Reading resources

Students read two letters about personal viewpoints on graffiti and answer questions about the content and style of the letters.

Students are assessed on their ability to find and synthesise details to explain the main idea of a text. The text is focused on adjusting to life as a separated family. SJ-3-2-2006. Text provided.

This comprehension task assesses student ability to use evidence in text to make inferences about characters' points of view, and to analyse and synthesise understandings of these characters.

The assessment focus is on student ability to make inferences about character and justify these with evidence from text.

Assessment focus: ability to use contextual clues to infer meaning of a word. (There is a link to the text used for this resource in the Using this Resource section.) SJ-4-3-2004. Text provided.

An article about a clown is read by students who then complete a retrieval chart about his job.

A newspaper article on working from home is the stimulus for this resource. The assessment focus is on looking at both sides of an issue, vocabulary and comprehension.

Students read an article on kiwi and answer multiple choice questions that focus on inference and information retrieval.

Students read a recount about New Zealanders travelling in Africa, then answer retrieval and inference questions. The text is provided.

Students read an article on Mother Teresa and then answer short comprehension questions.

Students are required to read an article, answer questions and complete a retrieval chart.

Students study a recipe then answer questions showing their understanding of written instructions.

A poem about trying to fly is the basis of this resource. Students read the poem then answer questions on its illustrations, rhyme, content and vocabulary. SJ-3-1-1994.

Students read a narrative about relationships and wanting to impress others. Assessment focus: the author’s construction of a character and an evaluation of this character.

Students read a poem and explore how the poem expresses the storyteller's mood. SJ-2-1-1990. Text provided.

Students use an index page from a book on New Zealand to answer six questions.

Students use comprehension skills to answer a range of questions based on a newspaper story. Knowledge of adjectives and alliteration is also required.

This task is about using evidence to find the main idea of a text. Students read a narrative text with a Māori context, find two groups of details, then select the main idea from four choices. Note that the text deals with the hunting and slaughter of pigs, which may be a challenging concept for some of your students. SJ-4-2-2004. Text provided.

Assessment focus: student ability to use contextual clues in order to infer the meaning of a word. (There is a link to the text used for this resource in the Using this Resource section.)

After reading a narrative that explores family dynamics, students identify evidence in the text that supports their thinking. Assessment focus: analysing and evaluating a character and the author's construction of him. (There is a link to the text used for this resource in the Task administration section of the Teacher information pages.) Reading age 8-9. SJ-3-3-2003.

After reading a narrative that is about sibling rivalry, students identify evidence in the text that supports their thinking. Assessment focus: analysis and evaluation of a character and the author's construction of him. (There is a link to the text used for this resource in the Task administration section of the Teacher information pages.) Reading age <8. SJ-1-5-2004. Text provided.

This comprehension task assesses student ability to find the main idea of a transactional text about a Māori naturalist/scientist. Students are asked to read a text, identify the main idea from three choices provided, and then justify why they think their choice is right.

Students read an article on the marathon. They then answer a range of comprehension and vocabulary questions.

Students read an article about castles to complete a retrieval chart using information from the text. SJ-1-2-1995. Text provided.

Students read an article about Tuatara to be able to fill in a chart with specific information. SJ-1-3-1998. Text provided.