This week, students and I have been exploring what we know as readers about nonfiction text. We know… There are many kinds of nonfiction There are many topics explored by writers There are many “parts” to a nonfiction text There are “familiar” parts that help us find our way around (table of contents, index, glossary…)… Continue Reading
Category Archives: COMPREHENSION TOOLS
Yolink Offering Over $4000 in Ed Tech Grants
Yolink is giving away over $4000 in tech grant money to educational institutions. I've become so impressed and immersed with the Yolink research tool, I've included it as part of the curriculum in graduate courses I teach, I share its power in most every professional development session, and I've ven become a member of their… Continue Reading
A Synthesizing Heart: Tell and Show
Do you find your students often learn a concept only to forget much of it a week after the test? To help your students develop concept mastery, it is important that they SHOW what they know and understand rather than simply test us what they we want them to know. Why Telling AND Showing is… Continue Reading
The Heart of the Matter: Skills Are the Same
The skills at the core of comprehension are the same ones at the core of composition. The pulse on this thought is just getting started…… Continue Reading
Strong Readers Don't Quit
Strong readers won't quit until they "get it" – and the "it" is not as much about the book as it is about the reader. In this week's mini-lesson video, we visit with a classroom of elementary students to discuss the strengths of a great reader. As one classmate put it: Crazy Good!… Continue Reading
The Strategy of Sensory Imaging: A Conversation over Skype
This is a partial and edited transcription of a Skype video conference I did with a rural school district. By using Skype, the staff was able to see and hear me, and I them. It was almost like being there and is becoming an great asset in terms of professional development. Also, think of the… Continue Reading
Real Readers are Driven By Real Life Meaning
I picked up the drivers manual book and found it extremely difficult. It is a procedural text, it’s technical, the vocabulary is incredibly advanced, it’s sophisticate and is at times, inconsiderate writing. It is not organized and it’s a thick book. My son recently began preparing for driving by reading this text. On his own,… Continue Reading
Great Readers Have Strategies
"The process of reading is not a half-sleep process. It is in the highest sense an exercise; a gymnastic struggle that requires the reader to do something for himself." – Walt Whitman There is no ONE way to define comprehension (unless it's that comprehension is NOT a commodity), but the past two decades have produced… Continue Reading
Who has the Acronym pedia?
They help me learn, they assist me in teaching. I know some teachers have a love/hate relationship with acronyms. Truth be told — I love, love, love acronyms. How do you use acronyms, particularly acronym creating in your classrooms? And does anyone have an Acronym-pedia? An Acronymtionary? Wouldn't that be a fun project? Here's a… Continue Reading
Training like Champions
To Be a Champion, You Must Train Like a Champion" -Author Unknown- Every successful learner knows that if you want to be good at something, find someone who is better and learn from them. This timeless model of apprentice has been a successful training secret of all who have reached greatness. Even our wisest recognize… Continue Reading
International Literacy Day: A Celelebration of Literacy
Literacy always gives cause for celebration, but today on International Literacy Day, we acknowledge the importance and power of literacy at a personal, national, and global level. This year, International Literacy Day will put the spotlight on the empowering role of literacy and its importance for participation, citizenship and social development. Despite many and varied… Continue Reading
Lesson Planning Workshop – Part 1
In my teaching and consulting career, I've planned hundreds of lessons. My training had always been approach the lesson as the teacher. But there's a better way, especially when working in groups and teams. Come to the table a reader and a writer. As a learner. This video is a demonstration of how a planning… Continue Reading
