1 Building Reading Comprehension Through Think-Alouds Resource Type: Lessons Discipline: Reading Grades: Grades 6–7 Professional Commentary: In this lesson, teachers use a poem and an overhead to model how, by discussing what they think as they are reading a poem, they can deepen comprehension. Through this model of close reading, called think-aloud, teachers introduce components including using visual imagery, making connections, predicting, and identifying confusions, that serve to develop meta... 2 Becoming History Detectives Using Shakespeare’s Secret Resource Type: Lessons Discipline: Reading Grades: Grades 6–8 Professional Commentary: Shakespeare’s Secret, a young adult mystery novel by Elise Broach, includes many historical details from William Shakespeare’s life. These details enhance the story and expose students to the discussion some scholars are having regarding the possibility that Edward de Vere is actually the author of Shakespeare's works.... 3 Revolutionary Viewpoints Resource Type: Lessons Discipline: Reading Grades: Grade 8 Professional Commentary: Historical documents are rich resources that enable us to look at the past while learning about how we see ourselves and how we see others. April Morning by Howard Fast is the novel from which this unit is developed.... 4 Child Labor: Giving Voice to the Industrial Revolution Through Monologues Resource Type: Lessons Discipline: Reading, Social Studies Grades: Grade 8 Professional Commentary: In this lesson, students explore issues related to child labor, particularly as it occurred in England and the United States during the Industrial Revolution. Selected websites describe (with text, illustrations, and photographs) the conditions under which children labored during the Industrial Revolution.... 5 Critical Reading: Two Stories, Two Authors, Same Plot? Resource Type: Lessons Discipline: Reading Grades: Grade 8 Professional Commentary: Many students often lack the thinking skills to be able to analyze what they read. This lesson encourages students to read and respond critically to two different pieces of literature with the same title.... 6 Censorship in the Classroom: Understanding Controversial Issues Resource Type: Lessons Discipline: Reading Grades: Grades 8–10 Professional Commentary: This lesson helps students to understand the ways in which bias and stereotyping are used by the media to influence popular opinion. Students examine propaganda and media bias and explore a variety of banned and challenged books, researching the reasons these books have been censored.... 7 Before, During, and After Reading: Reading and Thinking Strategies Resource Type: Professional Resources Discipline: Reading Grades: Grades 1–12 Professional Commentary: This resource summarizes widely accepted comprehension strategies that effective readers use to understand a variety of texts. Based, in part, on research related to students' use of prior knowledge, this resource provides a chart describing the strategies used when students are effectively engaged in reading.... Resource Type: Professional Resources Discipline: Reading Grades: Grades PreK–12 Professional Commentary: In this professional article, accomplished Ohio educator and author Sharon Draper discusses the importance of independent reading and offers ideas for promoting the love of reading. Draper challenges schools and communities to work intensely and collaboratively to encourage young people to read more.... |