Reading and Writing Across Content Areas

by Roberta L. Sejnost (Editor), Sharon M. Thiese (Editor)

Overview

"We often hear middle and high school teachers are frustrated because their students can′t understand the textbooks or can′t write effectively about their particular content. This book will provide both the framework for solving this dilemma and the specific, practical classroom practices that teachers can use each day to help students become more competent readers and writers."
-Douglas Johnson, Assistant Superintendent
Kane County Regional Office of Education, IL

"Every middle school and secondary teacher should have a copy of this book. It not only provides the theoretical basis for each strategy, but it also provides effective instructions for use of the strategies in the classroom."
-Dorothy Giroux, Program Director, Initial Teacher Preparation Program
School of Education, Loyola University Chicago  

Eager for proven methods to strengthen your students′ content literacy?

Then this book is a must-have for your classroom! Using a step-by-step approach that makes the strategies easy to understand and implement, the authors provide updated research-based strategies that will help increase your students′ reading comprehension, strengthen their writing skills, and build vocabulary across content areas. Expanded coverage of content literacy, additional reading and writing strategies for exploring content, and suggestions for working with struggling readers are included in this revised edition.

This rich resource also offers:

• Tips for using trade books in the classroom
• Graphic organizers to help students recognize text structures
• Assessment tools
• Technology activities in every chapter
• Real classroom examples of how the strategies have been implemented
• More ways to evaluate the "readability" of textbooks
• Over 40 ready-to-use reproducibles

Whether you are getting ready to begin teaching or are a veteran teacher, this accessible, invaluable handbook will give you the tools you need to help your students become lifelong learners!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452280837
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	08/04/2006
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	280
File size:	9 MB

About the Author

Roberta L. Sejnost is a university professor and literacy consultant who has taught secondary-level courses in social studies, reading, and English, and college-level courses in literacy, authentic assessment, brain-based learning, multiple intelligences, and cooperative learning. A nationally recognized staff developer and certified trainer, Sejnost has presented at over 200 educational conferences across the country. In 2003, she received the Reading Educator of the Year award from the Illinois Reading Council. Sejnost received a master of education degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a doctorate of education in curriculum and Instruction from Loyola University, Chicago.
Sharon Thiese currently teaches writing at Lewis University, Romeoville, Illinois, and graduate classes for Aurora University, Aurora, Illinois. She is also certified in gifted education and a member of Illinois Association for Gifted Children. In addition, Thiese is a certified trainer in gifted education, authentic assessment, multiple intelligences, portfolios, differentiation, and reading and writing across content areas, and she has presented at numerous local and statewide workshops and conferences. Thiese received a master of arts in English from Northeastern University and a master of arts in writing from National-Louis University, Chicago. She taught English and writing at Geneva High School in Geneva, Illinois, and has been Geneva Community Unit 304’s high school educator of the year. She is also recognized in Who’s Who of American Educators.

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
1. Creating the Framework for Reading
Literacy and Content Area Literacy: What Are They?
The Status of Literacy Today
What Can Teachers Do to Foster Literacy?
Strategic Readers
Guiding the Strategic Reader
Matching the Reader and the Text
Interpreting the Text
Chapter Summary
Computer Connections
Teacher Tips
2. Setting the Framework for Writing
Introduction
The Writing Process
Creating
Terms for Writing
Shaping: Organizational Approaches
Shaping and Drafting the Content
Revising
Journals and Learning Logs
Writing for Standardized Tests
Chapter Summary
Computer Connections
Teacher Tips
3. Keying in to Vocabulary
Principles of Effective Vocabulary Instruction
Teacher-Centered Strategies
Student-Centered Strategies
Chapter Summary
Computer Connections
Teacher Tips
4. Strategies for Comprehension
What Makes a Strategic Reader?
The Reading Process
Pre-Reading Strategies
During-Reading Strategies
After-Reading Strategies
Chapter Summary
Computer Connections
Teacher Tips
5. Integrating Reading and Writing in the Classroom
The Reading-Writing Connection
Characteristics of Effective Reading and Writing Strategies
Fostering Critical Understanding
Engaging Readers and Writers in the Process of Revision
Fostering Prior Knowledge
Encouraging Students to Become Personally Involved
Asking Students to Invoke Personal Feelings
Chapter Summary
Computer Connections
Teacher Tips
6. Research Writing
Nontraditional Research
Alternative Research
Research Skills
Traditional Research
The Research Process
Chapter Summary
Computer Connections
Teacher Tips
7. Reading and Writing: Where It Can Lead
Formal Assessments in Reading
Formal Assessments in Writing
Alternative Assessments
Test-Taking Strategies
Study Strategies for Good Test Performance
Chapter Summary
Computer Connections
Teacher Tips
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

"Reading and Writing Across Content Areas is a wonderful book for content area classroom teachers. Throughout the book, the strategies are explained well and are easy to understand and implement. When you read the cartoons throughout the book, you know that the authors understand children and their teachers. "

Marie-Elena Meagher

"This practical compendium of literacy strategies should be required reading for all middle and high school teachers. The ready-to-use blackline masters are real timesavers for busy educators. "

Ann Kimpton

"This is a wonderful resource for teachers! It includes many research-based reading strategies for classroom use. If you're looking for easy-to-use, hands-on strategies with easily accessible handouts, this is the book for you! "

Ann Peters

"We often hear middle and high school teachers are frustrated because their students can't understand the textbooks or can't write effectively about their particular content. This book will provide both the framework for solving this dilemma and the specific, practical classroom practices that teachers can use each day to help students become more competent readers and writers. "

Douglas Johnson

"Every middle school and secondary teacher should have a copy of this book. It not only provides the theoretical basis for each strategy but it also effective instructions for use of the strategies in the classroom. "

Dorothy Giroux

"The ideas and strategies in this book are practical and useful for all discipline areas and teaching styles. The novice teacher as well as the veteran will find excellent handouts, graphic organizers, and new and creative ideas for presenting information. Students of all levels will reap the benefits of these models. "

Julie Hepker

"This bountiful resource provides educators with the tools they need to help students increase their reading and writing achievement in all subject matter classes . . . discovering the new, updated version of Reading and Writing Across the Content Areas is like finding a pot full of gold! "

Judy Rhoads

"This text makes a teacher feel empowered rather than overwhelmed; not many texts truly achieve this! The strategies are applicable and fundamental because they help the students with reading and writing in every class. "

Sarah Luedtke