Summary

Proven methods for teaching reading comprehension to all students The Literacy Cookbook is filled with classroom-tested techniques for teaching reading comprehension to even the most hard-to-reach students. The book offers a review of approaches that are targeted for teaching reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. The book also includes information on how to connect reading, writing, and test prep. Contains accessible and easy-to-adopt recipes for strengthening comprehension, reading, writing, and oral fluency. Terrific resources are ready for download on the companion website. The materials in this book are aligned with the English Language Arts Common Core Standards The website includes an ELA Common Core Tracking Sheet, a handy resource when writing or evaluating curriculum.

Author Biography

Sarah Tantillo is a literacy consultant who has taught high school English and Humanities in both suburban and urban public schools including the high-performing North Star Academy Charter School of Newark. She also founded and directed the New Jersey Charter School Resource Center and the New Jersey Charter Public Schools Association. Visit Sarah at www.literacycookbook.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

PART ONE BASIC INGREDIENTS

CHAPTER ONE COMPREHENSION

What Is Comprehension, and Why Is It Important?

My Theory of Comprehension

Why Background Knowledge Is So Important

Key Critical Reading Skill 1: Paraphrasing

Key Critical Reading Skill 2: Inference

Key Critical Reading Skill 3: Vocabulary in Context (and Vocabulary Instruction)

Key Critical Reading Skill 4: Inferring Main Idea or Argument (AKA Summarizing)

CHAPTER TWO READING

Decoding + Fluency and Comprehension = Reading

Nonfiction Versus Everything Else

Different Types of Readers

Independent and Guided Reading

Introduction to Reading Strategically

Before-Reading Strategies

During-Reading Strategies

Textbook Reading: How to Make Life Less Painful for Everyone Involved

How to Use the Teacher’s Manual

The Truth About Textbook “Reading” Tests

After-Reading Strategies

Reading Workshop: Something to Consider

CHAPTER THREE WRITING

Read Well to Write Well

Why We Write (and Read)

Punchy Insights, or How to Avoid Writing Like a Robot

A Simple Recipe for Writing Instruction

What Students Struggle with the Most When They Write

Thesis Brainstorming and Organizing

Teaching with Mentor Texts

Writing Workshop 101

Motivational Grammar

Rubrics and How to Spend Less Time Grading

CHAPTER FOUR SPEAKING AND LISTENING

Why Oral Fluency Matters

How to Train Students to Listen and Speak Effectively

More Thoughts on Effective Speaking

Class Discussion Logistics

Socratic Seminars Made Easy

Book Talk Projects

PART TWO ENTRÉES

CHAPTER FIVE TASTY PERSUASIVE WRITING

The Concept of Persuasion

How to Prepare Students for Persuasive Writing Tasks

CHAPTER SIX READING, WRITING, AND TEST PREP “STEW”

An Argument for Stew

Connecting Key Critical Reading Skills to Test Prep Instruction

Test Prep Tips

Connecting Writing to Reading Through Genre Study

Open-Ended Responses

CHAPTER SEVEN THE DOCUMENT-BASED QUESTION APPROACH

What Are DBQs, and Why Should Everyone Use Them?

Designing DBQs Across the Curriculum

CHAPTER EIGHT RESEARCH PAPER GUIDE

Reading and the Research Paper

How to Avoid RPT (Research Paper Torture)

Two Sample Research Paper Assignments

Research Paper Teachers’ Guide

CHAPTER NINE TEACHING WITH NOVELS

Novels in English Language Arts: Literary Response Paper Writing Guide

Using Novels in History, Social Studies, and Science

PART THREE DESSERTS

CHAPTER TEN RECOMMENDED READING

On Reading and Vocabulary

On Writing

On Curriculum and Instruction

On How We Think About Teaching, Learning, and Change

CHAPTER ELEVEN APPENDIX

K–12 ELA Common Core Standards Tracking Sheet

Evidence Cards Versus Source Cards: Models and Rubric

Sample MLA Parenthetical and Works Cited Listings

How to Create an Outline

How to Avoid Common Research Paper Pitfalls

Research Paper Rubric

Notes

Index

Supplemental Materials

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.