The Importance of Cloze Exercises in Literacy Development
Cloze Exercises are a powerful tool in literacy education, particularly when working with students who need structured, systematic support. These exercises not only enhance vocabulary but also develop contextual understanding, encouraging students to think critically about word choices in a sentence. This skill is fundamental for improving reading comprehension and overall literacy skills.
What Are Cloze Exercises?
Cloze Exercises involve sentences or passages with missing words that students must fill in using a provided word bank. These exercises help students practice decoding skills, reinforce phonics knowledge, and develop the ability to use context clues effectively. In the Literacy Support Kit (LSK), Cloze Exercises are carefully designed to align with each new Teaching Point, ensuring that practice is relevant and targeted.
To further support learners, some sentences include images to provide additional context. This is particularly helpful for students in a structured literacy programme, where the range of words available may be limited.
Why Are Cloze Exercises Important?
Vocabulary Development: Cloze Exercises expose students to new words and reinforce their understanding of familiar ones.
Contextual Understanding: By considering the meaning of the sentence as a whole, students develop critical thinking skills and improve their ability to infer meaning from context.
Reinforcement of Phonics: Each Cloze Exercise is tied to a specific Teaching Point, helping students practice and apply their phonics knowledge in meaningful ways.
Boosting Confidence: Successfully completing Cloze Exercises can build a student’s confidence in their reading and writing abilities.
LSK Cloze Exercises Materials
Available Materials
The Literacy Support Kit includes two levels of Cloze Exercises to cater to varying student needs:
Blue Level: Very easy, ideal for students at the early stages of literacy development.
Green Level: Slightly more challenging, suitable for students ready to advance their skills.
How to Use Cloze Exercises
Step-by-Step Process
Select the Teaching Point: Choose the Teaching Point that matches the student’s current level.
Read the Word Bank: Have the student read through the words provided at the top of the sheet to familiarise themselves with their options.
Read the Sentence: Direct the student to read the first sentence, instructing them to say the word ‘something’ in place of the missing word. This strategy provides additional context for selecting the correct word.
Choose the Correct Word: Encourage the student to pick the appropriate word from the word bank to fill the gap.
Write the Word: The student writes the chosen word in the gap and ticks it off in the word bank to indicate it’s been used.
Move Forward: If the student is unsure of a word, encourage them to skip the sentence and return to it later.
Complete and Review: Repeat the process until all sentences are filled.
Timed Reading: Have the student read all the completed sentences three times to build fluency and confidence.
Tips for Success
Provide gentle guidance if the student struggles with word selection, but allow them to make thoughtful choices independently.
Use the exercises as a teaching tool when introducing a new phoneme or as a follow-up activity in subsequent lessons.
Encourage regular practice to reinforce learning and improve fluency.
Contact Us
For more details on the Literacy Support Kit or how it can complement other literacy programs, please contact us with your questions.