Cloze Worksheets – What They Are and How to Make Them

Cloze worksheets are also known as "Fill in the				may not aid in understanding. A simple list of the
Blank" worksheets. Words are deleted from a				words for the exercise is sufficient. In addition
prose sentence or passage and the reader is				to providing space to copy the word, you may
required to fill in the blanks. Cloze tests or				also wish to include a section for the learner to
exercises require the ability to understand context				write the words in alphabetical order. Keep
and vocabulary in order to select correct words				sentences simple but add more descriptive
for completion. Given the right design, these				material to help retain interest. Using the
worksheets can be used at all levels of literacy.				previous example, the sentence might look like
				this.
A search on the term "cloze generator" will find
software programs which create cloze				The _____ drank milk from a
worksheets by randomly deleting words from a				bowl.
passage you enter. If, on the other hand, you
would like to design the worksheet yourself, here				In addition to single sentences, introduce short
are some tips for doing so.				paragraphs with blanks to fill in.

In General.				Word Bank: waved swung
				halted strode spotted
- Include a line for the learner's name and date at
the top of the worksheet. Title the worksheet				The man ________ down
to help when referring to it and also to set the				the street quickly. He __________a bright
stage for the learner. It helps them focus on				yellow taxi and ________. The taxi
the intended topic area.				____________ alongside the curb and
				_________abruptly.
- Leave margins of 1-inch on all sides.
				Another way to use the cloze worksheet is for
- Keep plenty of white space on the page. The				practicing with prefixes and suffixes. Using the
white space helps the learner pick out what is				first sentence from the previous example, a
important and makes the material appear easier				practice sentence might look like this.
to understand. Students can be overwhelmed
by a dense concentration of lettering.				The man strode down the street quick___.

- Use bold lettering to separate sections of the				Worksheets can be one or two pages.
worksheet. Follow with normal lettering for brief
instructions. For example:				Intermediate and High School Level. Word banks
				may or may not be provided depending on the
Word				learning objective. If introducing new vocabulary,
Bank. Copy each word.				word banks are helpful. If practicing or testing
Fill in the				reading comprehension, grammar use, or other
blank. Write a word from the word bank to				knowledge skills, word banks may not be
complete the sentence.				necessary.

- First create the entire sheet by underlining the				Completed worksheets which include word banks
words which will be replaced by blanks. Keep this				can be checked by fellow students using the
as the answer key. Make a copy of the				answer key. Cloze worksheets testing grammar
document with a new name and replace the				require more knowledgeable reviewers since there
underlined words with blanks.				may be numerous acceptable answers.

For Pre-literate and Early Literate Learners.				The bird flew
Decide on a theme for the worksheet (telling				______________. (Quickly, slowly, clumsily,
time, items in the house, types of transportation,				swiftly, etc are all acceptable adverbs describing
names of animals, etc). Provide a word bank				how the bird flew.)
with pictures at the top of the worksheets.
Provide a blank line immediately under or beside				The font size can be reduced to 12 points.
the word for the learner to copy the word.				Longer paragraphs are appropriate with blanks
Limit the number of words to ten or less. Keep				scattered throughout the reading selection.
the worksheet to one page. Use a large font				Including a section of multiple choice questions to
size of 20 points or more. Not only does this				test comprehension or including spaces for writing
help with the perceived difficulty of the page, it				the main idea and the supporting details are ways
also provides plenty of space for the handwritten				to further the learning objectives and provide
responses.				variety for the learner.

Make the cloze sentences simple declarative				Use. Cloze worksheets can be used in the
statements or questions. Use each word only				classroom or as homework. In the classroom,
once. For the blank give a line for each letter				students can work on their own (particularly fitting
instead of a single line. In this way, the learner				for intermediate and high school level due to the
has more clues to the correct response. It builds				longer reading passages) or the teacher can walk
confidence and positively reinforces their learning.				through the worksheet with the class. This
So if the word to be filled in is cat make the				technique is particularly useful for first time use of
sentence like this.				cloze worksheets and for new material. If used
				as homework, students can be paired for
The __ __ __ drank milk.				reviewing each other's worksheet and, using the
				answer key provided by the teacher, make
As the learner becomes more familiar with the				corrections as needed. Alternatively, the teacher
vocabulary, the blank can become a single line.				can post the answer key and allow them to
				grade their own worksheet. Or the teacher can
The _______ drank milk.				grade them.

Primary School Level. Word banks are helpful				Cloze worksheets are helpful learning and testing
features at any level, but for learners still acquiring				tools. Employ the tips in this article to create
basic vocabulary, they are essential. Pictures				worksheets which are thought provoking and
may or may not be included. In fact, as the				relevant to your learning objectives. They will
vocabulary becomes more sophisticated, pictures				engage students in a focused and satisfying way.

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Cloze Worksheets – What They Are and How to Make Them