I. The Hows and Whys of Comprehension and Close Reading
1. Overview and Rationale
2. A Sprint through Theory and Research: From Questioning the
Author to the Present
3. Queries and the Role They Play in Discussion
4. Just the Gist: Developing Instruction for Basic
Comprehension
5. Close Reading: Gist to Grist
6. A Closer Look at Close Reading: Modeling the Development of
Close Reading Activities
7. Your Turn for a Narrative
8. Your Turn for an Informational Article
9. Poetry: A Treasure Chest of Close Reading
10. Younger Students: Last but Far from Least
Frequently Asked Questions
II. Text Lessons for Comprehension and Close Reading
Lesson 1. Does an Elephant Never Forget?
Lesson 2. Li Ju and the Magic Tapestry
Lesson 3. Arachne, the Spinner
Lesson 4. Tribute to a Dog
Lesson 5. The Lady, or the Tiger?
Lesson 6. The Hound of the Baskervilles
Lesson 7. The Tell-Tale Heart
Lesson 8.John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address
Appendix. Reproducible Texts from Part One
Common Core State Standards
Isabel L. Beck, PhD, is Professor Emerita of Education in the
School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh. She has
conducted research and published widely in the areas of decoding,
vocabulary, and comprehension. Her contributions have been
acknowledged by awards from the International Literacy Association,
the Literacy Research Association, and the American Federation of
Teachers. She is an elected member of the National Academy of
Education. Her books include Bringing Words to Life, Second
Edition.
Cheryl Sandora, PhD, is a Research Associate at the Learning
Research and Development Center and a Fellow at the Institute for
Learning, both at the University of Pittsburgh. Her work has
included classroom-based research on comprehension and vocabulary
instruction, the development of instructional materials for
English/Language Arts classrooms, and professional development for
districts around the country. She has taught in public, urban, and
rural school districts and has served on the faculties of several
universities.
"If you think you already know all you need to about close reading,
think again. Beck and Sandora have produced one of the most
effective, comprehensive resources I've seen for professional
development in reading comprehension. The format is user friendly,
and the lessons are well described and engaging. This book should
be on every teacher’s desk, and it is a 'must have' for students in
teacher education programs and for reading specialists and
professional development providers. Administrators, take note: this
book demonstrates what you should be looking for when evaluating an
excellent reading lesson."--Rachel L. McCormack, EdD, Professor of
Literacy Education, School of Education, Roger Williams
University
"This book is a home run! Educators looking to implement a
comprehensive approach to planning deep and meaningful lessons will
appreciate this powerful resource. Beck and Sandora demystify the
comprehension and close reading puzzle and provide instructional
routines, text-based examples, and practical commentary. Reading
the book feels like you are engaging in clear and concrete
professional development. A 'must have' for any teacher who wants
to take text-based instruction to the next level and meet the
rigorous demands of the CCSS."--Lisa M. Yonek, PhD, Elementary
Literacy Supervisor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Public Schools
"Situated in generative theory and research, this book is above all
practical. As promised, the book delivers on the 'why' and the
'how': it both makes a compelling case for close reading and
provides comprehensive and wise assistance to teachers."--Jeffrey
D. Wilhelm, PhD, Distinguished Professor of English Education,
Boise State University
"Illuminating Comprehension and Close Reading has immediately
earned a top spot in my professional library. Beck and Sandora
offer a four-step approach to creating meaningful lessons for
students with varying degrees of experience with close reading.
They provide in-depth lesson examples for narrative and
informational texts (with texts supplied for readers to photocopy
or download), as well as guided practice opportunities for readers
to create their own lessons. One of the most exciting features is
the detailed explanation of how to develop queries that focus
student attention on important text content, vocabulary and
language use, elements of genre, and techniques of the
writer."--Susan Watts Taffe, PhD, School of Education, University
of Cincinnati -
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