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Reading to Learn in Secondary Classrooms
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Reading to Learn in Secondary Classrooms
Increasing Comprehension and Understanding

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July 2009 | 128 pages | Corwin
'This text helps the reader understand that students do not just learn to read in the primary grades. Students must continue to grow and become more sophisticated readers if we expect them to master varied content information and concepts. The strategies in this book provide a framework to support content area teachers as they strive to engage students and increase content literacy as well as content mastery' - Crystal Leu, Director of Curriculum, Lakeland School Corporation, LaGrange, IN

Although reading is an essential skill for learning in any discipline, many students in today's secondary classrooms find reading tasks difficult and often fail to complete those assignments. Now this proven, step-by-step instructional model shows secondary teachers how to help students boost their reading comprehension, acquire knowledge through their reading, and process the information that they've learned.

Providing numerous classroom examples, the authors show teachers how to use research-based, high-effect strategies before, during, and after reading to increase student learning in various content and subject areas. Teachers learn how to help students:

- Prepare for learning and anticipate reading assignments through pre-lesson strategies such as previewing the text, activating prior knowledge, and developing questions

- Remain focused and engaged during reading assignments through strategies such as reciprocal teaching, jigsaw, and think-alouds

- Process and internalize newly learned information using strategies such as graphic organizers and summaries

Easy to implement, this method helps secondary teachers improve students' content learning and reading ability at the same time!

 
List of Figures and Tables
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
1. Introduction
Lifelong Literacy Growth and Development

 
What to Teach

 
Research in Literacy

 
How This Book Helps

 
 
2. The Instructional Process
Before-Reading Activities

 
During-Reading Activities

 
After-Reading Activities

 
The Process

 
 
3. Before Reading
Background Knowledge

 
Developing Questions

 
Understanding and Using Text Structure

 
Previewing Text

 
Vocabulary

 
 
4. During Reading
Questioning

 
Jigsawing Text and Graphic Organizers

 
Reciprocal Teaching

 
Think-Alouds

 
Oral Reading

 
 
5. After Reading
Graphic Organizers

 
Written Summaries

 
The Importance of Writing

 
 
6. Putting It All Together
Students Today

 
Following Through With Assessment

 
What Does This Mean for Teachers?

 
Improving Content Learning and Literacy

 
 
Appendix: School Examples Using Instructional Framework
 
References
 
Index

“Includes clear sample lessons from nearly every major content area so teachers can see how the literacy strategies have been applied in the classroom.”

Joan Baltezore, Biology Teacher
West Fargo High School, ND

“This text helps the reader understand that students do not just learn to read in the primary grades. Students must continue to grow and become more sophisticated readers if we expect them to master varied content information and concepts. The strategies in this book provide a framework to support content area teachers as they strive to engage students and increase content literacy as well as content mastery.”

Crystal Leu, Director of Curriculum
Lakeland School Corporation, LaGrange, IN

"Recent research has shown that the overarching assumption that students can read and understand on a basic level can no longer be assured. This book provides clear, comprehensive, cogent, and concise processes that educators can use to enhance high school students' capacity to read, understand, and use the information contained in written word. I recommend this text to high school instructors, their mentors, and administrators who interact with students for whom basic reading skills are still a challenge."

Hal Hayden, Adjunct Faculty, Nova Southeastern University
Independent Consultant, Hayden Consulting

"Great book! Literacy for all, not just academics. The case studies and data are easy to understand, and the techniques can be quickly implemented in all classes. A definite read for all CTE teachers and directors."

Jan Struebing, Retired Career Technical Education Director

"Perna and Mahurt understand the difficulties faced by secondary teachers today and emphasize commonsense literacy strategies to alleviate these difficulties. Using literacy instruction as a learning tool that helps teachers instruct students in their respective content areas has the potential for student growth across the curriculum. This book provides useful tools for secondary teachers in all content areas."

Carol Arjona, Director of Secondary Education
USD 475, Geary County Schools, Junction City, KS

"There are two reasons why this is an important resource for high school teacher leaders: the underlying understanding that ALL students must master literacy at a high level, and the abundance of specific high school examples presented in a user-friendly format. Literacy and learning linked in ways that can be implemented immediately and easily!"

Billie Donegan, Director of Instructional Best Practice and School Change Coach
The Center for Secondary School Redesign

Sample Materials & Chapters

Preface

Chapter 1: Introduction


Daniel M. Perna

Daniel M. Perna is an educational consultant concentrating on school improvement and achievement. His work focuses on implementing high standards in classrooms, helping teachers develop strategies to increase student comprehension, and designing goal-oriented leadership for schools. Perna has over 30 years of experience in public education. He has been an English teacher, basketball coach, athletic director, high school principal, and assistant superintendent. He currently serves as an adjunct teacher in graduate education for Wilkes University and as an advisor to doctoral students in educational leadership at NOVA Southeastern University... More About Author

Sarah F. Mahurt

Sarah F. Mahurt is the director of the Purdue Literacy Collaborative and associate professor of literacy and language at Purdue. Through her leadership, the Purdue Literacy Collaborative has trained more than 80 literacy coordinators to be literacy leaders and coaches in their schools. This project has reached more than 800 teachers who are improving their teaching of literacy and student achievement in literacy. She recently received the Department of Curriculum and Instruction’s Engagement Award for this school reform effort.Mahurt's publications include articles on the integration of reading and writing, teacher development, and... More About Author