Teaching Resources
Center
Want to learn more or plan a lesson? Check out these links!
- Reading Comprehension Home
- Making Connections
- Fluency
- Determining Importance
- Inferring
- Metacognition
- Questioning
- Synthesizing
- Visualizing and Imagery
- Vocabulary and Word Identification
- Writing Across the Curriculum
Important UNCG Links
Making Connections
Professional Books to help with lesson plans:
Allen, J. (2004). Tools for Teaching Content Literacy. Portland, ME.: Stenhouse Publishers.
This book is a flip chart that discusses a variety of teaching strategies that are designed to help students with both reading and writing comprehension. There are thirty-three different strategies discussed in this book and they are divided into three main areas: building, maintaining and evaluating knowledge. The book includes an outline of the strategies, discusses when to use the strategies, and the practical application of the strategy in a classroom. (428.4 All)
Barr, R. & Johnson, B. (1997). Teaching Reading and Writing in Elementary Classrooms. New York: Longman.
This book targets elementary school teachers. It is divided into sections that explore how students develop and learn, different teaching strategies, and background information. The authors provide several case studies and they describe several literacy issues faced by educators.(372.41 Bar)
Day, J.P.; Spiegel, D.X.; McLellan, J.; Brown, V.B. (2002). Moving Forward with Literature Circles: How to Plan, Manage and Evaluate Literature Circles that Deepen Understanding and Foster a Love of Reading. New York: Scholastic.
This book explores methods used to teach critical evaluation of literature. It describes the uses of discussion and writing to develop critical thinking skills among students. The book provides lesson ideas, tips on how to choose books and advice on how to pair students for group discussion. (372.41 Mov)
Doe, H.M. (2003). Technology Through Children’s Literature. Portsmouth, NH: Teacher Ideas Press.
This book discusses how to use software to teach literature to children. It provides technology-related lesson plans, spreadsheets, examples of work, and a walkthrough for KidPix and Hyperstudio. (372.64 Doe)
Jobe, R. & Dayton-Sakari, M. (2002). Info-Kids: How to Use Nonfiction to Turn Reluctant Readers into Enthusiastic Learners. Portland, ME: Pembroke Publishers.
This book is designed to help teachers identify students who would enjoy non-fiction books. It contains case studies and teaching strategies for using non-fiction with students. (372.4 Job)
Kristo, J. V. & Bamford, R.A. (2004). Nonfiction in Focus: A Comprehensive Framework for Helping Students Become Independent Readers and Writers of Nonfiction, K-6. New York: Scholastic.
This book focuses on how to teach reading and writing comprehension of non-fiction to students. The first part includes theories and frame work behind the teaching strategies. The second part of the book outlines different teaching strategies. (372.64 Kri)
Polette, N.J. & Ebbesmeyer, J. (2002). Literature Lures: Using Picture Books and Novels to Motivate Middle School Readers. Portsmouth, NH: Teacher Ideas Press.
This book has teaching strategies for using picture books to teach middle grade students. (807.1 Pol)
Zimmerman, S. & Hutchins, C. (2003). 7 Keys to Comprehension: How to Help Your Kids Read It and Get It! New York: Three Rivers Press.
This book provides seven theories that kids need in order to understand reading comprehension. A bibliography of children’s books used to teach the concepts is included. (372.47 Zim)
Quotes:
When students can make personal connections to the books they read,
they associate new meanings with the words, and the text becomes easier to read.
(Doe, H.M., 2003, p. 151)
When I read Bean Trees, I made connections between my life and Taylor’s.
I wondered what I would do and how my family would act in the same situation. I connect everything I read to my life.
Thinking about my life helps me understand what I read.
(Becky, grade 12 in Tovani, C., 2000, p. 63)
1Doe, H.M. (2003). Technology Through Children’s Literature. Portsmouth, NH: Teacher
Ideas Press. (372.64 Doe)
2Tovani, C. (2000). I Read It but I Don’t Get It: Comprehension Strategies for Adolescent Readers. Portland, ME: Stenhouse Publishers.