Applying VIPERS to well known texts

Today I shared VIPERS with the Redbridge Assessment Network so I thought that I would share some of the resources here.   We looked at applying VIPERS to texts that could be used with a whole class, a group or during one-to-one reading.

The first text was the opening to 'The Sleeper and the Spindle' by Neil Gaiman.   

(Click on the images to enlarge) 

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The questions for this section could be:

​V: Which word shows that it was impossible to cross the mountain range?

P:  What do you think the next paragraph will be talking about? Dwarfs.

R: Where would someone in this story get silk from?
S: What purpose does this paragraph serve?  How does it do it?  

E: Explain why the author chooses not to name the person that they are buying the silks for.
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I: Tell me something about the stone that the dwarf is carrying.   - It is precious – how do we know? 

Using the VIPERS question stems, which can be downloaded here, questions can be quickly generated. Teachers can ensure that all of the main comprehension skills are covered in a single session or they can focus on one of the domains.  

In this short extract from Oliver Jeffers' 'Lost and Found' we can ask each questions that would provide evidence for each of the VIPERS.  (S does rely on reading the rest of the book) 

Applying VIPERS to an image

It is easy to rehearse these comprehension skills using images or film.  Today we looked at this image from Once Upon A Picture

VIPERS questions:
V – Can you find synonyms for the word ship.
I  – Are the men peaceful?
P – Where do you think the men are going?  Why do you think they are going there?
E – Why do you think the sky is dark and stormy?
E – Can you say how the two boats are similar?  Why is this? 
R – Approximately how many men are on each ship?  What power does the ship use?
S – Summarise what you can see on the ships.

Film VIPERS

There are now over 30 film VIPERS on Literacyshedplus.com you can view some samples here. 

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