use as a guide) as well as rubrics for each stage (in 2 versions).

This resource has proven to be very effective, and it includes all the materials needed for teaching the strategy. But as an optional added bonus, you may also like my free RACE instructional video lessons! There are 11 videos in the series [Lesson 11 (S for Sum It Up) is optional], and I teach the strategy one step at a time with student independent practice in between some of the video sessions. The practice pages and materials needed are included in this resource (print and digital). The videos can be found on my YouTube channel (name: Erin Guge; playlist: RACE Writing Strategy Instructional Videos), and a convenient link to the video playlist is included in this resource. To get a glimpse into the video series, see my informational video HERE.

This product includes the following:

- A list of steps for teaching the RACE(S) strategy, which makes use of the materials listed below

- Questions for oral practice (to practice orally answering a question in a complete sentence by first restating the question)

- Question/Answer matching page

- Questions for oral practice using picture books

- RACE(S) posters (different layout and color options)

- RACE(S) posters in small card size (9 per page)

- 2 simple activities to help students understand what it means to state evidence to prove your answer

- 8 passages (4 fiction, 4 nonfiction), each with a good written sample answer and a not-as-good written sample for critique (2 for the RA stage, 2 for the RAC stage, 4 for the RACE stage, and sample endings for the optional RACES stage)

- 16 passages (8 fiction, 8 nonfiction) with a question for student response (2 for the RA stage, 6 for the RAC stage, 6 for the RACE stage, and 2 for the optional RACES stage)

- Blank lined pages with space for your own question (for each stage)

- Answer keys for all pages

- Rubrics for each stage, in 2 versions

- Video lessons guide

2. Paired Passages Using the RACE(S) Writing Strategy

This resource will help your students learn how to navigate paired passages (also called paired texts or paired selections), making use of the RACE or RACES writing strategy.

This resource gradually builds the concepts for comparing and contrasting two texts, first by using pictures and words, then very short passages, then longer passages. This helps our students build confidence and understanding of the process. Students compare and contrast using Venn diagrams, multiple choice questions, and written response questions.

The written response component of the paired passages makes use of the RACE or RACES writing strategy, which is an acronym (Restate question, Answer the question, Cite text evidence, Explain the evidence, and optional Sum it up) that helps students structure their response to a question in a thoughtful, organized way that draws from the texts. With this paired passages resource, students will continue to use the RACE (or RACES) strategy, citing text evidence from both texts!

Included is a list of steps for teaching how to complete paired passages effectively, posters to help students understand and remember what to do (small cards identical to the posters included too - for individual use, etc.), and sets of paired passages for practice in different combinations of genres. Each set of passages includes multiple choice questions as well as a text-dependent written response question.

Samples for each stage are also included to examine as a class. These samples include both good examples as models and not-so-good examples to critique.

Answer keys are included for all pages. Rubrics (in two different versions) are included as well.

This resource has proven to be very effective, and it includes all the materials needed for teaching the strategy. But as an optional added bonus, you may also like my free Paired Passages instructional video lessons! There are 10 videos in the series, and I teach the process one step at a time with student independent practice in between some of the video sessions. The practice pages and materials needed are included in this resource (print and digital). The videos can be found on my YouTube channel (name: Erin Guge; playlist: Paired Passages Instructional Videos).

This product includes the following:

- A list of steps for teaching paired passages, which makes use of the materials listed below

- Pages to model and explain comparing/contrasting two pictures and two words, including Venn diagrams and multiple choice questions

- 2 student independent practice pages for the above

- Pages to model and explain comparing/contrasting two very short passages, including Venn diagrams, multiple choice questions, and written responses

- 2 sets of 2 very short passages, each set with Venn diagram, 3 multiple choice questions, and 1 written response question for student independent practice

- Pages to model and explain comparing/contrasting two longer passages, including multiple choice questions and written responses

- 7 sets of 2 longer passages (different genre combinations), each set with 6 multiple choice questions and 1 written response question

- RACE(S) posters (different layout and color options)

- RACE(S) posters in small card size (9 per page)

- Posters for the following concepts: compare/contrast, what is a paired passage/text/selection, possible genres to compare/contrast, possible things to compare/contrast (such as character traits, main ideas, etc.), and student directions for how to go about completing paired passages

- Blank lined page for extra writing space

- Answer keys for all pages

- Rubric (in 2 versions)

- Video lessons guide

Also check out my RACE(S) All Year resource here! If you're looking for a RACE resource geared toward K-1st grade, check that out here!

If you have questions or ideas for how I can improve my products, feel free to email me at erinteachermom@gmail.com. If you like this product, please leave positive feedback in order to receive credit toward future purchases! Also, consider following me on TpT!

Thank you and happy teaching!

Erin Guge

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• This product is for one teacher use only. If others like the product, please send them to my TpT store.