Fisher & Frey’s answer to close and critical reading No doubt since the cave paintings of prehistoric times, humans have asked questions to make sense of the message. So what could possibly be new about posing questions about text? Plenty . . . and with TDQ, Doug Fisher and Nancy Frey reveal it all. After one quick read, you will have learned all the very best ways to use text-dependent questions as scaffolds during close reading . . . and the big understandings they can yield, especially when executed the Fisher and Frey way. But that’s just for starters. Fisher and Frey also include illustrative video, actual texts and questions, examples from across content areas, and an online professional learning guide, making the two volumes of TDQ a potent professional development tool across all of K-12. The genius of TDQ is the way Fisher and Frey break down the process into four cognitive pathways that help teachers "organize the journey through a text" and frame an extended discussion around it. Step by step, this approach ensures that in every close reading lesson, students are guided to consider explicit and implied meanings, and deeply analyze and appreciate various aspects of a text, especially those that may be challenging or confusing. Here’s how the four inter-related processes play out, with every why and every how answered: What does the text say? (general understandings and key details) How does the text work? (vocabulary, structure, and author’s craft) What does the text mean? (logical inferences and intertextual connections) What does the text inspire you to do? (write, investigate, present, debate) The cool thing? These questions ignite students’ engagement and discussion because they strategically lead students to a place of understanding where explicit and implied meanings and interpretations can be debated. Far from being overly literal or teacher-led, the questioning framework Fisher and Frey advance enhances the quality of student talk and idea-generation. All in all, there’s no better resource to cultivate students’ capacity for independent reading and incisive thinking. Longtime collaborators and recipients of numerous teaching and leadership awards, DOUGLAS FISHER and NANCY FREY are Professors of Educational Leadership at San Diego State University as well as teacher leaders at Health Sciences High & Middle College.

Teachers are intuitively aware of the connection between academic vocabulary and reading comprehension. Unfortunately, despite what we know about active instruction of vocabulary that will be retained by our students, teachers often assign vocabulary but rarely teach it well. The results are akin to a salesman who says about his product, 'I sold it, but they didn't buy it.' Greenwood provides teachers with the hows and whys of effective vocabulary instruction, through the use of visual organizers, user-friendly appendixes, classroom vignettes, and simple, clear language, encouraging professionals to truly engage their pupils.

Update your vocabulary practices to meet the Common Core and improve students' word knowledge! This new, clearly-structured guide shows you how. It's packed with engaging, research-based, classroom-ready strategies for teaching vocabulary. Topics include... Selecting meaningful words for direct instruction Strategies for engaging students in word study Helping students come up with their own definitions Authentic vocabulary assessment Greek and Latin word study Bringing vocabulary to life using symbols and pictures Using a word wall effectively Teaching vocabulary all the time Creating opportunities for wide reading Using and expecting academic language For each vocabulary recommendation, you'll learn the research behind it, how it relates to the Common Core, and how to implement it in your classroom. The practical ideas for teaching vocabulary will benefit all of your students, including your English language learners, with specific connections to ELLs included throughout the book. This is a must-have resource for teaching vocabulary and meeting the Common Core standards!

Building on the ideas developed in Word Nerds: Teaching All Students to Learn and Love Vocabulary , Brenda J. Overturf has updated and energized the recommended practices for middle grades students. Vocabularians is for any educator who wants to help young adolescents increase knowledge and competency with word study while bringing interest, motivation, and even joy to their learning. Brenda takes teachers and administrators inside three middle-level schools where educators are integrating vocabulary instruction across the curriculum. In rural, urban, and suburban settings, she highlights effective ways to develop students' vocabulary skills using art, music, games, technology, reading, writing, speaking, listening, and critical thinking. Vocabularians shows teachers of all content areas how to build word networks, flood the classroom environment with academic vocabulary, and incorporate the three word-solving strategies that researchers have found to be the most important-;teaching students how to use context; deciphering words by breaking down prefixes, suffixes, and root words; and using reference materials in authentic ways. By blending current research with real classroom experience and application, Brenda builds on her work with Margot Holmes Smith and Leslie Montgomery and offers an easy-to-implement, customized-to-middle-school resource that will improve instruction and assessment. As one featured seventh grader shared: Vocabulary helps you because the more you know words, the more fluent you can be in reading, the better you can read and write, and the better your writing sounds. There's always going to be a time when you have to sound professional, whether you're applying for a job or anything else. You're just going to have to know how to use a good vocabulary.-

Teachers are being bombarded with ideas for teaching nonfiction, but what really works? In this essential book, dynamic author Lori G. Wilfong describes ten best practices for teaching nonfiction and how to implement them in the classroom. She also points out practices that should be avoided, helping you figure out which strategies to ditch and which to embrace. Topics covered include... Finding quality, differentiated texts to teach content Selecting support strategies with purpose Providing students with a range of scaffolds for effective summary writing Purposely selecting vocabulary words to support content learning Working with students to develop strategies to cite textual evidence Using text structure as both a reading and writing tool for analyzing nonfiction And much more! Every chapter begins with an engaging scenario and ends with action steps to help you get started. The book also contains tons of handy templates that you can reproduce and use in your own classroom.

This work prepares nursery, primary and secondary teachers to appreciate and understand how language development can affect learning and learn strategies for working with students with language differences and disorders.

Problem-solving techniques for all aspects of the English teacher's job This unique time-saving book is packed with tested techniques and materials to assist new and experienced English teachers with virtually every phase of their job from lesson planning to effective discipline techniques. The book includes 175 easy-to-understand strategies, lessons, checklists, and forms for effective classroom management and over 50 reproducible samples teachers can adopt immediately for planning, evaluation, or assignments. It is filled with creative and functional ideas for reading response activities, writing assignments, group and individual projects, and speeches. Offers instructions for creating and implementing an effective classroom-wide behavior management program Shows how to practice the art of teaching English effectively and reduce time on labor intensive tasks Reveals how to work effectively with parents, colleagues, substitute teachers, administrators, and community resources The second edition includes coverage of technology in the classroom, advice for working with reluctant readers, a wealth of sample teaching units and more.