Reading to the Core: Learning to Read Closely, Critically, and Generatively to Meet Performance Tasks [Minkštas viršelis]

The various lessons and guidelines provided here, for teachers of grades 6-10, are presented in a framework of five steps for close, critical, generative reading. In alignment with the Common Core State Standards, a central purpose of the book is to contribute to the discussion among educators about what an enlightened and literate citizenry looks like in the 21st century. Also aligned with the Common Core, readings are based on US history, with sample lesson plans for analyzing speeches by Abe Lincoln and John F. Kennedy as well as founding American documents; there are also lessons on evaluating websites, reading visual texts (such as photos and political cartoons), and comparing two texts. The book's guiding questions lead students through understanding a text, understanding rhetorical and informative strategies, and responding to a text. The book includes about 30 pages of reproducibles for students, along with summary charts, rubrics, assessment instruments, and progress charts for teachers. Annotation ©2014 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)

"Close, critical, and generative reading can be broken down into five key questions that a strategic reader must answer: What does the text say? How does the author say it? What does the text mean? What does it mean to me? What insights can I now gain? In this resource, the authors show that insight into these questions is the key to comprehending text. The authors provide tools such as mining charts, assessments, progress monitoring charts, and rubrics to strengthen the teaching and use of strategies including guided highlighted reading for craft, finding the element of argument in text, reading multiple texts for theme, and evaluating visual text. A culminating chapter provides a blueprint for creating a literacy action plan for classroom, school, and district that highlights students' growth and documents teacher effectiveness."